CHECK OUT THE LATEST RACE REPORTS FROM TEAM MCGEE!
National XCO Series Wrap - Karen Evans
The National XCO series is over for 2014-2015 and with some tight racing this year I was able to take the Series Win. The series kicked off in the You Yangs Victoria where the trails are set up and around what seemed like a Quarry. The track was vert technical with lots of rocks steps ups and drop downs. It's a very scenic track and worth a visit.
Next up was Pemberton, a 3 hour drive from Perth. It's a fabulous town, a nice little holiday place with plenty of accommodation. The mountain bike trails start and finish at a large swimming hole and there is a park with great facilities such as bbqs etc. Definitely a place for the whole Family to enjoy. The trails are fun fun fun not too much climbing and there is loads of singletrack and flowy berms.
Stromlo saw the 4th round of the series, and of course they used the World Cup XCO course. I don't mind 'Cardiac Arrest' and 'Hammerhead' now it's been tidied up as I've had lessons with Ben Henderson on these trails.
The last round of the National Series was run on the same weekend as the Oceania Championships so it made the trip to Toowoomba worthwhile. Personally I loved the trails as there was a good combination of climbing, technical rock sections, then flowing berms. The course suited me so I was lucky enough to take the win in the Oceanias on the Thursday then backed up Friday to ride a slightly different course with a few more hills to take another win, which earned me the series.
A big thank you to my sponsor McGees Cycling Store, for servicing my bikes, their knowledge, training program's, advice on anything I need to know. I've learnt to always support my local bike shop and you will reap the rewards.
Since upgrading to my Trek Mountain Bikes I gave found my racing improved immensely. A good bike really does make a difference! My Trek Superfly hard tail and a Superfly dual suspension never let me down. I also spend plenty of time training on my Trek Emonda road bike.
6 + 6 Rocky Trail Race
Some of my team was injured this year so no 24hour mixed rocky trail race for TSR. Oh we'll do the 6+6 Solo & I'll enter Elite to step up the Competition Rod & Ben were doing a pairs so I was looking forward to hanging with them & catching them out on the track as we were lapping. I started out nice and fresh on Saturday and decided to just ride my own race then check the results Saturday night to see what I needed to do position wise come Sunday, I finished having done 8 laps. Turns out I was the only Female Elite Entry so Julianna put me in the masters so I had some competition. Overall I'm super happy to have taken out the Female Overall win at the Rocky trail. Thanks to McGees Cycle Store the Trek Superbly Dually handled the Mt Annan Course really well.
Kowalski Classic 2014
Kowalski Classic was held last week at East Kowen Forest and Sparrow Hill, ACT and is known for its Predominate Singletrack Course using Sparrow and Kowen
It was a Glorious Spring Day and loads of Riders were warming up ready to ride.
I have had great results each year in 2012 100km finishing time 5.27 7th Overall,2013 50kms 2.57 6th overall.
This year i was racing the 50km and I wasn’t sure how I would go.The Kowalski falling on Day 12 of back in Training.Kath Bicknell advised to practice my cornering etc and get my flow back on my Bike ,my goal to eat regularly and aim for around 3 hours.Chops advice take in a Good Attitude give the legs no Respect and no Rest and Smash it!!Yep I can do that.
I was really looking forward to the race no pressure just get the first Race on my Calendar done and try and meet some Goals.
I had an Awesome ride enjoyed every minute of it.
Anyone heading down to ride Sparrow make sure you take Blinky bill which leads you over to Likity Split which is all Downhill and great rock Berms.
Good result 2.49 time 7th Overall,other Club riders competing were Leah Childs who came second in Veterans 100KMS, Keith McKellar Stewart finishing eighteenth in Super Masters 100KM and John Van Dem Ham finishing 21st in the same category. This is a very tough 100km race,as you can see I only did the 100km one year and was just happy to be able to finish so well done to these guys.
