Mammoth 2005 photos

120 brave riders turned up for another go at personal self abuse - having not learned a lesson in the last 15 years about how tough the Mammoth can be. Again they were not disappointed.
This year was 35km and average race time expected to be 3.5 hours. Track a secret, mystery, unknown But longer than primary School and harder than Japanese arithmetic.

This year was no exception. 1st a climb up Golf Road and Fireball road for a warm up and then straight into the 800 meter climb to the top of Fringe Hill. Straight into steep single track punctuated by tree roots, fast but short downhill bursts followed by yet another climb and hazards.

Anyone who had ridden this track before now knew that worse was to arrive and the drop into Maitai confirmed this and had everyone on edge. 6.5 km of serious technical single track soon had the field spread out over its entire length. Now down a screamer of a firebreak to the Maitai cave track. Disc brakes screaming with heat build up and no chance for riders to relax. Another climb. This time up the hill beside the dam and then still more to Teal and Packers saddle. At last the road settled into a possible reprieve. But then, what's this? Down Pig Gully Road!? This is smooth because its gets no use. No one goes there 'cause it goes no where. (Until today!)

Down as steep as a Chook's face and into Pig Stream and Packers Creek. 6 river crossings to cool the nerves. Many are now expecting to exit via the Rifle Range. WRONG! Another climb of 90 meters to yet another killer slippery, rutted downhill and then finally a sprint to the finish. Now didn't ya just love it? So, get over it and we'll see you back next year.

Bryce Buckland ?

For those wishing to extract retribution, as part of his master plan Bryce has wisely slipped out of the country until those negative feelings fade. Ed.

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Poor unsuspecting souls	Like a bunch of lemmings
Now what did he say this mean't?	So cruisy there was a chance to cut down on tyre wear