Whether your mouth froths at the thought of competing toe to toe with a fellow rider or you just like to get out on the weekend amongst like minded mountain bikers, there’s a place for you.

Canberra Off-road Cyclists has a venue, race, distance, gender, speed and age to suit anyone who ever rode a bike. While nationally there is an infinite number of races you can do, this article will focus on CORC’s local events. Namely cross country, short track/crits and downhill.

Cross Country

Cross country racing has long been the competitive arena for the common trail rider. With distances of between 15 and 40 km it fits within most peoples usual recreational ride time and distance. Also the cross country trails must cater for all levels so are never too intimidating.

While it seems all ‘elite’ and ‘competitive’ at first thought, the local cross country scene has an extremely relaxed atmosphere and ‘elite’ riders make up a very small percentage of the 200+ riders who turn up on the Sunday mornings. Everyone’s there to enjoy the friendly competition and test themselves in a fun environment.

Doing you first race is surprisingly easy. Just check out the CORC website for the next race date and turn up to register around the given time. On arrival you’ll see a registration tent and a line of smiling entrants. If you don’t have an MTBA license the volunteer behind the table will give you a day license ($15). From here just pick the category you’d like to ride in (they can help you decide) and attach your given race number to the front of your bike. Easy.

The race director will call up the categories one by one and you’ll begin the course. Expect between a 5 and 8 km loop taking between 15 to 40 minutes per lap depending on your ability. Also depending on your chosen category you’ll do between 1 and 5 laps.

During the race riders from all categories are on the trails at the same time. Since everyone travels at different speeds overtaking is a regular occurrence and with some courteous communication the process flows very easily. This is why it doesn’t matter how fast you go.

Top 5 Tips for you first XC race:

1. Take the race at your own pace. Don’t worry about anyone else, just have fun and enjoy your own challenge.

2. Don’t worry about what bike you have, mountain bikers aren’t out to pose and don’t judge others on their equipment. So long as it gets around the track that’s all you need to worry about.

3. Take a spare tube and pump so you can fix a puncture. If you can’t fix a flat tyre it’s only going to be a 10 min walk home from anywhere on the track so you’ll be fine. – See Ride Canberra article on fixing a flat

4. Take your kids. CORC has races for kids as soon as they can balance on a bike. They’ll have their own race course and you can give them all the help they need.

5. Take the necessary clothes and water for the conditions. You don’t want to get cold before and after the race. If its hot you’ll need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Short track/crits

Held on Thursday evenings from the beginning of November to April, these races are a great introduction to MTB racing. They’re short, fast and just like the cross country races have a relaxed atmosphere.

Just turn up, put your name down in any grade (A-D/Juniors’) and get out for a few laps of the track. A lap will be between 2-5 minutes long and it changes every week. Races are between 8-15 minutes long depending on your grade.

Just like the XC races you’re free to ride your own pace. Get out for a few practice laps before your start to get the hang of the track. Once it’s time for you to start your category will be called up and the race director will send you off.

Once you’ve completed the laps someone will be at the finish to take your result. It’s a 17 week series so you turn up to as many as you can and get some points for your tally.

Downhill

For those who love the thrill and skill of downhill riding, a downhill race gives you the chance to see how your speed compares. CORC runs regular events at many Canberra locations including Majura, Stromlo and Kowen Forest.

You’ll must have a full face helmet but further protection is optional so if your just going to check out the scene for the first time you won’t need to have all the latest gear.

Races generally start at 12:30pm and it’s a good idea to get there early for a few practice runs. One of the best things about riding at a downhill event is the transport. No more pushing your way back to the top, there’ll be a bus waiting for you at the bottom.

Registration is on the day and the people there will help you with choosing a category and inform you of your start times. There are categories for everyone including for hard tail so you don’t need a full downhill rig for your first outing.

The format is ‘best of two runs’ so you have two chances to put down your quickest time and the best one will determine your result. Its an individual timed run so there’s no pressure to ride any faster than your comfortable with.

So if you love to cruise the descents on the weekends or your pushing the limits with your mates after school, take yourself out to a downhill race and enjoy the experience with others.

