The focus of track work has been to get the course ready for the Pleasure & Pain on 28 August which requires 25kms of primped and primed trails. There had been some damage to 'Pig' track by cows (yes, we do see the irony) getting through from the farm that borders it, but that has been bypassed with a flowing section of trail that will getter faster and faster as it beds in.Asbestos corner has a new section and the trail leading off it through to the logged area has been re-opened. While you are in the area of the creek crossing, you will see that the grass on missinghams trail (the trail that runs along the fence line after you exit the creek crossing) has been slashed and cleared with the sled (no 2011 National Marathon champs style paddock bashing on our trails - we not only cut grass, we cut back to bear earth, pack it down and fill in the holes)

Did someone mention 'Monkey Wrench'? come along to the next working bee and find out where it is.

Over in Cows with Guns, 'Barking Spiders' has been rejuvinated and is firm and fast on the drop into it. There are a couple of short new lines down near the creek and gravel base added to the soft areas - this will firm up and bed in nicely.

Thank you to those who came along to the working bee on Sunday. It's great to see people taking pride in the trails they ride. Thank you also to the chefs who put on a great BBQ and chocolate cake (we must be the most well catered for trail workers around). Finaly, those who didn't have to rush off got to enjoy a lap or 2 of the trails. A perfect sunday.

It will all happen again next sunday (7 August) meet 8am at the sawmill.

Hope to see you there

Maybe the blue sky and dry trails scared off riders, or perhaps they were just too tired after staying up to watch Cadel secure yellow on Saturday night. Regardless, they missed out on some great MTB action as Cows with Guns was back in all its glory including a rejuvenated Barking Spiders.

19 riders lined up only to be paired off to form teams. We were wondering how fast Mark Mckiernan was going to ride as he’d left his front wheel at home to reduce bike weight. Luckily Sue Webber donated her wheel, but Mark had to lose the front brakes due to different rotor sizes.

The faster riders started off at a frantic pace as the course went straight into Barking Spiders. It was then around the back section of the course and into the fast creek run before heading back to transition to send team mates off. The trail crew have done a great job as there was not a bit of mud on the trails and going by my sock tan, I rated the track as ‘mildly dusty’ – words that have not been spoken this year with all the rain.

The faster riders completed four laps and slower riders three. Being a team race, everyone seemed to push themselves really hard so as not to let their team mates down. Great to see Ado sprawled out on the ground after he finished.

Mark Wood & Drew Gilchrist combined to win by only 8 seconds over Adrian Hawke & Mark Mckiernan.

Results can be found bellow.

A big thank you to timekeeper Sue Webber & chef Andrew Watson for keeping us on track & well fed. Next week is a trail working bee. Meet opposite the sawmill on Glenifer Rd at 8am on Sunday.