FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
important dates
EQUIPMENT
What sort of mountain bike do I need?
Any mountain bike (XC, Enduro, trail, all-mountain etc) will do, although a bike with front suspension makes for a smoother ride, rear suspension even more so. You can use a hybrid, gravel or cyclocross bike, however you may need to walk some rougher sections of the course. If doing one of the longer distances (100km course especially) and you have a choice of bikes, bring the bike that handles rough rock covered trails the best. You can use a single speed, cyclocross or Electric (eMTB) mountain bike for the 44km course, but you are not eligible for age category prizes (Junior & Adult only) therefore please choose your category carefully. You can use a single speed, cyclocross or Electric (eMTB) mountain bike for the 68km & 100km course, but you are not eligible for age category prizes therefore please choose your category carefully. Please Note: If you intend to ride an e-bike in the Convict 100 your bike must meet the definition of an e-bike permitted in National Parks under the NSW Road Rules.
What do I take with me on the course (mandatory gear)?
All competitors will have to carry all food and repair gear when they leave St. Albans. Please take note the course is basically one loop. You will start and finish at St. Albans so you will not have an opportunity to get more food or pickup gear along the way. Find below what we consider essentials for any mountain bike ride in the bush:
- First aid kit (crepe bandage, wound dressing, triangular bandage, surgical gloves and 4 band aids).
- Australian approved cycling helmet.
- Tool kit with minimum of pump (or CO2 canisters), spare inner tube/s, chain lube (or puncture repair kit).
- Container to carry a minimum of 500ml of water to sustain you between feed stations.
- Food (some energy food to keep you going).
- Mobile phone (reception is patchy, but might help you get out of a sticky situation).
- Sunglasses or clear lenses.
Please be sun smart – much of the route is exposed and even on cloudy days you can get sunburned so please take a hat and sunscreen.
general
Will my pre-purchased merchandise be mailed to me prior to the event?
No. All pre-purchased merchandise will be available to collect on at the registration on the Friday afternoon/evening before the event and on event day itself.
Are dogs allowed in the camping areas?
Are the showers and toilet facilities at the event?
There are no showers available at the designated campsites in St Albans Village, only toilets. If you do have a camper trailer with these built in facilities, you can bring a camper trailer to the event and park in the camping areas. Please keep the area tidy by placing all your rubbish in the bins provided.
What food/beverage facilities are available at the event?
There are food/beverage options available in St Albans, please refer to the accommodation page for further information.
Is there a bag drop available?
Do you offer a training plan?
Can I get a refund if I withdraw from the event?
Can I change from one distance to another distance?
Yes, if you are registered for the 100km, 68km or 44km distance, you can either downgrade or upgrade. For details on how to upgrade your registration, please refer to the following Active FAQ and if you wish to downgrade in distance, please email us.
Can I transfer my race entry to another person?
Can I drive up on the morning of the event?
If you live in the Sydney metro area you can drive up on the morning of the race but you will have to allow at least 2 hours to get to St. Albans. Also, you need to factor in and allow additional time as the main route in goes via the Webbs Creek or Wisemans Ferry. Depending on your arrival there might be a delay at the ferry. Instead, why not make it a a two day trip by camping or staying in local accommodation around St Albans. There is ample accommodation options, please refer to the accommodation page for further information.
Where can I stay in the area?
There is ample accommodation options, please refer to the accommodation page for further information.
Is a support crew needed for the event?
No, you do not need a support crew for this event. The nature of the race will require you to be self-sufficient out on the course.
Will my race plate be mailed to me prior to the event?
No personalised race plates will be mailed to participants prior to the event. All participants will need to attend registration on the Friday afternoon/evening before event day or on event day to collect their race plate for the event. String will be available at Registration on race day if you forget to bring your own cable ties. Please place your race plate on the front of your bike, where it is clearly visible.
How do I enter the Convict 100?
Head to the Entry page for more information.
How fit or skilled do I need to be?
Mountain biking for a prolonged period of time can be taxing on the body so you need to prepare accordingly. Depending on your experience and fitness level, you have the option to ride the 44km, 68km or 100km course. If you need some help with training, check out our Training Plan on offer.
Am I able to ride the course before the event?
Certain sections of the course like the Old Convict Trail are open to the public. However, the course as outlined on the course maps traverse through private property and cannot be ridden in its entirety. Special permission has been obtained to allow you access to these areas on the day of the event. Please be respectful to land owners by not trespassing on their premises before the event. If you do plan to ride sections of the course, get in touch with us. We will advise you on which areas are off limits.
RACE DAY
Are there any time cut offs?
For safety reasons we do not want any riders to remain out on the course after dark. To this end a cut off will be applied on the 100km course at the Aid Station 2 (47km), located at the top of the 8 Mile Track on the Great North Road. Any rider that arrives after 12pm (Midday) will be directed down the 68km course. After this point, there are no short cuts back to St Albans. Regardless of the cut-off, all 100km riders are asked to carefully consider how long it will take them to complete their respective distance and still finish by sunset and voluntarily downgrade at Aid Station 2 if desired. You don’t want to still be out there after dark! Distance downgrades are also available up until race start.
Will I be given a start wave time for my respective course distance?
Are there any aid stations?
There are marshalled aid stations along the course. At the aid stations, riders will have access to the following:
- First Aid
- Unlimited quantities of water
- Tailwind Nutrition
- Selection of fruit
- Selection of lollies
- Potato chips
NOTE: There will be no cups at the aid stations, so you will need to carry a water bottle or hydration pack (or similar) to refill. Please refer to the Aid Stations information for distances between each Aid Station.
Is there a Rider List published before the event?
A Rider List which includes riders allocated race plate number, age category and wave start time (if relevant) will be emailed to riders 2 days before the event in the Last Minute Info email as well as published on the event website in the Last Minute Info Latest News post. The list will not be published before this time.
What time does the race start?
Please see the preliminary Race Day Schedule for further information.
What are the expected finish times?
Top riders doing the 100km course will finish the course in 4 hours depending on conditions. Start times for the race have been designed to allow those who would like to enjoy the ride sufficient time to finish in daylight. Top riders in the 68km category are expected to finish in 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours.
How will I know where to go on the course?
The course will be clearly marked with brightly coloured markers for easy guidance. Marshals will also be positioned at critical points along the course for extra guidance when it is needed. The trail outline and markings will be discussed in the Event Program document (released two weeks before the event) and at the briefing prior to the commencement of the event.