Here's what the riders thought...

Hi there,
I had a fantastic time at the Mont, my team had fun and personally each part of it for me was totally awesome!! I thought that the system of just choosing where to camp was great and we had heaps of space. All the people around us were very friendly and aware of everyone else, i didn't notice people there when i was falling asleep it was great! On the track it was hectic the first lap! Overall I found it relatively easy to anticipate riders that wanted to overtake and there wasn't any issues finding space on the track (i loved how much single track there was it was amazing! THANKYOU!) and it was really cool watching how the pro's did it and trying to stay with them for a couple of minutes(or seconds!) Some of the time on the track i couldn't tell it was such a massive event! it never got particularily crowded and everyone was friendly on the track and happy to be there. In the end i just had a fantastic time and loved the experience, so i dont know what i would change and its hard to think of anything! Although because I didn't have my own watch, i never really knew the time, and i thought that that would be up somewhere at transition? but that didn't really make any difference. Thankyou so much for organising such a great event! i'm pretty sure there'll be more people at least from my school hoping to go next year!
Rosie Stewart

Hi 24 Hour Team
I just wanted to say thanks for absolutely everything, I cant believe how much work you put in and thanks doesn’t  seem enough. I had a ball at my very first 24 hour and loved the course and all the friendliness of everyone out there. Being visually impaired this was always going to be a challenge but one I will never forget. Thanks so much for everything you did an amazing job. I have sat next to tracks watching my husband Kevin for years and this was the best I have ever seen. Thanks again, cant wait till next year.
Kendra Wells

Hi there,
Thanks for a great event on the weekend. We had a fantastic time. The event was well organised and we will be back next year. I particularly liked the free flowing course.
Ian Teague

Hi Everyone at the MONT TEAM,
I just wanted to say what a fantastic time I had at the MONT.  It was my first MTB race and I have never had so much fun at a race!!!  I come from a roadie back ground and yes I am now enjoying MTBing more than the road! Thanks for a fantastic event and I will be back in 2010 and hopefully smash the hour!  (OK I have to do a alot of training between now and then).
Thanks again
Ally Roche

Hi there,
Had a great time at the Mont this year! Massive WELL DONE  to the team - I work in logistics so can appreciate what it took in planning this event and the manpower to host it! So, again congratulations.
Thanks,
Marti Broder

Hi there,
I would like to thank you on developing such an excellent event. This was my first 24hr and it certainly wont be the last, throughout the whole 24 hours there was a constant hive of activity, always something going on which greatly helped the events flow. There weren't many negatives throughout the event, and mostly the ones that came up were all personal motivation associated ones :D. I do think though, rather than clustering the two toilet stations together space them out across the venue. Other than that keep up the great work I will definitely be back next year... Hopefully we shall take 1st place home this time rather than 2nd!
kindest regards
Liam Bryan

Hey guys,
Here is the trailer that Dave, our film maker has put together.
http://vimeo.com/4152110
We all had a great race, well done on the event.
Cheers
Tomma Morris

I think I speak for my whole team and I have to say that we really enjoyed your event, the food was great, so was the track, although, one little problem we faced was that during every lap we had sore fingers and our backs were aching. We thought we were having a bad day but after talking to some other competitors they had the same problem. We came to a conclusion that this was due to the fact that the course had no 'rest and relax' parts, barely even had time to take a drink. If there was a fireroad it was usually uphill keeping us under tension and the track required lots of concentration which made it hard to relax, so a suggestion for next time, make some room to have a good drink and relax a little. Overall though great work on the whole thing and I'm sure to enter next year. Can't wait!!
Adam, Young guns male, Team: We Dunno

Hi guys,
Just a quickie about the kids race that was held on the Saturday afternoon - are there any results available. Nothing like a name in print to keep little heads interested! Thanks - and GREAT EVENT - well done to all involved.
Cheers
Dave Cook

Hi Mont team,
I would like to thank you for a FANTASTIC event this year, we had a wonderful time and are already looking forward to next year!  We were a team of 4 entered in the 40+ mixed and have just found out that we were called up at the presentation.  We didn't expect to be and unfortunately weren't there - we were third out of only 4 teams, and were aware that full prizes weren't awarded unless 5 or more teams were in the category.  I would like to ask if we sent money for postage, would you please send whatever it was we were awarded.  (We don't often win things, and would be thrilled with a trophy if we won one.)  Thank you once again for a great event,
Wendy Copeland
Three Bloody Flats - Mixed 40+ Foursomes

