Capital Punishment 2011

[Smiker]

I agree re: Distance. It's odd, but most English speaking countries prefer a round number. The US has their 50 and 100 milers. We have 100k races. The UK has some 100k semi competitive events, and a 100mile marathon (which is actually 107 miles, but there you go...).

Now hop across the pond from Blighty and you get what the course/mountain/valley/village combination serves up. 78.4km? Fine. 110.6km. No problem. The race distances are what they are, dictated by the terrain. The racing comes from the quality of the course and organisation, which attracts good riders, which creates better racing. Distance does not make a good race, but it can add to the experience if used correctly.

Just my two cents.

Smiker

 

[72Fury]

No doubt most riders would struggle with the same intensity in the 100 as they could in the 50 but that is why the better amateurs and pro riders are so mindblowing.

That must be why Ben Henderson chose to race the 50km event at last week’s James Williamson Enduro Challenge in lieu of the 75km version. Olympian Dan McConnell chose to race the shorter 25km event.

They must have been scared off by all the camelback wearing punters

 

[Knopey]

I've done a couple of 50's, a couple of 80's, and a 100. There's no doubt that the achievement felt at the end, and overall effort required to finish, goes up drastically as the distance increases. (I didn't buy jerseys from the 50's I've done 'cos I didn't earn them imo, but will wear the 100's jersey all the time )

p.s. It's not alwyas the longest version that headlines - for example the Real Insurance MTB Cruise at stromlo puts the 80k forward as the premiere event I believe, with the 160 as the freaks race p ) and the shorter versions as the fun ones.

 

[pinkbike]

That must be why Ben Henderson chose to race the 50km event at last week’s James Williamson Enduro Challenge in lieu of the 75km version. Olympian Dan McConnell chose to race the shorter 25km event.

They must have been scared off by all the camelback wearing punters

methinks maybe they were tapering for another event, perhaps the Oceania Champs?

But yeah different courses for different people, there's a local girl here who is way faster than me but she trains for shorter events like the national XC series... so she enters 50km events rather than the 100km.

Then there's people like JessD and RedRacer who specialise in the enduro style events and whip everyones butts in 24 hours races but probably won't win a short course race.

However I do think that when it's a 100km event the 50km event is generally a "shorter" option rather than the focal main event - if you take an overall look at trail planning and event planning, prizes and reporting.

Like the 50k yesterday missed the best single track, the 50km at DW NSW misses the sandstone that DW is famous for and is pretty much just a fire trail ride, the 50km at the OO however missed all the mud and got the best singletrack bastards

 

[nayto]

I dont really care what others think, i ride to challenge myself and be it 25,50 or 100.... if i finish within a time i was hoping for im happy. I think for people like myself who dont have the time or motivation to do much training (no training at all before this) that 50 kms is quite enough of a challenge!
Back on topic, i think the organisers did a great job all round. Big thanks to them for a great race. I personally think they've done the best they can in regards to trails and the dirt/road ratio, plus like others have said it does break it up a bit and also make it unique.
Also i like Canberra's laid back atmosphere, if it wasnt so cold id think about living there.

 

[cam-o]

Also i like Canberra's laid back atmosphere, if it wasnt so cold id think about living there.

You get used to the cold, if you're geared up right a winter's morning ride is stunning.

 

[JD26]

Just looking through the results of the 50km, you have the top 10 in the men who are all A graders in XCO, and a few who race and win A grade on the road here in Canberra, one Xterra ex-world champion, and a few who have gained top 5 at the Australian MTB titles for XCO.

You have the same sort of ability configuration in the top 10 for the Elite 100km racers.

Often it will just come down to available time to actually train for certain events in order to put in a result commensurate with their own high level expectations of ability on a bicycle.

Some people may do it for different reasons and actually choose quality over quantity.

It's not a bad thing, 100km or 50km, is still a lot of riding on a mountain bike. Both are targetted by different people for different reasons. I don't believe that there is a blue riband event for people aiming to win either the 50 or the 100km. It is only about the personal objectives of the individual.

 

[Bushranger]

Good stuf JD,

I agree about the time to train.

I hope more courses over the 50km event are just as interesting/technical etc as the longer versions.

Just having a bit of fun with the Canberra bashing. It is a nice place to visit. I went to Questacon on Friday and had a great time. I really like the architechture and surrounds, and the MTB riding is unreal!

 

[Jandrew]

Was my first 100km race, was a blast!! Although the grass next to the airport managed to lossen the bolts on my drink bottle holder (obviously never tight enough in the first place). That section made me start to think about buying a dual suspension bike... Ironically I won the GT at the awards that night Very happy with that.

The first 50km went so quick for me, the 2nd however took a bit longer and my sore knee started to play up when I hit Stromlo. My Garmin gps watch went flat at 97km

The event was planned well I think, the food stops were much better than I expected! My bike held up better than expected, with no mechanical problems at all!! Not even a flat!! My knee held up well as well and I even managed to get in under my goal of 8 hours!

I loved some of the views of Canberra from a few of the hill tops, it was amazing!! I am going to get back to Stromlo to just enjoy it without 80km of riding first!! I wish we had something like that in Sydney.

Congrats to everyone who raced and to AROC who put on a great weather free event

 

[onyabike]

Thanks the organisers and all the volunteers who made the 2011 Capital Punishment possible. Like all marathon events Capital Punishment also has its own unique features that will obviously appeal to some and not others.

