XCguy wrote:Bring it on.

hope you are going to race craig - I don't feel it's a proper race unless I can watch you or Clarky (or preferably both) vanish into the distance

At this stage I am hoping to. Having organised 7 races on the course but never raced on it myself I figured I may as well if I can. But with the amount of riding I have done in the past few months I doubt you will see me riding off into the distance. Clarky is just riding on the Saturday. He should be there on Sunday kicking our butts though.

XCguy wrote:He should be there on Sunday kicking our butts though.

a man who's just brought flash f100x forks surely must be planning a sneaky comeback - maybe he'll spring a wee surprise on us!

The Vulcaniser course is too tough for me now. It makes my back scream. I'm saving my energy for barracking marshalling and putting sticks in your spokes encouraging.

Hmmm, I should double check with you guys... are we allowed on the course on Friday?

Open day and practice is on Saturday.

Race is on Sunday

wgtngrl wrote: Hmmm, I should double check with you guys... are we allowed on the course on Friday?

like the rat said - practice is saturday ONLY - so you'll have to settle for sweet port hills singletrack if you want a leg stretch friday

Clarky wrote: The Vulcaniser course is too tough for me now. It makes my back scream. I'm saving my energy for barracking marshalling and putting sticks in your spokes encouraging.

i will be marshalling too... just like last time you did it John!!

Ah, I think the marshalls shall have many points of attack support for riders we know!!

danose wrote:

wgtngrl wrote: Hmmm, I should double check with you guys... are we allowed on the course on Friday?

like the rat said - practice is saturday ONLY - so you'll have to settle for sweet port hills singletrack if you want a leg stretch friday

Ah bum! And we just rewrote my programme... well at least I can use the photo tour to familiarise myself with the course a bit before Sat.

Soooo, anyone around on Friday who can show me a good loop on the Port Hills around 2pm? Pref something similar in time and distance to the Vulcaniser...

wgtngrl wrote:

Soooo, anyone around on Friday who can show me a good loop on the Port Hills around 2pm? Pref something similar in time and distance to the Vulcaniser...

I would if I was not at work!! Anyway the last vorber I went for a ride with is now broken (Herbman) so I am not sure I would be the best person for the job

wgtngrl wrote:Soooo, anyone around on Friday who can show me a good loop on the Port Hills around 2pm? Pref something similar in time and distance to the Vulcaniser...

There are no comparisons, which is why both areas are

but happy to show you a loop that you can repeat
Are you mobile?

wgtngrl wrote:Soooo, anyone around on Friday who can show me a good loop on the Port Hills around 2pm? Pref something similar in time and distance to the Vulcaniser...

we don't have anything quite as undulating as the course local (all the climbs/descents tend to be a bit bigger), but a lap up old bowenvale / over mt vernon & back / down flying nun is about the same duration and a good leg workout

if you can handle having the rat and myself as tour guides we'll show your around!

mtbrat wrote:

wgtngrl wrote:Soooo, anyone around on Friday who can show me a good loop on the Port Hills around 2pm? Pref something similar in time and distance to the Vulcaniser...

There are no comparisons, which is why both areas are

but happy to show you a loop that you can repeat
Are you mobile?

Aah, all sorted now - thanks for the offer

snap...

I was thinking that route, more or less

I have been preparing by doing some Victoria park laps...This would be more like the vulcaniser with the abrupt ups and downs...from skidder site up the main straight to the the top and then down thru the blue gums and down dazzas + past the 40ftr down the single track to the creek jump and out the xc track to the bottom of k2 and then back up to do all over again...and other variations on the same theme...Short hard climbs and tight single track are the key elements..