HI Guys,
Congrats on an awesome event I had a ball as did the rest of the team, my only suggestion is to either sack the band on Friday night or close it down at 10.30pm we riders need our sleep it went on a bit long, don’t want to sound like a winger. Thanks for a great event and we will see you next year, and the course was great great great.
Thanks
Bruce Pain         

Having competed in a few 24 hours mainly the scott at stromlo i think your event would benefit from shorter laps mainly for the newer riders because some of the newer riders were riding for an hour and a half or more. Other than that i thought the event was very good and i would like to thank you for organizing it. Thanks
Tom Mullens

Hi Guys
I just wanted to pass on some feedback. We had several people from my company riding on the weekend across a number of teams; including the Cycle Ed team of course :)
There's been lots of corridor chats, war stories, glory stories told this week and without exception the feedback on the event has been very positive.  Everyone really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, thought it was more fun than the Scott, loved that everything was close together and they could park where they camped, the track was great (again most thought it much better than the Scott track) and all in all they had a fabulous time. For the Raytheon riders the most amusing post mortem story has happened after the event - Those around the office were quick to check the results once they were posted and even quicker to notice that one of our guys, Tait Gregson (as in male) has shown up not once but twice in the list of top fastest women's laps!  Tait said he's not sure what is more embarrassing the fact that his partner Rowena registered him as a women or the fact that he wasn't actually the fastest 'women' on the course :-)
Just wanted to pass on the feedback and say thanks for all your efforts.
Pam Price

As far as I am aware all our teams had a Great time (1st & 3rd of Mixed young guns) it was there first time at a major event & for some there first mountain bike event, It was run extremely well as a parent it was great to see it run so well and that all ages were treated equally you never had that unsafe feel in the camp ground or the track (we were mainly a school group with a allot of young boys & girls (30), parents & teachers), I do a lot of Major events with Surf life saving Australia being a major supplier & they could learn a lot from your excellent team WELL DONE.
The only complaint was that 2 of the major pro teams should learn that they DO NOT own the track & they of all people, should be showing a far better example on the track, they repeatedly broke rules & educate & abused young riders & abused the younger female riders mainly at night even when there was no need for any response (I will addressed this with a letter straight to their sponsors) every one else was great besides the odd thing that happens, but that happens, well done for a great event it was well organised well run by a great team of people so be proud & we will be back next year with a bigger team & some of us oldies have already started training
Regards
Vince Mackay  (parent & guardian of 2 of the team Vinie Pride)

Hi there
Our Act Venturer team had a great time, but it wasn't without incident. The only low point of the weekend was one of our riders being put off the track by the GU Netti & Rockstar team, bad timing I guess, he just happened to be on a section of track when they were only 10-20 seconds apart and they ran him into a tree. I did question him on how long they were behind him, but he said it was just like they appeared from out of no where. They did apologies during the presentation but whether they where referring to that incident or another I'm not sure. Our others riders had no such problems with the leading teams or any other riders. But apart from that the kids had some great experiences, we had 2 mechanicals out on the track, both times quite a number of other riders stopped to lend assistance which was fantastic. They also really enjoyed the fact that their presentation was one of the first and not last, made them feel a little more included and they received some great prizes. What would I change? Not sure, it was a great event. Despite the incident with the race leaders is was still a great experience for the kids to be able to be out on the track with some of the best riders our sport has to offer.  They have all come away looking forward to our next event and all will continue to ride, and want to do the Mont again next year. It would be great next year if the Young Guns were all given the opportunity to meet the elite riders a few hours before the start of the event, just a meet and greet, put some names to the faces, I'm sure the kids would get a buzz from it and it might make some of the elite riders be just a little more cautious when passing the Young Guns out on the track. Maybe even a 1hr skills session run by the elite riders for the Young Guns, show them how to get out of the way quickly and safely.
Just a few suggestions above, but all in all a great event, a well run event and one they will be back for.
Regards
David Speering
Act Venturers

To the team - one and all who made the Mont possible - Thankyou! This weekend was my first foray into the world of MTB racing- what an event to begin with! Sparrow Hill was the perfect setting, nothing too adventurous, nice flowing tracks and plenty of spots for almost everyone else on the course to pass me on! The camping was brilliant- enough room for everyone, delicious dutch pancakes rocked my breakfast (both 2am and 8am) worlds and the people were friendly and considerate. I was literally riding with L plates and I can't speak enough of the care and consideration given to me by other riders. I was so impressed with dozens of  riders who offered kind words and encouragement as they passed, which was not my expectation at all! I am so, SO pleased, I was able to participate in the Mont as my first event, as I was a bit intimidated at the thought of it! Thanks again, I hope the event can continue in it's current form. I loved it, and can't wait to ride at Sparrow Hill again.
Cheers
Kristi Bryant