10. Anyone can go mountain biking – It doesn’t matter if your name is Lance, Louis or even Neil Armstrong, you can ride a bike. You don’t need to be a particular age, height, weight or fitness level. Hell, you don’t even have to be talented! Just jump on your bike and whether you’re a school girl, office worker, tradesman, mother of six or retiree you’ll find mountain biking is just as much for you as it is for the next person.

9. It’s a challenge – It doesn’t matter you’re a novice or a pro you’ll find mountain biking holds a new challenge around every corner. Whether it’s learning a new skill, riding further or faster than ever before or tackling that obstacle that stopped you last time, you’ll be constantly challenged. Once you’ve conquered one challenge, you’ll be searching for the next one. A great cycle of satisfaction!

8. Mountain biking is safe – Contrary to outside opinion, mountain biking is a very safe pursuit. Yes there are those who take their passion to an ‘extreme’ level, but it’s not what it’s all about. While it may seem like you’re hitting Mach 2 as the terrain blurs past, most of the time you’ll be rocketing along no faster than you could run down the garden path. You’ll hit higher speeds during your Sunday ride around the lake. Out on the trails you’ve got no cars, no wayward pedestrians and no reason to go any faster than you feel comfortable with.

7. You can share your time and experience with others – No longer do blokes need to stroll around in a slow moving, distant and artificial environment in the name of a ‘social round of golf.’ The ladies needn’t gather for a sedentary, indoor ‘morning tea’ to catch up on the latest gossip. No! In the age of mountain bikes and open flowing trails you can share that time with your friends not only doing the ‘social’ thing but also having a blast together, enjoying the other 9 reasons as a group. Also what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon with your kids than exploring your local trails and laughing together?

6. It’s great for toning your whole body – So you want those muscles looking sleeker and that butt looking tighter. Maybe you like to cycle around the lake in an attempt to sharpen up. Bad news, that’s not going to do anything but work your legs. Once you’re out negotiating the trails your entire body comes alive! All your muscles work to absorb the undulating surface. Your core muscles activate constantly to balance your weight as the bike moves beneath you. Who needs that ‘Ab King Pro’ collecting dust in the corner! Lets not forget the best thing about cycling for fitness. It’s low impact! No jarring those joints and pounding that cartilage on your inevitable journey to the physiotherapist.

5. The peace and quiet – We all need it but who gets enough? Everyone needs time away from the office and away from the stresses of the daily grind. To be mountain biking is to be momentarily out of reach of society. It’s quiet, it’s calm. Just you and your bike together with your mind clear and a sense of refreshment as you re-enter the real world. Some days you want to push the limits, others you may just want to unwind and go on your own little journey of mental rejuvenation.

4. Every ride’s an adventure – The childhood need of exploration still lays deep in our matured minds, craving the expeditions, quests and journeys that we once dreamed of. While you may not want to be Edmund Hillary, it’s guaranteed you’ll be stimulated by the joy of discovering new trails, routes and destinations. You’ll find places in your own backyard you didn’t know existed. Everyone loves the unknown and it’s a life ridden in anticipation of what’s around the next corner.

3. It gives you freedom – An “exemption from external control, interference and regulation.” “The power to determine action without restraint.” Out on your bike you’re the one in control. You make the choices that determine every step of your journey. Go where you want, the way you want, unhindered by conventional rules and boundaries that dictate life on the road. Freedom is the hidden source of pleasure and satisfaction you’ll feel wherever it is you choose to ride today.

2. Mountain biking is fun! – Yes that’s open to interpretation, but dare to say you didn’t have fun out there. Sure watching movies and going to Laser Zone can be ‘fun’ but you have no control over what stimulates your senses. You have as little or as much ‘fun’ as the outside environment supplies. The ‘fun’ from mountain biking comes from wherever you seek it. You’re in control and nothing feels better than to create an exhilarating experience from your inner self. Wow! ‘I’ just did that!

1. It’s healthy! – On top of all the amazing benefits above, the one thing that mountain biking is best for is your health. Not just mentally, but physically. Why? Because all that time you’ve been riding around enjoying the other top 9 reasons, you’ve been exercising! We all know it helps weight loss and metabolism, assists in the prevention of chronic diseases, decreases the risk of heart attack, aids sleep, digestion, circulation, improves mood, mobility, sex, appetite, etc, etc. Meaning you’ll live longer and feel better doing it. Certainly a ‘number one’ reason.