Abbiestar

So a tight pair of bike pants make you hurt less afterwards?

I only have a cruddy Kmart bike that I think I have ridden twice in 5 years, don't think that will work, will it??

Yes! And you can wear other shorts or track pants on top if you don't like the "lycra lout look" : ))

Your bike should be fine. Just get a service on it from your bike shop.

Michael

Don't worry, it'll get better and less painful the more you ride!! I would invest in a nice pair of riding shorts/tights though. You can wear normal shorts over the top of the riding tights if you want (uinless you like the spandex look ) or you can buy shorts with the tights built (mountain biking style shorts). Trust me - it'll save your butt!

I couldn't agree more! See your local bike shop for some advice. The shorts may cost a bit more, but stick to some of the better known brands (Pearl Izumi, Look, Gist, Santini) for a quality, more durable and better designed and constructed pair of shorts.

M

Morning guys.

I am planning to do ET this year with Jag. Fame will do ET next year, 2012

I have not decided which one as yet, but was leaning towards the Dally one. Perhaps I will look at the Sale one, is it held in the velodrome?

I have only done one before, but enjoyed it along with the training.

I guess it depends also on where you are located. If there is one close to you, great!

Vizsla Club hold theirs at KCC Park, GSDCV are at Altona Lake, Sale is around the lake, and the Dally Club use Springer Reserve in Keysborough.

I have competed at all venues and judged at two of them. Judged in Canberra at the showgrounds.

My favorite venue would be the ACTCA Canberra Showgrounds. It is an interesting course, but also safely contained and no risk of traffic.

If you visit this link, the whole procedure is set out for you. ET

Michael

The cycling is not as daunting as it may seem. It is a steady slow pace of 10-12kph wth three rest breaks for dog and handler. With a little training beforehand, it should be a breeze

Yeah, it really is slow for the riders!! Most of the ride I was at a slow pedal. The ET is much slower than people think it is... It's good to keep that in mind when you're training and if you can get your hands on a speedometer for your bike, you'll be better able to keep to an appropriate pace.

As Abbiestar said, the course is mostly at about 10-12km/hr (my speedo said we were going 9-12km/hr for the majority of the test), but your dog should also be able to get up to higher speeds e.g. 15km/hr for when you need to catch up to your place in the line after toileting stops.

For anyone interested, this is a link to my report of the ET for Jedi and I last year - Clicky

Your report sums it up perfectly!

M

Oh l would love to do an ET with my girl, she usually does 5 - 6 Kms three times a week when the kids take their ponies out and she tags along although we have been keeping her home now that it's a little warmer. When is the Vic one held and does each state only hold one each year ?

Is an ET limited to certain breeds ?

Any breed can participate, even mixed breeds as long as they are registered with the state canine association. Most ET's are open to all breeds even if the host club is breed specific.

In Victoria, they are usually hosted by the German Shepherd Club, Dalmatian Club and Vizsla Club. The East Gippsland Obedience Club also holds one. They are usually held between June and August.

Canberra hosts one in July/August with the ACTCA and German Shepherd Club.

Michael

ok, so this may be a silly question as I know a horse would be a distraction for the dogs but can the handler ride a horse instead of a bike in the ET?

yes I know there will be some dogs not proofed to horses so that may be an issue...

the horse is an endurance horse so he can do 20km's easily....the same handler on a bike I am not so sure

Unfortunately a horse is not allowed. Handlers can jog or cycle. Arrangements can be made for other non motorised vehicles if the handler suffers a disability.

The cycling is not as daunting as it may seem. It is a steady slow pace of 10-12kph wth three rest breaks for dog and handler. With a little training beforehand, it should be a breeze.

Michael

Okay, I just got back on the bike, I haven't been on the bike since I was last training for the ET and got taken out by a woman jogging with a three wheeled pram who was determined to come between my bike and my dog.

I don't think I have been so nervous in a long time, okay I have managed to ride the bike, without the dog, I think I need to get more practise on the bike before I start taking the Diva.

What I learnt today was, I NEED A GEL SEAT, I NEED bike pants with a gel seat. I need to lose weight. And the bike needs to be serviced, the bike will now visit the bike hospital as soon as it opens in the next week.

Oh, and I have to work out how the gears work again.

