IF YOU mention First Turkey to someone and they don't think of Christmas, chances are you're talking to someone from the Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club. The track, at the end of German St, near Moores Creek at the foot of Mount Archer, is where you will find members of the club tearing through the bush on two wheels.

The track is used throughout the year for fun and practice, but when it's time for serious competition, as it is this Saturday, then it is time to head to Seeonee Park.

The Yeppoon Rd track will host round one of the club's five-round cross country series this weekend. The 8.5km track is set in rugged bushland and designed to test riding skill, fitness and concentration.

"We did a bit of work on Seeonee Park before Cyclone Marcia, but we have done a lot of work since," club president Andrew Dunn said.

Mountain bikers from Rockhampton and Gladstone will form the bulk of the 40-odd riders expected this Saturday, but "we will get a few from Mackay, Bundaberg and Emerald, which is great", Dunn said.

Riders will contest the 8.5km cross country course in three divisions - elite, sport and masters.

"The elite are the best riders and complete four laps, so around 34km," Dunn explained.

"The sport class, which is intermediate riders and the masters, who are over 40s, complete three laps."

There is also a novice track and the ladies division completes three laps of this shorter course, as do the juniors, aged between 11 and 15.

"We have improved the track and made it tougher, more technical in parts for the elite riders," Dunn said.

"There are some steep hill climbs and technical descents to test the best riders."

For the rest of us, there's always First Turkey.