Lach's blog

Missed last year's Back Yamma when it was cancelled due to flooding, but this year it was dry as a bone. The tracks had been at least partially restored, although what I'd remembered as a 50km loop was this year 2 x 25kms (or 2 x 28km actually). It's now a club race run by Orange MTBC and it was a pretty relaxed and relatively small scale affair.

First time riding at Rydal. Usual casual but smooth organisation from Rocky Trail. Nice little track courtesy of CTMTB. The track flows pretty much along the side of a ridge, crosses over and then flows back up along the other side. Not much in the way of climbing or descending, just plenty of tight single track. Brake, pedal, brake, pedal. On it all day. Plenty of trees and branches on corners. As a tall guy, I felt at some risk of concussion if I didn't get the cornering right.

Had another blast racing around the dry and dusty tracks of Back Yamma Forest this year.

From the start we were off in a cloud of dust, with a bit of jockeying for positions prior to the first bit of single track. I’d been a bit casual about the start, so was in a large bunch and settled down to about 10th place in a train once the single track started. Must have been a few dozen on ahead as well.

The weather was perfect and the terrain and track layout fantastic for this event. Props to Kevin and his team for putting this all together for what is a "once a year" event on this unique bit of single track at Coolah. A smallish field, with mens under 45's and over 45's and female categories, in each of the 3 distances (1 lap, 2 laps, 3 laps).
But boy, is it a tough race.....

After missing last year's event, I headed out to the Back Yamma State Forest on Saturday for another go round on this country track. Camped overnight at the event centre - plenty of space and no restrictions on campfires makes for a great camping experience there. Had a short spin on Saturday arvo to free up the legs after a few hours in the car and then lined up Sunday morning for the 50 km version.

Cold start. Pretty good crowd. A big gap between the start times for the 40-49 group and the 50-59 group, so a clear road ahead. Lost time on the leaders on the first hill at the station because they ride like maniacs... The view at the start of the fire trail down onto the plains right though to the CBD was the clearest I can recall for years. I nearly stopped to take it in. Nearly...

Incorporated the Bigfoot into a weekend road trip with a mate to watch the Panthers v Dragons at Wollongong on Friday night and a drive across through Goulburn, Crookwell, Boorowa and Eugowra on Saturday. Not the best pre-race regime I've ever put together, but a quiet night on Saturday after dinner at Parkes Leagues club meant a reasonably fresh start on Sunday morning.