Perth Mountain Bike Club

Perth Mountain Bike Club (PMBC) was formed in 1988 with most members residing in the Perth metro area. It runs events in various mountain bike disciplines at locations within one to two hours from Perth, offering a fun environment in which you can improve your skills and fitness.

PMBC is affiliated with Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA), an independent association whose mission is to develop and promote mountain biking in Australia. PMBC is run entirely by volunteers, enabling PMBC to keep its event entry fees low.

You can join PMBC by downloading the Membership Form from our website and mail it to us (PO Box 3434, Midland Post Shop, 6056), or just bring it with you to a PMBC event and join on the day. If you just want to try out, you don’t need to join and can just pay an additional $15 for a day membership to cover you for that day.

What sort of events are run?

PMBC regularly runs competitions in Cross-Country (XC) and Downhill (DH) mountain bike disciplines. The competitive season runs during winter from April to September. Other types of competitions are run from time-to-time, such as Point-to-Point or 4-Cross. You do not need to be a member to enter a PMBC event and new riders are welcome at any stage of the year.

Cross-Country
XC competitions are mass start on a circuit course in the bush over single bike width tracks and forest roads/fire trails. The course will usually be around 5km in length, with the number of laps depending upon the class entered. Courses usually contain a variety of flat, uphill and downhill sections that test riders’ fitness and skills in negotiating obstacles (logs, rocks, etc).

Downhill
DH competitions involve a time trial of sustained descending down a course containing single track, wide track, rocky sections and jumps at various speeds that will test a riders’ technical skills. The more difficult sections of the track have alternative or easier tracks around them to cater for all skill levels. Courses are usually 2 to 3km in length and riders depart in timed intervals, with placings determined from the best of two runs down the course.

State Championships
PMBC also host rounds of the State Championship. State events are generally more challenging than club events so if you are new to MTB, start with some club races to get used to the types of courses first.

How are events run?

Most events are run on Sundays. Apart from the first two club races of the year, you will need to pre-register either online or by mailing in the entry form with payment. Plates can be picked upbefore the event, usually from 8:00am to 8.30am. Non-PMBC members can still compete, but need to purchase a day licence in addition to the race fee. An additional number plate fee of $5 is also payable and you can use this plate at subsequent events.

After events are completed, any help you can provide with packing up tents, removing course signage, etc is appreciated. Money is paid to those volunteers who tow the club trailer or toliets to the event or those who are prepared to be trained up to do rider registrations and timing (involves arriving early and leaving late), so if you come to an event with family or a partner who is wiling to volunteer it can provide a way to cover your travel costs.

What sort of classes are offered?

Members are classified for racing according to their age at 31 December that year. For example, if on a race day in say May you are 14 but on 31 December at the end of the year you will be 15, you would race in the Under 17 class, not Under 15.

Beginners under 19 years can race in their appropriate age class. Beginners over 19 usually race in Sport classes as they are generally less intense than other classes. If you find these classes are not as challenging, you can always race in another class at the next event.


Cross-Country
The usual XC classes offered at PMBC events can be found below. The number of laps each class will be required to do in an XC race will be set so that your total race time equals the target race time, plus or minus 15 minutes.

In club events, the U13 and Single Speed classes usually start at 9.00am, with all other classes starting at 9.30am in staggered starts. Competitors are required to comply with the following rules or etiquette:

• Racers riding bikes have right of way over racers pushing bikes.
• Racers pushing should stay on the least rideable portion of the track when being passed.
• The leading rider “owns” the track and lapped riders must yield to leaders.
• Riders should voice the command “Track” or “Rider” when overtaking another.
• If two riders are vying for position, the leading rider does not have to yield their position to the challenging rider.
• A rider may not bodily interfere with the intent to impede another rider’s progress.

Downhill
PMBC usually offers the following DH classes at its events:

Full face helmets and solid bar ends are compulsory for all competitors and you will not be able to race without them. Most events have a shuttle service to take riders to the top of the downhill, and the cost of this is incorporated into the entry fee.