In an attempt to limit rider numbers this year Mike and the Grindin Gearz team made the decision early to run a ‘solo rider only‘ six hour event. In previous years the ‘teams’ component of the race pushed the rider numbers to almost unmanageable proportions creating much stress for the track and the GG team of volunteers. This decision deterred a few but, whispers on the track say, many devoted ‘team’ riders embraced the opportunity to jump into the solo arena and take up the challenge. This was reflected on the start list, fewer categories boosted the number of riders in each category and the end result was a strong solo field of 129 riders over 6 categories.
It seems the Mt Perry Gold Rush has somewhat of a cult following as the same faces appear on the start line year after year and I admit to a mild addiction with this being my 4th Gold Rush. The venue is nothing special (a paddock) and the travel less than ideal (3:30 hours north of Noosa) but the track is always AMAZING and the atmosphere during the race is just a little bit special/different. The majority of riders arrive mid to late Saturday and camp at the Walco Reserve, as there is really not too much else accommodation wise in Mt Perry. The event is always on the Queens Birthday weekend which makes for a leisurely post race recovery day/return home day on Monday. Mt Perry may be the coldest place in Queensland on that Saturday night before the race, but fortunately there are many camp fires to sit around and a few pre race glasses of red to warm the soul. The race also has a novel choice of start weapon, nothing less than a double barrel shotgun!
Like many of my races recently, Mt Perry was not without drama! I travelled up with Pete Winfield Saturday afternoon, arriving with just enough light to set camp, eat, drink and tuck in for the night. Race morning, Pete headed out on a lap and I was planning on following when I discovered my rear derailleur was in a somewhat unusual and abnormal position. I immediately sought some professional advice and it appears a spring became unsprung! To my dismay there were not many riders at Mt Perry with a spare 10speed Sram rear mech (I am still on the loaner Cannondale Flash) and right at that point I really believed I was destined to be a supporter for the day. That was until the massive Wall2Wall Cycles banner caught my eye and the GG crew suggested they may have some demo Rocky Mountain bikes available for riding. Within minutes Matt and the W2W guys had me set up (give or take) on a demo Rocky Mountain 29er, fortunately it came with its own MAXXIS IKONS and I am still not sure if I was running tubes or not…… I squeezed in a quick half practice lap and I was back in the race, but not before being told that the bike I was riding may have been sold!
The track: the Mt Perry course is approximately 10.2 with 227m climbing, this course is tough and I believe one of the most demanding six hour races in the country. The great thing about this course is that just when you think you can’t climb anymore it turns down to allow some recovery before heading up again. There are hooligans on the track offering alcoholic beverages from lap 1 and no shame in stopping to take in the scenery and their local hospitality. There are some tricky switch backs, several A/B line sections and a great bridge that crosses over the top of the earlier course. By the time you get back to transition the euphoric descending had erased any memory of the initial climbing and then it all happens again. There is nothing not to like about this race!
So that was that.. Round in circles for 6 hours (10 laps) on a demo Rocky Mountain RRP in the vicinity of $1999.00 and a convincing win in the female open category with a lap to Belle Caruso in second. In the male open category Andy Fellows smashed out 11 laps with a narrow 7-8 minute margin on Jay Taylor in second. In the SS Pete Winfield over Matt Dog Powell and in the 40+ Marc Baechli and Jayne Ryeland in the male and female categories respectively.
Huge thanks to Mike and the Grindin Gearz team, Wall2Wall Cycles for the Rocky Mountain and team Subaru-MarathonMTB.com.
The Wall2Wall Cycles team and their Rocky Mountains