Now this bike is a road bike, will it be okay for the ET or do I need a Mountain Bike?

I have two bikes. A carbon framed road bike which is for road only. ( I am a cycling nut as well! )

My mountain bike is used only for ET's both competing and judging. Definitely only consider a mountain bike. A roadie will struggle over grass and gravel.

You need a GOOD seat, not necessarily a gel seat. I do a lot of K's on the roadie and recently bought a "Selle Italia" saddle. Best thing I did. If and when I change or upgrade my roadie, the saddle comes too! And definitely get some cycling knicks (or shorts).

You will also need to start the dog soon. Get him/her used to walking with you on lead whilst also wheeling the bike beside you. This will not make the bike so strange when you come to riding it with the dog.

Michael

wish we had ET's in NZ, could be fun and motivate me to get back on a bike again... lol! I'm not motivated enough to want to try and start something though, so until someone else does, there's no chance of an ET here!

Maybe you could ask the NZKC if the event could be held? If you showed them the ANKC rules and info they could see it was a viable dog sport. It is worth asking.

Michael

I had read somewhere that there was some dispute in Victoria about whether or not dogs could be on lead when you are on a bike. Apparently there is some law saying that a dog must not be tethered to a moving vehicle and a bike counts as a moving vehicle. I'm not sure about any of it as all this is 2nd or 3rd hand information but would be interested if anyone does know anything.

On another note. To get the ET title do you only have to do the test once? I'm new to competing in dog sports and so far am used to sports where you accumulate points to get titles. But my understanding of Endurance is that it is a once off thing. And if you do get the title can you continue to compete purely for fun? What would be the proportion of dogs in the trial that are successful and those that get eliminated at the test points etc? And those that do get eliminated what sort of cause is it usually (not adequate training? mishaps on the day?)?

I know basic sort of questions but I haven't been able to find this sort of information elsewhere and you guys seem to know lots and lots!!!

Generally, all competitors get through. It is the vetting procedure that may eliminate a competitor, or if the handler cannot continue, or if the handler uses excessive force or discipline with the dog, they could be disqualified. Many years ago, one entrant didn't even get to start as they did not have their bike helmet with them. Another time on the last lap, a handler's bike 'failed to proceed' and they had to run the last lap - in Blundstones!

The ET only has to be done once to pass and gain the title. If you wish to enter again, you can as long as the hosting club is happy to take your entry. If they have a cut off of 20 entrants and all are untitled, they are more likely to let the untitled entrants compete to gain the title than let a titled dog complete it just for fun. Best to check with the individual club.

Michael

Some useful links:

ET Rules

ET Training

14 Week Training Program (American so need to convert miles to kms)

I read the article on the training program with interest. It appears that the ET is not as widely competed in in the USA.

We have friends in Canada that we have discussed the ET with, and they are amazed that we can compete in this event. Apparently in Canada it is ILLEGAL to cycle with a dog on lead!

Michael

Yes, the three different surfaces for the Adelaide one are:

1) bitumen

2) dirt

3) grass

Would be three different surfaces at Erskine Park

Hi All,

Happy 2011 to everyone on this thread. The ET rules can be seen at this website: http://www.ankc.org.au/Rules.aspx

Michael

I believe that the rules state that the E.T. is to be run on a couple of different surfaces

The ET has to run over three different surfaces. Usually bitumen, gravel and grass.

M

When is the Canberra one? We're not eligible until next year boo. I'm assuming it starts later in the day because it is TOO cold earlier :D

Hi All,

I judges he ET in Canberra in August this year. It did start at 10.00 but I believe that they may start at 9.00 in 2011.

Anyway, I am happy to answer any questions about ET's if you need.

My website has a dedicated ET page which explains the whole test.

Regards and best wishes for 2011..

Michael

www.abbiestar.net

Typo!

That should start... "I judged the...."

M

When is the Canberra one? We're not eligible until next year boo. I'm assuming it starts later in the day because it is TOO cold earlier :D

Hi All,

I judges he ET in Canberra in August this year. It did start at 10.00 but I believe that they may start at 9.00 in 2011.

Anyway, I am happy to answer any questions about ET's if you need.

My website has a dedicated ET page which explains the whole test.

Regards and best wishes for 2011..

Michael

www.abbiestar.net