The major mountain biking event in the New England region, UNE 12 Hours in the Piney, is coming up on Saturday March 23.
This is a 12-hour Enduro race where competitors complete as many laps of the 13km course as possible between 10am and 10pm. Most people race in a team of two or four, taking turns to ride a lap however there are a growing number of dedicated fitness freaks who compete solo, riding lap after lap for 12 hours.
Now in its third year the race is solely organised and run by New England Mountain Bikers, NEMTB. The numbers of competitors have doubled each year, and the club is expecting in excess of 300 riders this year.
The event is held on the mountain bike trails at the Armidale State Forest, otherwise known as “The Piney”.
This year the club has extended the trails to connect to Charleston Willows. This provides a large, flat area for camping and transition with power, toilets and other facilities.
Tents, marquees, music, fine food, quality coffee, big screens with live timing updates and places, demo bikes, sponsors give-aways, presentations and plenty of other sources of excitement will welcome each rider at the end of each lap.
There will also be free camping at the transition area, right on the track.
The cost of entry to the event ranges between $25 to $65, depending on the ages of the entrants and the numbers in each team. Entry needs to be completed online.
Check out the rego link on the event web page: www.12hoursinthepiney.com.au All entrants will receive a rego pack at registration will all sorts of goddies in it.
The official time to pick up these packs is 6pm to 8pm on Friday night, March 22. This will be held at the Armidale City Bowling Club.
World 24-hour mountain bike champion, Jason English, will be back again to defend his title from last year.
English said last year “The UNE 12 hour in Armidale is a great event on a great track. I’ll be recommending this event to everyone.” Fellow elite solo rider Andrew Hall will also be returning.
Hall pushed English all the way last year and finished in second place.
The SES and St Johns Ambulance will both be in attendance during the event. In return, NEMTB donates some money to these groups. Any other money raised will go straight back into maintaining and building trails in the local area, thanks to the thousands of volunteer hours from NEMTB club members.
The UNE 12 Hours in the Piney is an event for everyone, not just hard-core mountain bikers. Sure there are some gnarly A lines on the track, but each has an easier and smoother B line. These are of course slightly slower than the A lines. All visitors and locals who participate in this great event will have a rewarding time with this spectacular and friendly event. Check out the event website for more details: www.12hoursinthepiney.com.au
