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News from FGP land...
Thursday, 02 June 2011 23:25
Well yes, things have been a little quiet around here lately. Quiet, but wet.
You may have noticed that for the first time in about 15 years we've actually had some rain which has put a dampner on our ability to forecast and plan the events that we love hosting.
In February the Berwick Area Parklands received heavy rains and extreme weather conditions which caused significant damage. Tracks and trails in Lysterfield Park were some of the hardest hit, sustaining substantial erosion making them unsafe and unviable for future use.
To ensure visitor safety, Parks Victoria temporarily closed all walking, equestrian, and mountain bike tracks and trails - including all fire management roads in Lysterfield Park.
Parks Victoria is working hard to carry out assessments and maintenance to reopen the parks and trails as soon as possible. Where significant damage has occurred insurers need to assess the site before approving works. In the context of recent emergency situations in Victoria, Queensland and New Zealand, the timeframe for this is unfortunately extended.
Some trails have been re-opened and limited repair works are ongoing.
We've been solidly working alongside Parks Victoria in ensuring that the recovery works to the trails @ Lysterfield Park are progressing in a timely and positive manner. Our little brother Trailmix, funded the design and contruction of the new pump track and dirt jump park @ Lysterfield Park and have spent many days and hours out on the trails assisting the Lysterfield & District Trail Riders Inc and Parks Victoria to the best of our ability.
So where does this leave our 2011 events?
Parks Victoria are currently working on the trail recovery project, with the first part of this project being the re-building of the M2006 Competition Trail. Once the construction crew is appointed, underway and nearing completion then PV & FGP will assess the timeline and schedule Round 4 of the '10 CTS Series as well as the 2011 Chase the Sun MTB Series.
In the meantime we can release some sneak preview news about some other events.
New trailworks @ Westgate Park have finally kicked off, be sure to check out the Jeep Dirt Crits each and every Thursday night to be a part of the excitement that ClubFGP are bringing back to Westgate. Well done team on getting to this stage, it's been a very long journey for ClubFGP, FGP & PV.
The pump track work so far is looking the goods.
The Jeep 24hr will be back in more ways than one this year. Time-out from Lysterfield has prompted us to get back to our roots; advocacy and opening up trails through events. We are currently working closely with locals and PV staff on a trail network that will host the 2011 Jeep 24hr.
Hands up those who remember with fond memories sunny, dry and warm 24hr events??? We can't tell you where, but it's going to be awesomee!! As always it'll be on the last weekend in November. (26th-27th November 2011).
CYCLOCROSS!!!
So while we wait for the mountain bike parks of Melbourne to be re-built and re-open we thought you might enjoy something a little different. Something where riding through a section of mud is not something to be frowned upon and guilt-ridden. This is Cyclocross. This is the X-Melbourne Series.
In cyclocross, riders race laps around a short course that usually features some pavement, some dirt, some forest, some steep hills and for good measure, some obstacles thrown in that require riders to dismount, work their way through and then get back on and ride some more.
The course is usually 1.5 to 3.5 km, with a race lasting anywhere from 30 to 75 minutes. Maybe 80% of the course will be ridable, with the rest made of natural obstacles like creeks and fallen trees combined with man-made barriers like bales of straw and low fences.
Get the idea? Like the fellas over at Dirty Deeds Cross Series we will have multiple categories, so you can give this style of riding a go, even if you dont have a cyclocross bike and all you have is your trusty MTB.
Our first round will be on July 31st. We will be releasing more details very very shortly.
Anyone with entry fees in our system can use these fees towards any of our events; Jeep 24hr, CTS, X-Melbourne, Jeep Dirt Crits etc.