My family and I certainly appreciated the race being held on a Saturday for a change as it allowed me to recover on the Sunday whilst taking in some of Canberra’s other attractions i.e. Questacom (Great fun particularly if you have kids). I also loved the pine forest single track which was some of the best flowing trail I have ridden plus I actually enjoyed the grass paddock and bike track sections. This may make it seam like an “easier” course but I think that depends on how hard you push yourself up the final Stromlo climb. For me it was a battle between the middle ring and push or the granny and spin. Neither was that appealing and the fact that I was riding away from the finish area was very tormenting. All up a lot of fun and now I know the course I will be back to make the most of the single track sections next year.

One additional thing, I couldn't help but notice how Canberra has accepted cycling as a form of transport. Shows what great infrastructure/planning can do!

 

[chops007]

my turn

how muddy was the course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh nope that was just the bike wash area..
Im thinking from the rotorburn response everyone pretty much enjoyed wat was laid out for us, for me i i didnt enjoy the 1st 50k to much but just one of those days when you dont feel ok on the bike- a bit of carnage into the ST but maybe i just had my head down to much hence why i ended in a hole-to much new trail they sell the event by promoting you ride the best trails well new trails have not been ridden to become the best-fireroads are tops when u feel like a gumby on ST.

The paddock was easy compared to days of that at the croc trophy
The untimed section made my race made buddies with BIKE CULTURE guys so big thanks for the use of your loo.

Felt great after that so smashed it home all on my own (dont cut corners on bike path) nearly got messy. smashed stromlo as it was close to the same course as rockytrail mtb cruise.
Wish i stayed for preso instead of driving 4hrs home for a cancelled club race (via the walk in aviary at goldcreek) great tourist town old canberra.

2012 capitol punishment-start at stromlo and send us into the wilderness out the back i say. marathon=100km of wilderness.

just chops

 

[Knopey]

2012 CP no way should it miss the Kowen ST either east nor west side. Best bits of the course! Perfect course don't change it much if at all

 

[simple01]

Ironically I won the GT at the awards that night Very happy with that.

)

When did they give that away, it was the main reason I bothered battling my way into the city. We were there at seven and waited 'til the end of the prezzo the chick from AROC said it was all over, the fire works stared, we waited another 5 min while they threw out all the Skins sweat bands and then left... where was the draw for the bike???

That was the worst part, I was meant to win that bike!

the course was great, didn't seem like a lot of climbing compared to what i'd expected. The paddocks sucked (yeah i was on a hard tail) and the bit just before Stromlo was pretty ordinary too, but I don't know the area to know if there's a better way in.

The presentation was pretty bad too. A great idea to have it later in the evening at another venue, saves the elites waiting 6hrs for it or the tail enders missing out on it.... but the location sucked. mostly because of the lack of parking etc, surely there was another venue that could be used.
I think there needs to be more for the punters aswell. i.e. actually give the bike away when people are there...
Also the King Of The Mountain... I know what it is in road racing etc, but in an event like this and given you have electronic timing, why not make it the best split time from the bottom to the top. that'd open it up to a few more people so it may not always go to the pointy end of the field.

 

[tate6969]

Wish i stayed for preso instead of driving 4hrs home for a cancelled club race (via the walk in aviary at goldcreek) great tourist town old canberra.

I'm glad it was cancelled! Can't say I would have enjoyed it that much if it was on.
Catch ya at the next one.

 

[Jandrew]

When did they give that away, it was the main reason I bothered battling my way into the city. We were there at seven and waited 'til the end of the prezzo the chick from AROC said it was all over, the fire works stared, we waited another 5 min while they threw out all the Skins sweat bands and then left... where was the draw for the bike???

It was just after they handed out the Skins sweat bands.

 

[pinkbike]

) and the bit just before Stromlo was pretty ordinary too, but I don't know the area to know if there's a better way in.

Last year there was ST through Deeks it was the worst part of the course due to mud, however looks like it's being turned into a new suburb now ?? So I think they took us the only way they could.

 

[Antsonline]

..... but in an event like this and given you have electronic timing, why not make it the best split time from the bottom to the top. that'd open it up to a few more people so it may not always go to the pointy end of the field.

I would be happy to bet $1000 that whether it were 'timed' or 'first over the line', the same people would have won the KOM.

I love the idea, and want to say a huge thanks and give a massive pat on the back to Cycle Nation for adding this extra level of support and investment into the Marathon series.
Well done to everyone that raced on Sat. I really enjoyed myself and had a respectable result having been off the mtb for a month.
A big thanks to those 50km riders that I passed going up Stromlo - thanks for giving room so easily, and also for all the words of encouragement - whether its 50km, 100km, or whatever, everyone is out there smashing it up - and frankly the ones that take the longest do it toughest.

See you at Dirtworks!

 

[FatGuts]

Canberra is a country town. I'm so glad you don't want to live here - you'd be one of those city slickers trying to change it and make it just like awful Melbourne or Sydney.

X eleventy billion

 

[Hornsby]

What a great race and what a world of hurt I put myself in for 100km's....
I didn't leave anything in the tank in my quest to get under 6.30 and came up 2 mins short....
The track was excellent with more singletrack than last year and much nicer to go through the burbs than the GDE like last year.
My only grumble would be to have more Kowen or Majura ST to avoid going all the way to the top corner of Stromlo, I was too knackered to enjoy the fun by that stage....
Or may I just need to be fitter and ride my MTB more than my roadie in my training rides to give my upper body more stamina.
Will be back for next year.

 

[Knopey]

If they extend it earlier in the race and cut out a bit later in the race, it won't actually make it any easier by the time you get to "kilometre X"