Hey all,

I will be going down to this - http://tr.nelson.co.nz/freedommarathon.htm

with Greenbastard and anyone else that is interested. I've been the last two years and love it, mainly because of the climbing but there is descending too. If anyone's keen they should come and smash it!

Here's a brief course description:

60k/40k/20k Course info:
All riders follow the RED arrows. The 60k is quite a bit more epic for riders (some riders say its equivilent to a 100k), the 40k is a shorter but still challenging course. The 20k event is for those riders who havent got much training in but know how to handle their bikes and ride downhills with confidence (this event is challenging also). It follows the first 20k of the route. The 60k and 40k events follow the same path for 34k, then the 40k returns to finish via a 6km descent!

Dirt roads, fire trails, and double tracks. Clay hard pack, awesome tree cover. Fast ,fun flowing climbs/descents (Eastern Fire break, Peates mtn rd, Boulders rd, Quondong trail, Quirks trail, Telephone Rd). 99% of the course is in the Forest.

Special features lots of climbing and descending (including the Gibbergunyah rd descent of 10km+ on the 60k course) and crossing the top of Minyon falls and Quondong falls. The course also surrounds the stunning Rocky Creek dam and catchment area.

National parks have again approved 3 new great tracks for use for the Freedom MTB Marathon including a 2k single track section.

This course is awesome and will put a smile on your face!

60k riders Time cut off info:
If you have not reached the 60k/40k course split at 34k in 3hrs (12.01pm NSW time) you must continue on the 40k course (6k downhill to the finish).

Course details:
Total climbing/descending in (60k: 1779m) (40k: 1395m)
(Thats 5000ft+ of descending folks!!!)

Yes, it's a beautiful area -
I have one good memory of that 60km race two years ago, I was belting down one of the roads, when this thing ran out in front of me - it was a Koala with a baby joey koala clinging on its back ! So cute! I stopped and looked , then mummy Koala just hissed at me and climbed up a tree.

All other memories of that race have been wiped from my memory - toooo painful.

treat to participate in such marathon.

I did it last year and had a ball, highlight was the last section of single track, will need legs of steel thats for sure, loads of climbing. Go up to the top of the camping area on the left side of the toilets is a wikid little single track following the creek you can come back up the main Rd or turnaround and ride it back....

I was there last year and believe me it was great fun over there, but unfortunately I haven't attended this one.

I have been there 2 years ago and it was very hard to survive with all those pain. You have to climb a lot with all strength you have and then again run for racing. It was surely enjoyable but also painful.