Living Springs, Allendale, Lyttelton Harbour
RaboPlus NZ MTB Cup, Cross Country
Round 1, Sunday 10 January 2010
Download the entry form here -> Entry Form 2010 Download MTBNZ
Where is it?
The Living Springs course is a scenic drive from Christchurch and looks down Lyttelton Harbour from the head of the bay.
The most direct route from Christchurch is to head up Dyers Pass Rd and drive over the Port Hills to Governors Bay. Continuing through Governors Bay, follow the road around the harbour for 3.5 km. Just past where the road gets down to sea level (Allendale) is the Living Springs Farm Park where the event village will be located.
Be aware that the Raboplus Road Nationals are being held the same weekend. You will be able to travel up Hackthorne Rd to get to Dyers Pass Rd from Christchurch but there may be some delays. See http://www.elitenationals.co.nz/ for more information on their schedule.
If you don’t want any traffic hassles associated with the road racing, follow these directions from the intersection of Colombo St and Brougham St to Living Springs via the Lyttelton Tunnel (25km). Head east on Brougham St which becomes Port Hills Rd. Pass under the motorway and turn left on to the ramp on to Tunnel Rd. Go through the tunnel and turn right at the roundabout. Follow the main road towards Governors Bay around the hills and turn left at the main road at Governors Bay. Carry on for another 3km until you reach the Farm Park.
Visit here for a map – lsroadmap.htm
The Course
The course will be about 6 – 7 km long. It travels through a mix of native bush, pine forest and open farmland and will be about 60% singletrack and 40% 4WD track. There is a flat to gradual climb of about 750 m, then a steep climb of 200 m, all on open farmland. The next 4 km is mostly on singletrack, before a fast 4WD blat out to the event village.
The course begins in a grassy laneway which it follows for about 100 m before entering a paddock and beginning a gradual climb to the far side of the paddock. The course turns sharply right and ascends between a row of trees and a fence – the surface is a bit rooty in places. Riders cross an old wooden bridge and climb up and over a grassy spur which brings them to the bottom of the steep (250 m long) grassy 4WD climb up to the Pines.
Once in the Pines you climb for just over 1km on singletrack.
When you exit the Pines you continue on singletrack (Rhymes with Orange) through regenerating kanuka. This spits you out on a 4WD track (sharp turn right) where you will be able to easily pass others for 100 m or so.
Goodie Gumdrop is a 400 m singletrack loop that climbs across an open paddock to the highest point of the course then descends through a stand of gum trees.
The course follows the outside perimeter of the Outdoor Camping Centre then rejoins the singletrack and the long descent begins.
Initially it winds down the Mississippi through kanuka forest (500 m), then it crosses a spur (620 m) into Zane’s, a 1.2 km long section that descends in native forest with frequent bends (some of them sharp), a couple of rocky creek crossings and several wooden bridges. Riders with good bike handling skills will be rewarded on Zane’s.
Once out of Zane’s you come on to Skoolz Out (300 m), an open wider piece of track that may be bumpy in places from cattle treading.
At the end of Skoolz Out you will find yourself at the bottom of the climb to the Pines but you turn right and continue your descent to the Farm Park on a fast grassy, then dirt, then gravelled, 4WD track .
The lap finishes with a circuit of the pig paddock, past the timing caravan, around the back of the Farm Park kitchen and back into the laneway that you started on.
If you are wanting to practice on the course please refer to the map in our Living Springs trail brochure for access. You will be able to bike around all the singletrack, but the route through the Farm Park end of the course will only be marked out and open for the weekend of the event. Please do not attempt to ride it before then.
You can check out some photos from our 2009 event under the PHOTO tab.
COURSE MAP FOR LIVING SPRINGS MTBNZ CUP RACE
Living Springs map for Cup Series (opens the above map in a new window for printing)
View the Living Springs map as in MTBNZ booklet showing the XC and DH courses by clicking here.
Timetable
U15, U17, Senior and all Masters
Registration 9.00 – 10.00
Briefing 10.15
Race Start 10.30
Prizegiving (U15, U17, Senior and all Masters) 1.00
U19 and Elite
Registration 12.30 – 1.30
Briefing 1.45
Race Start 2.00
Prizegiving (U19 and Elite) 4.45
How to enter
If you would like to enter this event, please visit http://www.bikenz.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=4774 for information and
Download the entry form here -> Entry Form 2010 Download MTBNZ
For all information refer to the MTBNZ site – http://www.mtbnz.org/?page_id=51.
Under 19 $35 pre entry, $45 on the day + $10 if you are unlicenced
19+ $45 pre entry, $55 on the day + $10 if you are unlicenced
Accommodation
Camping is available at the outdoor camping centre (see map above). Toilets, showers and kitchen facilities available. Charges are likely to be around $15/night for a 2 – 3 person tent. Larger camping tents, $30/night. For bookings, contact Rebekah as per below.
Information
For more information on the Living Springs event, please contact Rebekah or Craig on 03 322 7886 or email xc@paradise.net.nz.
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