Mudsters of the Universe is a Brisbane based blog aimed
at raising Cyclocross interest in South East Queensland

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Kids Race Cheap

Just a quick update on the entries and ride permits.

Adults $10
Kids $5

You can race on any valid CA, MTBA or BMX license.

If you don't have one of the above licenses you can purchase a day permit or 3 ride permit.

Kids day permits are discounted at $20.
Adults are still $33 for the day, $44 for a 3 ride.

Oh yeah - the bike below is NOT a prize, as much as I would love it to be.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

I Hope You Are Ready

Because the guys from SRAM are. How ready? Try a fully loaded Crux with Zipp stem, seat post, carbon bars, Avid shorty ultimates, top of line SRAM components and Zipp 404 carbon clinchers.


There are also a few updates.

Entry fees are now cheaper Adults $10, Juniors $5 (to make it easier on the change)

A Grade Cyclocross is now 45min + 1 lap

If you need a permit on the day please let me know as these need to be pre-purchased and we would hate to run out.

Registration will be open between 11am and 1pm only. If you show up later then that you better bring a Caramello Koala.

Food and drinks. There may or may not be a coffee guy who also stocks a few snacks. Otherwise there is a servo across the road and Cannon Hill shops about 500m away.

Monday, August 27, 2012

2 of 3 - Dirty Deeds CX Rapha Supercross

I had last week off to get over the fallout from the now famous hepatitis creek. I felt a lot better by the end of the week, so I packed my bags and made ready for the trip to Melbourne for part two of my cyclocross tour of Australia.

When I left Brisbane there were 26 degree days - shorts and thongs weather. Melbourne was a lot colder then I expected. I could go on about freezing at DISC and how a hot water bottle saved me from hypothermia, but this blog is about cyclocross so let's get into it.
The Dirty Deeds crew know how to put on a cross race and this round of DDCX was no ordinary affair, it was a Rapha Supercross. In usual Rapha style they got their epic on. The course was sprayed with pink and black barrier tape and some huge pink flags in the middle of the track. I did hear someone mention that it looked like a quidditch field - an epic quidditch field.


I entered myself in B grade along with our QLD Cyclocross State Championship organiser, Scott Kirton. That's right 2 Queenslanders representing!!! The field was quick and finding the right lines in the muddy center was constant trial and error. On the back section there was a steep off camber decent that required some delicate brake work to navigate upright. Riding up the adjacent climb was just as technical, I opted to run it every time. Then it was a fast lap around the outside and back into velodrome to start the next lap.

There were so many nice bikes to perv on, I did catch myself a few times mid race admiring passing cross machines instead of watching my line. I have to give Nick two big thumbs up for the course layout, it was a hit with races and spectators alike. 
After my race I got a chance to watch the A grade men ride. It was a fast race with some highly skilled riders putting on a great show. The lower skilled rides also put on a good show, rolling down the run up and binning it on the path, much to the crowds appreciation. I have been a Lewis Rattray fan ever since I heard about him racing in the CX world championships earlier this year, I got a pretty good picture of him too.


Things I didn't know about Melbourne. Everyone sleeps in, everyone is vegan, everyone likes cats, everyone has a beard, everyone wears black, everyone rides a bike and everyone loves cyclocross (except councils, but we all knew that). Melbourne mud is also very polite, sure it is everywhere, and it goes all over your bike, but once it's had enough it just falls off. Even the stubborn bits just flick off, no chisel needed.

I have to put the biggest thanks of the weekend out to my hosts Andrew and Kate. Without the invitation to attend and an offer of lodging I would have never made it. Plus, Andrew did two airport runs which I can never say thank you enough for.

Next on the list is getting everything sorted for the Balmoral Mudsters Cyclocross race, organised by yours truly.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Ghetto Cross

A mate of mine, Marty, was so pumped after banging his pots and pans on the hill at Ipswich on the weekend he just had to get some action. So he went home and looked through his bits, and with the help from a few Mudsters donating tyres and bars, threw this together.



