AT HOME WITH TLR RACING

Tight Lines Racing are one of many large groups who make events like Cape to Cape part of their yearly traditions. I caught up with TLR for a great meal one night, to hear more about the crew from far around Australia, and what that adds to the event experience.

“It’s a bit of home and a bit of family and the boys look after you like you’re one of the family,” says David Harris. “I suppose everyone is somehow connected in the group and some of the connections are very loose. But it’s nice to come back after a stage and hang out with a group of friendly people and have some great food and drink.”

Food, drink and socialising are very much a part of the TLR approach. There’s a pizza oven going, fridges are well-stocked, and there’s a bounty of snacks moving around the table, and my wine glass never reaches empty.

“I’m used to much more sterile mountain biking trips,” admits Harris, “where you look after yourselves and you don’t really interact that much with others and don’t really talk about the race. But here we are, almost 8 hours later and we’re still talking about the race today, the fun continues to live on.”

Part of that fun is taking the mickey out of each other, and there are a host of awards that the group gives out to each other. And of course there’s an auction – one item being a coveted ‘black dot’ for starting in the first group. But the laughs are there for the awards.

“We write down the best excuses, and the best quotes. There are some crackers that come through. We have a lot of great stories come through and the singletrack day is a great one for some stories!” But of course, there is a big prize as well – the TLR Cup. “This goes to the highest GC rated rider. Plus we also have best crash, the tissues award and more.”

With photo evidence of one rider finishing a wall ride upside down, back against a tree, and another finishing a stage without his fork bridge – there’s plenty of ground for nominations. The night was fuelled by a slow cooked meal and sumptuous dessert and I do wonder – is this how all of us should be approaching mountain bike events?