Wollongong Mountain Bike Club

Rock Wallaby 27th May 2012

Wednesday, 09 May 2012 20:47 |

Author: Steven Di Pietro |

This race is a huge promotion for our club and the amount of time that we

have spent promoting our track.

Joe and Fiona from Chocolate Foot are donating 5 free entries to WMBC . To allocate these entries you need to email me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and you have to at least raced twice

this year and we will put your name into a draw.

Don’t forget to put your contact details. If your partner or friend is riding, we need people out on the course to make everything go fine, it’s great hanging out in the bush and it’s only at the max a 2 lap race. Chocolate Foot will look after you.

Urgent Track Work 19th May 2012

Wednesday, 09 May 2012 20:43 |

Author: Steven Di Pietro |

With the Rock Wallaby the following weekend we have to modify and

adjust some parts of the track. The more the merrier, bring your bike, bring

your kids for a morning in the bush. We are not talking about moving

mountains, just cleaning up the track and we’re usually finished by 12 with

an 8 start.

Race report 6th May, 2012

Wednesday, 09 May 2012 20:27 |

Author: Steven |

Everything was going fine , we set up early, we actually were organized and computer entries flowing. Then the computer realized that the operator wasn’t Gwyn (who is in South Africa doing a 1000klm race) and spat the dummy. Two races in 3 weeks , this computer loves you Gwyn and you only!

We again had to manually record (thanks Mark) all times with Scott and Andy ripping a spreadsheet together after their rides and also putting together a BBQ. Credit and thanks to Scott and Andy who went up the previous day and made the first creek crossing more user friendly to say the least.

It’s things like this that are making the club really be noticed in both the results riders are getting and how good the track is. More people are repeating the phase “ if you can ride Appin you can ride anywhere!”

When riders go to other tracks to race and people find out they’re from WMBC and ride Appin, they put 2 and 2 together and see why they’re riding so well.

Last weekend one rider came in and said that he was going so well on all the technical sections and then went bush on a very easy section, his brain went into “this track is easy mode” and then the track said “go you ‘and threw him. This Tharwal Aboriginal land wants respect and it gets it, it just sort of knows what you’re thinking!

The track, work this out, was wetter on the higher sections and dryer on the lower areas. I thought water flowed downhill. Appin is always full of surprises.

Daniel McDonald , who years ago started at Appin before ending up on

the World circuit and won , stated that “ he forgot the concentration level

that he had to go.”

Performing well in their divisions were Ian King (vet), Riley King and Ben Metcalfe (u13, 40min) Nic Hoye (M) Callum Carson (u17 who gave Daniel McDonald a scare) and Zena Metcalfe (W) who was trying to find Ben. Also noticed were “Singlespeed Washington” who reckons the track is too flat, but did an Elvio (who didn’t show up) at the first creek crossing.

Young downhillers Jake, Scott and Patrick who came to pickup their fitness were definitely heard with their laughter. Listening to their stories of the nearly 1 lap they survived , including being lost twice and wondering what the yellow arrows meant, made older and experienced

riders smile as maybe they remembered what it was like to be 15 and riding

through the bush with their mates.

I had to drive them home and still the stories kept on, thank heavens it wasn’t a 24hr race !

The after race BBQ , run by celebrity chef Scott Carson used his track building skills to fill the holes in the riders. The plate draw was fun with prizes donated by our sponsors and junior club riders who had won prizes at other races and decided to donate them to other Appin riders, that’s the spirit that clubs’ rely on for their future.

Overall it was a really good day! The computer problem is going to be seriously sorted out or you will find the computer as a stepping stone at the first creek crossing.... Dekka

Get the full results here https://www.box.com/shared/static/0aff248737326fa965fd.pdf

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 May 2012 20:41 )

April 2012 Results and News

Sunday, 29 April 2012 23:02 |

Author: Steven |

Even after 2 preceding days of track maintenance we could not rid the track entirely of water that continued to appear. The course was shortened to 6.5 klm cutting out the wet area at the top of the eastern area, the track was dryer on the lower sections?? This did not deter 35 riders who pumped out great times.

Callum Carson (U17) led from start to finish closely followed by Jorge Baron. Riley King and Ben Metcalfe continued their on going battle in U15. A computer malfunction occurred as

the race briefing was happening so we had to record all times by hand with the grateful assistance of Liam and Chris.

The results had to be transferred to a spreadsheet and sorted the best we could. Download them here.

It then had to be mailed to Brazil (yes brazil) where Steve, our publisher, is at the moment as Gwyn our other computerman is in South Africa doing a 1000klm XC. The results are not in all the correct categories but it was the best we could do.

Elvio is noted with his spectacular testing of the water at the 1st crossing! See the picture here

Next Saturday 5th May, Scott-Avanti are holding a demo day at Appin with over 30 bikes on offer for a test ride.

Our next race is this Sunday 6th May.

