mountain bikes - work - 3D - motorbikes - computers

Blue Mountains mtb rides
Careflight Woodford to Glenbrook Cycle Classic

This event happens each winter, usually late June or early July, and is held to raise funds for the Careflight helicopter service. Careflight run the rescue helicopters in NSW, and while we hope we never need them, it's good to know they're about if we do. Originally run by Western Sydney mtb Club, the Oaks Classic is now organised by Careflight themselves - more information can be found on their Calendar of Events. The race starts at Woodford railway station and follows the main Oaks firetrail, turning right onto Bennett's Ridge Road not far after the second gate (past Woody Pear Dam).  We finish in Euroka, a nice camping/picnic area where you can almost always see some grey kangaroos. Euroka's a great place to have your family and friends meet you for a post race picnic. As an added bonus, if your family meets you, you don't have to ride out! Although the ride out is fine, you should be too knackered to enjoy it after giving your all in the race...

My best time for the race is 56 minutes 11 seconds - around eight and a half minutes behind the winner of my class (Novice Veteran Men - old farts). Given current track conditions, any time under an hour will be pretty good. In 1997, some 230 other brave souls took part in the cycle and some 50 runners entered the foot race.  Over 600 competitors ran and rode in 2004!  A lot of fun - you don't have to take it seriously at all, we fun class "racers" start last so we don't get in the way of the real racers. Just as well, or their times would end up pretty poor!

Many thanks are due to the volunteers that help with this event, particularly the Rural Fire Service (aka the bush fire brigades), the local Lions club, the good people from St John's ambulance (another group whose help we hope we won't need!), and all those that contribute behind the scenes.

2005 pix

Available from Pixelpics or via Careflight. I was number 50.

2002 pix

Here are some pix from the start and finish of the 2002 Oaks Classic - I was too busy wheezing to stop and take photos during the race... All photos taken by Tony Fathers, except for the one of the fat hippy impersonating a badly painted garden gnome, taken by Dave!@ (Dave Hughes).

Cath, Jen and Mike get psyched	Terry gets serious	On your marks...	Go!
the main pack get rolling	out of our way!	finally there	start 'em young
are we there yet?	here come Cath & Jen	Jen's got a hidden helper	one in every crowd

The race is always fun and not to be missed - four and a half fat hippies

All rides are now rated in Fat Hippies - one means grab a slice of pizza and stay on the couch, two means not bad, three means well worth a ride, four means a great ride and five means stop looking at your computer, go ride it!