Many thanks to MCGEES cycling store for all their help with my Racing :)
Club race 14/09/14
It was a beautiful spring morning for the club race last Sunday. 27 riders turned up to race and seemed keen to get started.
My goal was to have a good race in B grade and Rod (A Grade) was to finish haha
Eligh took off in A grade and had the win with ever consistent Mick Cady in 2nd with Rod(singlespeed) happy in 3rd
The young whipper snappers shot off the line in B Grade I was no where near that pace, shikes I'm in trouble, Steven Saunders reigned them in for a win with Jack Strachan 2nd and Cameron Butcher 3rd
C grade went to Leah Child then David Hogan and Jane Cavanough
D Grade saw Geoff Dark in first with young Maizy Evans And Lucy Quince 2nd and 3rd places
Great race and good times to come with spring taking us into Club champs and then our summer racing series with prizes galore
Winter is over its time to get some training in !!!
National XCM Series 2014
Round 5 Convict 100
This was the last race in the Series and a 2nd place for me but a Series Winner so very very pleased with my results and winning both National Series was an amazing finish to some very busy months of Racing.
John VDH travelled up and Leah Child's came up for a quick half marathon.
MCGEES were represented there in plenty with myself doing the 100 and Brad and Rod doing the 50.
Rod led the group up the first Steep climb and when they got to the top Brad said what were you thinking!
Loved the village atmosphere of St Albans and the camping down by the River opposite the Pub was excellent
National XCM Series 2014
Round 4 Atherton
Woohoo that's what sums up riding in Cairns - the best
Myself, Leah Child's and John VDH headed up to race in Atherton and watch the UCI World Cup round in Cairns
We stayed at Trinity Beach, it's so nice and you can ride straight from your accomodation to the Trails behind the university.
It was very exciting to see all the Team riders spinning their way around town.
Well Atherton was going to be fun as it was wet wet wet, the Trails are super fast and super flowy, the climb up the tops a bit steep! But well worth it for the descent down the berms.
The XCE was a very slippery track, we raced there in Atherton the same day.
I managed to crash 6 times during the race due to the conditions, nothing serious just couldn't stay on the bike.
John had mechanical issues and couldn't race. Leah did the half marathon and made it on to the Podium!
I managed a win and took the Series lead.
We capped off a great few days away watching all the action races at the World Cup round.
National XCM Series 2014
Round 3 Wombat 100
Locals attending Meg Patey, John Lascelles and John VDH
The wombat was the perfect race for me. I have raced the wombat 100 before so I knew what I was up for and it all just went to plan
The wombat only has 2 categories; the elite 100 and then everyone else. I was able to win overall in the non elite race and would have placed 3rd in the elite race. I was at the start and felt good. I thought I'm going out from the start and they will all have to chase me down and luckily that worked.
My problem on the bike is eating, I don't like to eat on the bike at all (don't worry I make up for it off the bike) so some races I starve. I really tried to organise food for this race and force myself to eat and that's what made the difference.
Both Johns enjoyed their races and Meggy did the 50 and was on the Podium
We stayed in Dayleford which is DEFINETLY worth a visit and ended the race at Hepburn
National XCM Series 2014
Round 2 Mount Joyce
Karen Evans, John VDH, Leah Child's, Andrew Wernick & Craig McGee raced.
We stayed in Beaudesertand it was a short drive out to Mt Joyce MTB trails at Lake Wyaralong
Andrew was excited to be testing out his new Project one Trek superfly. Craig & Andrew were doing a work/mtb weekend so they weren't with us for the track checkout ride in the morning. I thought the track looked good and would really suit me as there was a lot of technical downhill & some steep climbs.
The boys on the other hand thought differently! Craig thought it was too hilly and poor Andrew buckled his wheel on a rocky section so it was a shame he couldn't continue racing.
Race day started out dry but ended in deluge. I was lucky to have Craig & Andrew as my pit crew. I enjoyed the race but I still felt like I had a bit in my legs left at the end, and only pulled the bronze medal. Leah did the half Marathon.