MTB Member Profiles

Get to know you follow BSCC members

Rider of the month, February 2013

Rider: Antanas 'Spoka' Spokevicius

This month we spoke to BSCC Mtb committee member Antanas who puts in a power of work to make BSCC MTB events happen. Antanas has been negotiating and advocating for MTB trails for some time and with his massive MTB background and network of contacts, helps to ensure that all MTB events run smoothly are well planned and that everyone remains safe at our events.

Occupation: Teacher
Dream Occupation: Still trying to figure that one out... Something involving people and passion.
Uphill or Downhill: Enjoying the uphills a bit more these day but can’t beat the fun of going Downhill.
Most epic day on bike: A weekend at the Narbethong Downhill track back in the summer of 2000. Had just got my hands on my new Kona Bear, after downhilling on Giant ATX 860 for ages, and ripped down all the A lines for the first time and was buzzing for weeks.
I'm currently riding: Trek Remedy 8 (well sort of...)
How many bikes do you have: 4
What's your favourite component: Rear suspension. Great for dodgy knees.
Favourite trails outside Ballarat: Haven’t been out there for ages but the trails around Marysville and Narbethong have given me some great memories.
Favourite around Ballarat: Anything that flows its way through the terrain the gold rush has left us with.
If I wasn't riding my mountain bike I would be: Anything that I could ride on a wave. Grew up on the coast and love the power of the waves and the associated lifestyle.
One day I'll ride: Anything with a Pivot or Yeti badge on it at this stage. In a few years when i am old I’ll need to think 29.....
When I head out for a ride I never leave without: My phone. Mate had a mechanical in the ‘pre mobile’ days and ended up running 10km home. I watched his pain at the end... if only he had access to a phone.
My race highlight: Going undefeated in the first season of Dirt Crit racing. Doing the Wombat 100 in 6 hrs 20mins was a close second.

Rider of the month, December 2012

Rider: Felix Moore

This month we speak to up and coming junior member Felix Moore. We asked him about his favourite trails, what he rides and where he’d like to ride it.

Rider: Felix Moore
Grade at school : 1
Uphill or Downhill : downhill
Most epic day on bike: the day I went over the handles bars and crashed jumping off the deck at home.
I'm currently riding: 20 inch Kona
Favourite trails outside Ballarat: Henry's track into Buninyong.
Favourite around Ballarat: Sebastopol BMX track
If I wasn't riding my mountain bike I would be: playing football
One day I'll ride: The You Yangs
When I head out for a ride I never leave without: My helmet
My race highlight: my first win at Dirt Crits

Thanks for letting us get to know you Felix, hopefully you look this relaxed all the time.

Rider of the month, November 2012

Rider: Paul Mathers

BSCC Member Since: Feb-2010
BSCC MTB Committee Since: Aug-2010
Roles At BSCC: Website administrator, MTB membership officer, MTB Treasurer, Registration and Timing of events
Occupation: Application Developer for IBM, I write custom applications for businesses
Dream occupation: A road tester of new MTB bikes, but really anything that involves MTBs
Uphill or Downhill: downhill, but I understand that you need to first go up, which makes the downs so much sweeter.
Most epic day on the bike: My first effort in the Otway Odyssey 50km, around the 40km mark, I was curled up beside the track with every muscle in my body cramping and I mean every muscle, including my face.
How many bikes do you have: 4 MTBs, 26 inch XC duallie, steel 29 hardtail, steel 26 fully rigid 8 speed (previously was single speed) and 26 inch AM duallie
I’m currently riding: all of them! depends on the weather and my mood
What’s your favourite component: Everything made by the brand Hope, hubs, brakes, etc. Everything they make is just pure quality!

Your Dream Bike: Yeti SB66 fully decked out with Hope components

Favourite trails outside Ballarat: I don't have one favourite, but I like You Yangs, Forrest, Mt Buller, Anglesea
Favourite around Ballarat: around Buninyong
If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be: Probably getting fat and have alot of free time
One day I’ll ride: Whistler
What Sort of Riding do you enjoy?: Generally social rides, I currently do two different social rides each week, the Hard Men of the Hill on Sunday in Buninyong and “The Commissarios” Thursday mornings in Canadian. But really looking forward to going back to Buller in Nov-12.

