Responding to popular demand, we’re publishing a new series on how to train, prepare, and race your first marathon. Not your first marathon? Read on anyway and pick up some tips we’ve put together from years of experience. First up, here’s our best advice on how to prepare for your first marathon MTB race, including […]
XCO racing for XCM results
Marathon races in Australia are often mass-participation events, where ‘completers’ outnumber ‘competers’ by huge margins. Cross Country Olympic racing (XCO), on the other hand, usually attracts hard-core racers chasing medals and jerseys. But even if you’re a marathon ‘completer’ when you get out to race, there are lots of reasons to love, watch, and even […]
Crash course: Imogen Smith on her season-ending accident
Related Event: Australian XCM Championships
Seven weeks ago, I had a big crash in a women’s criterium that ended my racing season before it really began. Early in the final 200m sprint, where I was sitting in the top 10 (I thought I’d be safe there), there was a surge from behind and riders moved sideways. It took the girl […]
Cycling resolutions for the New Year
It’s a New Year, and any of our indescretions from the past 12 months can now be forgotten, or improved upon. While many consider that the start of a new years is just another day, it’s also a popular belief that it is a perfect time to start afresh, and forge into the coming 365 days […]
The pull of marathon MTB racing
To paraphrase Dan Atherton, I couldn’t wait to get school out of the way so I could get on with life, specifically racing and training full time. I finished my Abitur (German High School finals) in May having half-heartedly prepared for both the exams and early season racing. My first race was round one of […]
Power analysis from Trans Schwarzwald MTB stage race
Related Event: Trans Schwarzwald
In between my XCO racing for this year, I decided to give stage racing another go after my first attempt in 2012. Back then, I did the Trans Germany MTB stage race and failed miserably, grovelling through the majority of stages and vowing to never return unless I was fully prepared. It really was quite […]
DIY Indoor Training
You know what’s involved, sweating, swearing, a swirling stomach tempting to eject breakfast with each passing second. The indoor trainer is a choice for some but a necessity for others at times when the outside can be even more hostile! So it’s raining outside, you only have time for an hour ride before you need […]
Training in the Tropics – Bump Track and RRR route
Related Event: RRR Mountain Bike Race
Growing up in a southern state, I never learnt much about the history of Tropical North Queensland. Well not beyond the basics. So that means that each time I visit – I learn something new. 2011 and during my first Crocodile Trophy, it was a real eye opener to the life and times on the […]
Training in the Tropics – Smithfield
Smithfield sits about 20km north of the CBD of Cairns, right at the bottom of the road up to Kuranda. It’s just inland from the beautiful Trinity Beach, and also home to James Cook University. Smithfield is one part of Tropical North Queensland that the infamous Mud Cows called home. Wait – the Mud Cows? […]
Training in the Tropics – Atherton
Related Event: Crocodile Trophy
Photos of our riding in Atherton by Robert Conroy – unless stated otherwise. The beautiful, unique and welcoming town of Atherton lies approximately a 90 minute drive inland and uphill from Cairns in the beautiful Tropical North Queensland region. It was set to be our first port of call on our Tropical Training Camp. The area is […]