more-Ron wrote:
Will format be ~1hr with bell-lap or fixed distance/time? Not gonna go all secret on us like the SS Champs are you?

No secrets Will be one hour with bell lap. More fast and furious that way.

dented wrote:Is there any particular time to get started on the Aug 10 practice day?

12pm onwards. Should have course fairly well sorted by then so will look at setting up a mock up of the course for people to ride to test it all out and ride it in a bit, and get a bit of feedback on what works.

Entry's are starting to roll in which is good to see, i already have 10% of what I hoped to get. Should get a good turn from the Hamilton Mountain Bike club members too, so there will definitely be some tough competition.

I went on a scouting mission last week with two other riders to check course and it looks to be perfect for cross bikes, muddy and fast! Need to do a bit more cross specific training though, the dismounts and mounts require some skill

Wyatt wrote:the dismounts and mounts require some skill

That's a bit of an understatement. I went for a ride today and had to carry my bike over a couple of low barriers to get into the park. I've learnt:
a) my bike is quite heavy
b) I can't "shoulder" it 'cross style
c) it's harder than it looks on YouTube (I now see the mertis of running the front brake on the left)
d) I lack the confidence and coordination to run and jump over the barrier whilst carrrying my bike, so I may have to resort to walking.

Hopefully I can make it to the practice next weekend and pick up some hot tips (or copy someone else).

Where? Pic doesn't work for me.

Me either!

It was working earlier - when it was double posted... (Looked rather mad!!)

Okay, it's working now.

Jeez, Dented is that legal!? I would have titled the picture "aaarrrrggghhh", not grrrrrr.

You're looking good for man in his 50s then

(Within Nduro socks on too? Didn't realise that race serie had been going on so long )

The latest Spoke magazine has a nice demonstration of a CX dismount and mount.