That's a 1 X 9 setup using a bashguard and modified front derailleur to keep the chain snug upfront. I am always happy when a local cross bike is born - no matter how "unique". Can't wait to see it in action at Murarrie.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

1 of 3 - Queensland State Cyclocross Championships

Somehow I have managed to book myself in for 3 cross races over 3 consecutive weekends. After yesterdays effort I am hurting, I hope my body gets a chance to recover between races. 

As I am sure frequent readers of my blog know, yesterday was the Queensland State Cyclocross Championships held by the Ipswich Cycling Club. It was an awesome sunny day (maybe a little bit windy) and as usual Scott managed to put together a well thought out challenging course.

The kids got the party stared and I have no idea how they got across the creek, it was pretty deep. They did an awesome job negotiating the obstacles and pushing their bikes up the stairs and all those hills. Good job to all of them, some of those bikes were HEAVY.

Next up was the Open category, lots of MTB's and a few single speeds. Daniel Angus did a good job on his single to pick up a silver medal - not bad for a trackie. Mudsters helper Mark was plagued by pinch flats and slow leaks but after a few pit stops managed to finish the race.

B Grade had a strong showing and this is the race I entered. I started slowly remembering how quickly I burnt out last year. This tactic worked well and I stayed at the back for the rest of the race. Lots of back and forth with positions all across the field made for fun racing. The guys on the hill with the pots and pans kept everyone pumped through the back section. About that creek again, on my 3rd lap I went far right looking for a shallower crossing and thought my head was going to go under, Andrew Demack actually disappeared for a few minutes. The other Mudster helper, Simon, passed me on the last lap and finished his first cross race with a smile.

Almost as soon as we had finished the big race of the day, A grade, lined up for their 50mins of suffering. For the first few laps there was a solid group of 5 that held together on the front. Slowly they became 2 and it stayed this way until the end. A pinch flat 200m from the finish saw the winner claim victory unchallenged. This was by far the most exciting race I have ever seen in person, the battles for every position were tight and riders kept on giving everything they had.

The full results can be found here.

Other race reports can be found at Ipswich CX and Briztreadley.

I didn't get any pictures of the races but the guys from Veloshotz have a nice little galley for you to flick through.

Next I am down to the Dirty Deeds CX Rapha Supercross Extravaganza. Then I will be back to do the last minute running around for the Balmoral Mudsters of the Universe Cyclocross race. What's with all the stupidly long names?

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Who Will Be Crowned?

Today is the last day to register for the QLD Cyclocross Championships. You can still do it on the day but it will cost you more. If you are going to need a 1 day or 3 day license let Scott know early because they are pre-purchased, and with an expected 100 strong field you might miss out. Scott's email can be found on the flyer for the event.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Things Are Falling Into Place

We are still tying up a few things with Cycling Queensland so details on how to enter will be available very shortly, I promise.

Don't have a race license? Grab a 3 race license while entering at Ipswich and use it at both CX events.

I got a chance to head out to Murarrie today and finalise the course. It is flat, dry and fast. Check out the map and get an advantage on the competition. Word of warning, there may or may not be a Magpie somewhere on the course, I won't ruin the surprise by telling where exactly.



Oh yeah - if you still don't have a bike check another local bargain.

In case you have forgotten the QLD Cyclocross Championships are on next weekend. Go and enter now!!!!

Monday, August 6, 2012

A Couple Of Things

Thanks to Scott for putting on a fun and challenging skills day out at Ipswich yesterday. We got to practice a few high speed dismounts/remounts. During which, I was trying to be a bit too pro and failed to unclip in time ending up cleaning up both of the practice barriers. He also took us on a ride around Limestone and Queens Parks, flying around the Sunday picnickers, up and down the hills, dips, stairs and paths was great fun.

If you need something to get fired up for the upcoming local cross races check out this video from Round 2 of the Specialized Cross Melburn race last weekend. Look at all those Crux!


Excited and need a cross bike? If you are a shorty maybe you would like to throw a bid on this Crux.