Vic State XC Series Rd 3 Report

The third round of the Vic State Series took riders up to the Bendigo track, which is filled with rocks, tight singletrack, steep climbs, bermed downhills and rock drops. The course is punishing, and throw in some 34 degree heat the race turns into a test of attrition.

The beauty of this course, is its actually easier to ride it fast (does that make sense). The course is constantly littered with large rocks, or trees so that you need to maintain pace to help the course flow.

I found in the later laps when I slowed it felt like I was performing a series of right angle turns, where-as the first laps were a free-flowing fun fest!

Both Ben and myself made the trip up to race, with Ben deciding his skinsuit was better off in Elite while I choose bibs/knicks to race in Vets. Ben choose his ASR Carbon, while I stuck with my decision of riding my ARC.

In Veteran Men’s (which in Victoria is having great attendance), the race was all about trying to ride consistent laps, and take on as much water as you could on the course.

I joined eventual race leader Russ on the first two laps, each swapping turns on the open climbs in-between singletrack. Russ choose wiser that both Ben and I, choosing to ride a carbon YETI ASR5 which was perfectly suited to the course. On lap three, he let go of the brakes on the long rocky downhill, and I didn’t see him again till we shook hands at the finish line.

The race itself was a blur, you look forward to the bits of the course you like, and dred the sections you don’t. My first 3 laps were all about fun, but on the 4th and 5th lap my body had taken a pounding.

I would like to blame the hardtail, but with the very fast guys in Elite all riding hardtails my argument is weak. It was around 30 minutes after the finish of the race that it really dawned on me, the Bendigo XC course is certainly one of my favourites.

It’s a challenge to race, but also a course I would go back and ride on the weekend. The A and B lines that are contained within the course are superb, with the A lines providing a test for even the elite riders to ride fast.

I personally think that XC is having a revival of sorts in Victoria, with large numbers once again turning up and clubs putting on fantastic courses. It’s also giving me a opportunity to glue my DUGAST tubular’s on for a race....as they say, all the best equipment is found in the Veterans’ Category!

Ryan Hawson