Hi Chris… Don’t worry, last year the Mawddach Goldrush was my first ever MTB race as well…. I’m no fitter now than I was then mind you.

Last year there wasn’t a tiered start, but you could basically go whenever you wanted. The timing is done with timing chips so you start when you want (within a sensible window from the official start time). I’m assuming that this year will be much the same. The fastest guys will have a start time earlier than the rest of us (say 1oam) then we’ll all be able to set off anytime between 10:15am and 10:45am (I’m making these times up BTW). You can just pick a time when you;re ready within the alloted window and go when you want. This will allow the fastest guys to get off before us so we don’t get in their way and allow us to go when it doesn’t look too busy into the first bit of Single Track.

It’ll all become clear(ish) on the day!!

Al.

We have one big question…. what happens at the start? I understand the quick guys go first, but how does everyone else start? surely its not a free for all, into the first single track corner?? ha ha

If you could let me know it would be great,

Cheers Chris

Nice one Simon, you’ll enjoy it and it is worth doing the trail first before ‘race day’. There’s nothing really extreme on the trail, just a few tricky bits.

I’m hoping to do it solo this year.

Al.

I’ve just agreed to do the gold rush 2010 with my sisters boyfriend (“two tires” Steve Armfield) and I’m a bit nervous. We’re going to do the relay but I’m fairly new to mountain biking.

We’re going up to do the trail in mid January and that’ll be the first time I’ve been to a proper centre to go riding. I’m from Cornwall and have done a bit of riding round locally (round Trencrom and Trink for anyone local) and some quite challenging sections of coast path but I’m really not sure what to expect.

Really looking forward to it though as it sounds a bit of a challenge and from what you guys have written most people sound really nice.

Si

So, it was on with the waterproofs and down to the visitor centre to register and then draw straws to see which order we’d go in. I was hoping to go first so that I could then stand around taking photos but I drew the short straw and had to go third. Mark was up first and John second. Mark got ready and headed across to the start line and John and I headed across on the shuttle bus to see him off.

There were a few others from Ystwyth Mountnain Bike Club. Siriol was doing it solo as was Dave and there was another team from Summit Cycles consisting of Jimmy, Ollie and Chris. Brodie from the students club was also competing solo.

Once Mark had set off John and I headed back, I had a quick hot chocolate and cake and expected to find John had headed across to the start finish area, but he was still pfaffing about and apparently Mark finished his lap before John arrived ready to take over!

I got ready and headed across so had to wait around for a while getting cold for John to finish, I then had to quickly get changed and head off for my lap. There seemed to be quite a bit of climbing to start with and plenty of mud, but I was soon overtaking people. especially those who were on their 3rd lap and got into the swing of things. I had to get off on the rocky section of R74 which was approached in the opposite direction to normal, but otherwise nothing was too technical. I picked off a few other riders both on climbs and some of the technical sections and before I knew it I was heading back down to the start finish line and it was all over.

My unofficial time was 1 hr 3 minutes, but my official time including change over was 1:06:41.. Not bad and if I had known the course I could have done it quicker I’m sure as I still felt pretty fresh at the end. By the time I’d finished my team mates had packed up and gone home, but a few others from the Aberystwyth contingent were finishing off and hanging around so it was back to the cafe for a hot chocolate before heading home.

All in all a good day out and I enjoyed my first ever MTB event. the organisation was good, and from what I’ve heard when they were really needed the marshalls and ‘extreme medics’ first aid team were excellent (Brodie had a fall and had to be stretchered out).

I’ll be back, hopefully we raised some money for the Air Ambulance as well, especially seeing as it was called out (but not used because of the wind) for Brodie.

Al.

Apparently his bike looks OK! His Giro Atmos is a right off!!!

He basically fell 4m off the trail into a ravine and bounced quite a few times. The extraction was tricky, taking 40mins to do and involved some interesting splints and top notch extreme medics equipment. He was then transfered to the air Ambulance who decided it was too risky to fly him (it was too windy) so he was driven to Bronglais.

The outcome is ligament damage to the neck (sexy NHS collar) badly brusied shin and a hairline fracture but no cast or crutches.

Al.

Nice one Tim.. I was there, honest. I drew the short straw and ended up going third in our team by which time the field was pretty strung out so I didn’t actually see many people out on the course. I did overtake quite a few people who were on their third lap whilst I was on my 1 and only lap, but no more than on a usual day out really.

I haven’t heard news of Brodie (the guy who was air-lifted out) but will let you know how he is, as he sometimes rides with us here in Aber.

I shall try to get hold of some photos too, as going 3rd meant I didn’t have chance to take any myself and I’ll write a better report later, but I did my lap in an unooficial time of 62 minutes (excluding change over time) which I was pretty pleased with.

Al.

Mark – they did the same section (R47) backwards with that ridiculous rocky climb over the waterfall. I hope the guy that fell down there was alright. Apparently he had to be airlifted to hospital.

Another little gripe I had was with some of the racier minded guys in their lycra who didn’t show much regard for other competitors. One poor guy was mowed down twice in the space of 5mins buy two different pairs racing against each other near the end of their last lap.

Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed myself despite the weather, and would recommend others to give it a go. The course was great, marshals helpful and friendly, and scenery (with the snow capped mountains) breathtaking.

Thanks to all that helped with the event. Maybe see yo next year.

Tim

The excuses are coming already!

Al.