The 2018 Bayview Blast is just around the corner! This bike race in south-east Queensland has gone from strength to strength. Best of all, what was a 4-lap race now only relies on two long laps for most of the race, thanks to trail improvements and hard work.
The facilities at the Bayview Conservation area have just had a huge update thanks to the Redlands Council. But what does that mean? It means real toilets, a proper carpark, skills park, water, bike wash, BBQs, picnic tables, map boards, trail signage and more. We hear there is even going to be a pumptrack pretty soon. So for a mountain bike event that makes everything a whole lot more comfortable, and the updates to the trails aren’t too bad either.
What events can I take part in at the Bayview Blast?
The weekend of 9-10 June promises to deliver a mountain bike event for just about everyone. With races for kids, new riders, solos, pairs, corporate teams, masters and elites – it’s hard not to find the right event to mix challenge with reward. Find the full event rundown within our race calendar.
What bike should I race at the Bayview Blast?
There’s no single answer for that. We’ve offered a lot of advice before on the best bike for marathon and stage racing, however as the Bayview Blast has events to suit newcomers and elite racers it’s a little harder. If you have a mountain bike that’s in good shape – you’ll be able to have fun in one event or another at Bayview. The first part of the trails has a few short and steep climbs, regardless of whether you are on the 25km or 42km loop. There are plenty of twists and turns, so your bike needs to have good tyres, and the shifting needs to be crisp as you’ll be using your gears a lot. A wide range of gears will be useful, but we’d suggest gearing lower than higher due to the amount of singletrack. Give your bike a good safety check and if you’re not sure on something – get your bike serviced at your local bike shop. But don’t leave this to the few days before, book it in now!
What should I carry for the Bayview Blast?
Another question without a straight answer! The key is you need to be self-sufficient. That encompasses food, water and spares. At a minimum have 600mL per hour you expect to be riding, the food you need for that time, a spare tube, pump, tyre lever, multitool and quick link. You might think about taking a small chain lube and first aid kit as well, or even a derailleur hanger. It depends what event you’re doing and how serious you are. If you don’t fancy walking to the finish – take the right spares. If you don’t want to get too thirsty, bring enough water. And if you want to make sure you finish the XCM Series marathoon – race smart and take what you’ll need to finish.
Don’t miss our tips on hydration for marathon races.
How should I pace myself for the Bayview Blast?
Another difficult question that is reliant on your fitness and experience! If you are comfortable doing a 2-3 hour ride with friends on the weekend, that’s very different to taking on the one or two lap XCM race, so you would need to be more conservative. If you’re wanting to have the best result possible in the XCM series event – our tip would be make the most of the first road section for positioning, and maintain your position through the end of the 10km start loop. The first 10km of the 42km loop has a number of short and sharp climbs (and fun descents!) and be wary of how you expend your energy.
There are a lot of small climbs early on.
The first fire trail sections you come to are an ideal place to drink and eat – and lift the pace. Some of the singletrack has a distinct speed limit, and trying to go too fast will just lead you to oversteering or overshooting corners. Don’t go crosseyed on the climbs and mess up the descents, but do open up on the firetrails.
Some of the trails through the grass trees are tight, and hard to read when tired.
The big thing here is know where your limit is. If you’re breathing so heavily it’s clearly audible to people riding behind you – you’re probably going too hard. And hey – you might be about to experience all the stages of a marathon race!
So choose what event you’re entering, make sure your bike is prepared, pack what you need and get set for a good day out. Whether it’s the challenge of the XCM Series or you’re taking part in the Corporate Teams event – take any challenge in your stride and do everything you can to make sure you finish.