Rider of the month, October 2012

Rider: Emily Boucher

Occupation: student

Dream occupation: I don’t know yet

Uphill or Downhill: downhill because you don’t have to pedal all the time.

Most epic day on the bike: last months Interwinter series ride at Redesdale

I’m currently riding: a Scott Contessa 30

How many bikes do you have: 3 bikes, 2 mountain bikes and a retro Cecil Walker 22 inch

What’s your favourite component: gears, they come in handy up a hill.

Favourite trails outside Ballarat: You Yangs and Forrest “red carpet”

Favourite around Ballarat: around Mt Buninyong and up Blackberry Lane

If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be: annoying my little sister

One day I’ll ride: all around New Zealand with a backpack

When I head out for a ride I never leave without: my super fast dog, Floss

My race highlight: coming 3rd at the Victorian Schools Cycling Championships in the U 15 girls State Final.

Rider of the month, September 2012

Rider:   Kirsten Ennis

Photo: Stephen Rowe  (www.mtb-images.com.au)

Occupation:   Currently work at Springhill Farm, where we make biscuits and slice.
Dream occupation:   Professional chocolate eater.
Uphill or Downhill:   Uphill.....downhill still kind of scares me.
Most epic day on the bike:   I have only been mountain biking for about 5 months and love the Dirt Girl rides where I have been given lots of advice and have met some great people! We recently rode for what seemed like about 20kms only to discover that we had actually only ridden 6kms in 2 hours but I sure we can blame that on slippery, muddy trails not on all the talking! Another time riding with Dirt Girls leader/trainer Kat, a few wrong turns and just enjoying some great tracks saw us riding for four and a half hours around the trails of Buningyong, time flies when you are having fun.
I’m currently riding:   Specialized Carve 29er.....I love it despite the fact that it has thrown me about 20 times in the 5 months I have had it.
What’s your favourite component:   my seat (it only took 3 test rides to find the perfect one) and of course I love my brakes although I think I use them a bit too much.
Favourite trails outside Ballarat:   You Yangs.
Favourite around Ballarat:   I love the Buningyong trails and ride them most Saturday mornings with the girls group.
If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be:   swimming or still running (training for that elusive marathon)
One day I’ll ride:   with more confidence and speed!
When I head out for a ride I never leave without:   my water bottle.
My race highlight:  Under no circumstances would I call what I do actually racing, I have participated in this years Interwinter series and have really enjoyed all 4 events. My racing highlights would have to be  anytime I don't fall off and not always coming last. Hopefully one day I will be able to do something that resembles racing.

Rider of the month, August 2012

Rider:   Hugh Ingram

Occupation:   Student (part-time Bicycle Mechanic Bicycle Centre Ballarat)
Dream occupation:   Mechanical Engineeer (we think he likes to fix stuff)
Uphill or Downhill:   Uphill (ed: but he is pretty good on the down as well)
Most epic day on the bike:   Probably the VSCC at the You Yangs, locked handlebars with another rider going for second, we crashed over the line when I was just in front, broke my arm. I got second though, from 15 riders.

I’m currently riding:   Rocky Mountain Vertex 950. 29er so it rolls over the big stuff and is smoother, not carbon though :( .
How many bikes do you have:   Easton BMX, Norco Sasquatch, Norco Charger and the Rocky Mountain Vertex.
What’s your favourite component:   Brakes, cos they give you the least trouble, get you outta tricky situations.
Favourite trails outside Ballarat:   Stockyard at You Yangs.
Favourite around Ballarat:   Durham Lead.
If I wasn’t mountain biking I’d be:   on the motor bike trail riding.
One day I’ll ride:   at the state level, and at Whistler.
When I head out for a ride I never leave without:   my chain breaker.
My race highlight:  being on the podium, Iv’e had a couple of wins, come second a bit.

Thanks Hugh, great getting to know you a little more and the Club wishes you a speedy recovery.