Hi Mont 24 Team,
Thanks for a super weekend!  We may not have been the fastest but boy had some laughs! This was the first Mont for all of my team mates and my 2nd.   Our team - Wonder Women - consisted of 2 women from Melbourne, 2 from Canberra and 2 from Sydney. It was a massive undertaking just getting to the event but we all made it despite, busy jobs, kids, full time study and health issues.   Two team members were seriously hassled by a few idiots on the track – I don’t know how you keep these guys out of it – I know you try... ? Despite that and 1 team member having to fit her laps around breast feeding her 5 month old baby (Leonardo - our team mascot) we achieved many personal goals and had huge fun. Thanks for the opportunity, thanks for a fantastic track and all your hard work putting it on. 
We would like to know if and when you are planning track repair day?  We’d love to come out and help if you need a few more people and rakes...  Let us know
Thanks a million.
Juliemma Moran
Captain of the Wonder Women

Dear Mont Team,
Thanks for a great event, our team really enjoyed the race and are looking forward to the next event.
Thanks for your time.
Pete Dubbelaar

Hello!
That was THE BEST course and weekend – Thank you all so much!
I have competed at four 24hr races and the Mont is by far my very favourite, it has such a nice, relaxed friendly atmosphere and that course was just the best fun and beautiful to ride – everyone was really really nice, they all said thank you when they went past or were nice when I passed them..although I do prefer it when someone calls ‘track’! Oh! and the showers – how good were they and how nice the men who manned those trucks were too. All in all a brilliant fun weekend – I feel very sorry for those who missed out on competing!
Thank you!
Christine Carter

Hi all,
I’m sure you get lots of these emails but just wanted to say top stuff on a great event. I’ve never done the Mont before but have been at the Scott the last three years and was blown away by the “Bird”. Sparrow Hill is a crackingly good venue and next year’s Mont has just been put on the must do list for our team. The track was unreal, the camping was as convenient as anywhere, and the organisation was solid – well run without going over the top with officialdom. Thanks for organising – see you there next year.
Jeremy Gordon

Dear team,
I would like to thank you for organising such a great event. It was my first 24hr competition and it was an awesome experience, and very different to the MTB marathon and orienteering events I have done so far. I had a ball. The course was fantastic and nicely flowing. It was a perfect one for a beginner like me.  It was really nice to have the shower vans and toilets (rather than those horrible portaloos) too. Everything was greatly organised. Again, many thanks for everything. I will definitely do some more of those. All the best!
Martine Robin
 
Hi there,
Firstly a word of thanks for putting on such a great race, the 09 Mont 24 had a great atmosphere and the best course of any of the other similar events I've been in!
Ben Davies

Hi there
I just wanted to thank you for the great weekend I had at the Mont 24 hour this weekend.  What a cracker, it was my first 24 hour and will not be the last.  The event was extremely well planned and all the riders I experienced were extremely friendly and courteous.
Jason Heddle

Hi there
I rode the Mont last weekend – my first mountain bike race – and had a ball! Thank you for putting on such a great event. I would like a t-shirt as a memento – have you got any left over? I will buy one if you have.
Nathan Rhodes

Hi Mont Team,
Big thanks for a great weekend….we had an awesome time.
If you have any T-shirts left can you please let me know?  I’m after a medium.
Thanks Guys.  Keep the Dream Alive!!!
Justin Smedley
 
Hey Gang,
Great race. Well done to all. The event was a credit to the sport and made many people very happy. That is not easy to do these days. Yep, the track was defiantly 'sublime' most of the time, and killer good for the rest. The gods truly did smile upon us with that rain dump on Friday night. Keep up the great work. It is thanks to guys like you (along with the nature of our great sport) that a recently retired motorcycle road racer (of 20 years) like me, still has a reason to go on living. Kidding, but is sure has made retiring from the bikes a whole lot easier. Also, I still get to go on growing horns when 'the light goes green', and hang out with a very cool bunch of people.
Kind regards,
Roger Derrick - one of the ring-ins for the Truativ/Monza crew.