(Elvio's photo made me homesick - kinda... Steven)

Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 April 2012 23:03 )

Preso night awards - congratulations everyone below

Thursday, 22 March 2012 08:17 |

Author: Steven Di Pietro |

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Wollongong MTB 2011

U17 Female

1^St Kellie Weinert

U19 Male

1^st Cameron Tavener Smith

2^nd Ryan Connell

3^rd Rhys Flahive

U13 Male

1^st Riley King

2^nd Ben Metcalfe

U15 Male

1^st Callum Carson

2^nd Aidan Kampers

3^rd Dominic Di Pietro

U17 Male

1^st Connor O’Dwyer

2^nd Jayden Ward

Male Veteran

1^st Nathan Potter

2^nd Elvio Fernandaz

3^rd Daniel Boyer

Male Open

1^st Nicolas Hoye

2^nd Reese Wagner

3^rd Matt Potter

Male Masters

1^st Ian King

2^nd Doug Pollock

3^rd Chris Metcalfe

Female Open

1^st Bree Webb

Female Veteran

1^st Dannielle Pollock

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Club Man Awards

1 . Scott Carson

2. Mark Ward

3. Gwyn Tavener Smith

4 Steven Di Pietro.

5. Grant Byrne

6. Andy Flahive

Sponsors Awards

Avantiplus Wollongong

Spearmans Cycles

Sugar Cube

If you ride Appin - you can ride!

Thursday, 22 March 2012 08:12 |

Author: Steven Di Pietro |

If you can ride Appin you can ride ! This was reflected especially with our juniors winning the Scott 24, and the Single Track Series, let alone Ben Metcalfe and Riley King (U13) who are 11 years old and doing the 10 klm Appin track in 40 minutes!

It has been quite encouraging this year to have people come forward and say “ do you want a hand” or “ what can I do” this is what a club is about .

The track maintenance (every 3^rd Sat /month, 21 April ) has been great due to Grant Byrne. The track is getting faster over the same distance, so come along and modify that particular rock that you love to hate, everyone’s ideas are taken on board. Our next big race besides the pointscore (22 April) will be the Rock Wallaby.

Callum Carson

Callum ploughed through the mud at the final round of the Australian National U17 XC series. He won the final point score and was placed 2^nd in the overall series. Jayden Ward (U17) also competed to with Callum to finish in the top 5. Kyle Ward had a good weekend finishing 2^nd for the weekend and 3^rd in the National rankings. Josh Carlson finished 3^rd for the weekend and 2^nd Nationally after breaking his wrist.

Australian all schools Thredbo.

Three hundred riders from around Australia competed over 3 days and 3 events , XC DH and Dual compressor. The weather started out on the day before as great but come Friday it was a rerun of Awaba. WMBC members Callum Carson, Jayden Ward, Connor O’Dwyer, Dom Di Pietro and Kellie Weinert all compted for their schools. Callum Carson led all the way to win the XC event, Connor O’Dwyer came 4^th in the DH. Jayden Ward powered through the deep mud to be 2^nd in the Dual Compressor and Kellie ended up beating Tegan Molloy to win the “Queen of the Mountain” title with strong results in all 3 events. All that went had a great time on and off the track.

Race Cancelled Sun 11th March

Friday, 09 March 2012 12:30 |

Author: Steven Di Pietro |

Sadly the rain has taken its toll.

The creek is now a river, and the depth of the mud is hard to judge.

So race day is OFF. Sorry everyone.

Don't forget presentation night is at Dekka's at 7pm.

It's fully catered - all food and soft drink for the night we need to know numbers of who is coming for the caterer.

Please email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) if you can make it. This is open to all riders and families who have ridden Appin, don’t be shy.

Last Updated ( Friday, 09 March 2012 12:34 )

Preso night - Baby sitting and fire pits.

Thursday, 22 March 2012 08:10 |

Author: Steven Di Pietro |

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Presentation Night.

What a great turn up for the presentation and AGM. The food was at the most, too much thanks to Golden Roast who setup early and cooked everything in front of us.

Thanks also to Go Hire who donated tables, chairs and wine glasses, all were used well.

Amazingly not 1 glass was broken. It was a big night as we we cancelled the next mornings race due to the condition of the track and more importantly the amount of muddy water flowing across the crossing, you were either in 2 inches or 2 foot as you could not see the bottom. The race cancellation was much to the dismay of some early in the night but they were grateful next morning. The only Sunday race was to get the papers and that was a slow race.

Lots of people met each other in a relaxed social atmosphere having only made their acquaintance briefly at races. Poppy and Lilly Pollock took over baby sitting duties of Emma from Dan and Dennise which was interesting.

The young guns decided to start up the fire pit using wet wood and a litre of kero whilst Chris Metcalfe relived his youth playing and getting hammered on the Fusball table by Riley and Ben. My wife Marina will be remembered examining my trail maint tool and exploding a carbohydrate can, I remember someone taking photos…..

Great night. Thanks to all who attended.

Race Results XC Round 2 2012

Tuesday, 28 February 2012 10:08 |

Author: Steven Di Pietro |

Grab the Full race results here

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 February 2012 10:08 )

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