Anyone who wants to try mountain biking on for size is encouraged to join in the Tathra MTB Club’s weekend race that will span 30km of single track on Saturday.
The club’s biggest annual ride – the Enduro – is just under a month away now and Saturday’s ride will serve as an introduction, race director Justin Roscoe says.
“It’s our last hitout before the Enduro and will give everyone a chance to get a feel for the track,” Roscoe said.
He said people who have ridden the premier biking event on the coast will know what to excpect, but course officials had been extending some sections and altering a few loops for a bit more diversity.
“Our rides cater to everyone and we welcome locals and those from out of town alike,” Roscoe said.
The club is family friendly and will feature a junior ride for kids ahead of the senior ride on Saturday using a modified section of the course.
Registrations for juniors will be from 12 to 12.30pm at the Tathra Beach Country Club with a short-course event taking around 30 minutes for the kids.
A good base of riders has been regularly taking part in competitions, but Roscoe encouraged anyone who enjoys a ride to take part, especially as it will be the last event until the Enduro.
“We have sweep riders that come through in case you do have a bingle and you don’t need much more than a drink bottle, maybe an energy gel and it never hurts to have a puncture kit,” Roscoe said.
Riders are given some early open sections and the opportunity to “self-seed” so if you’re a new rider, you can settle comfortably at the back and not be concerned about holding up race leaders.
This self-seeding has proved a strong tool for the club as the speedsters get away cleanly and rivalries are starting to form across the pack.
“We have the guys that will race for line-honours, but we’re starting to see groups battling it out for bragging rights in the middle of the pack,” Roscoe said.
“Everyone has a really great spirit during the rides.”
Roscoe said this ride would form part of the club’s “winter warmer” series, but summer seemed to carry right through and tracks were in excellent condition.
“Tom Parks and Andy Johnson have been putting in heaps of maintenance on the course and they’re riding really well,” he said.
“I got out there over the weekend and they’re running quite good.”
Junior and senior rides start at the Tathra Beach Country Club on Saturday with junior registrations from 12pm and senior registrations from 1pm for a 2pm start.
