Hi can anyone recommend some rides in NSW Australia? I'm going to be working in Sydney and will have 5 or 6 days in early Dec to ride and travel. Will be on my own, so a guide, group rides or areas with mobile reception would be good. Will consider traveling beyond NSW for good trails, if transport not too pricey. Thanks!
[url= http://nswmtb.asn.au/ ]See here[/url]
I can recommend some great road riding if that's of any interest...
What sort of riding? If your willing to travel a little come to Canberra and ride Stromlo and Kowen Forest. Would be 3hrs from Sydney.
If you, want some gravity riding head to Thredbo.
There are trails at Manly Dam, which would be pretty close to Sydney, i've not been so can't comment. I would imaging there is plenty out in Blue Mountains but again not ridden there.
I've not long moved over to Oz and living in ACT so only really started exploring...
I did The Oaks Fire Trail in the Blue Mountains. You can catch the train to the top ride down and do it all over again.
I did it before suspension was invented and it hurt!
Best riding I've done was out of Mullumbimby near Byron Bay. Rode with people from True Wheel Cycles. It was 1999 and they possibly aren't there anymore.
Being a mountain biker in Sydney made me appreciate being a mountain biker in (south) London. It's all on our doorstep.Sydney does have better beaches though!
Interested in this post as I'm moving out to Sydney early 2015.
I "swing both ways" so would be interested in the skinny-tyred info too hebdencyclist.
Bearing in mind it will probably be around 35c in December....
Hey thanks for the replies.
What sort of riding? Mountain bike please, with some rocky rooty bits and hills. Natural stuff preferable if quality, but trail centres can be fun too.
Hmmm 35C does not sound good. May be worth traveling further to escape that!
Hmmm 35C does not sound good. May be worth traveling further to escape that!
That would be tassie then.
So is tassie worth the trip? Or the south island, nz? Haven't costed up flights so maybe all pie in the sky, but what's your dream trip?
I've done a fair bit of riding in NSW, well Sydney anyway. As mentioned above, The Oaks trail is fun, lots of fast firetrail, and then the last 10 mins is simply awesome technical descent. With a beautiful swimming hole afterwards this ride is the stuff of dreams.
There used to be another trail coming off Oaks called St Helena's trail. This was the best Blue Mountains had to offer but sadly its out of use now, or was when I was out there earlier this year. Fat Hippy websits has info on plenty of trails: http://users.on.net/~fathers/index.htm#rides
Its a joyous country to cycle in. No rain! No mud! The Oaks gets busy at times but all the other rides you get to yourself, and if you want to camp out, camp out - they really don't care. Read the bit on the Fat Hippy site about "The Spider Dance" and you will not be doing a night ride out there afterwards! Seriously, the spiders out there are hideous, and they dangle from trees at night.
Nz is a 4 he flight but riding is good. Tassie is the quiet spot 90mins from Sydney but needs some effort to get round (car) but the riding is good and varied.
and now I have the keyboard not the phone..
Dream trip - not in December unfortunately middle of Summer riding can be brutal if you are not used to it. Early December might be better on the east but that could still be hot. I have a 30c cut off these days.
Not ridden much in NSW recently (the stuff around Newcastle was good Ourimbah and Awabba I think) but the Canberra stuff is great if a short drive.
There is a couple of days riding out of Hobart city, better if you can get a lift up the mountain too. Lots of good singletrack both open and local to be had, you could probably do 3 days.
- This is more of a promo and it was a very wet November last year, we are racing over 4 days on loads of great new singletrack. - [url= https://www.facebook.com/groups/105680292821391/ ]Hobart MTB rides sign up and find a ride[/url]
There is more opening in the north from Launceston out to the NE not sure how much will be there by then though, some of the existing stuff is great.
Also I'd look at some of the Vic High country like Buller, Bright & Beauty, Thredbo in NSW is doing a lot so check what they are up to.
Aus is massive. Will seem like you are driving forever to get between trails. Spend a week in NZ instead.
We just had 34c on Saturday in WA making it the hottest day in Sept for 100 years apparently. I have a feeling we're in for a hot summer, not to forget the massive risk of bushfires (both accidental and man-made).
I've ridden in 35c temps +. In the open it's brutal and you will need heaps of water. Under the cover of trees its worse as there's no breeze. Even evening / night rides are hot. Christmas time you could be looking at 40c which is harsh. If you absolutely must ride try coastal paths and you might get some sea breeze ans at least have the option of jumping IN the sea to cool off a little, but then you might not want to get out.
And that's why I'm planning to spend summer down here, until work sends me out that way.
That's why I do a lot of swimming! 🙂 We do get the "doctor" coming in around 2-3pm but that's here on the coast.... As soon as you go inland, fahgeddaboudit. i do miss the UK for mountainbiking (not the mud though). Had a fabulous couple of days down in Pemberton riding and camping but that's 4 hours south from me. I have been tempted to get a road bike off Gumtree... Still might.
How are you bearing up anyway Mike?
Getting there aphex, cheers for asking moving on Friday and [s]on the piss[/s] working in Melbourne this week. Staying is definitely got a lot to do with the fantastic mountain bike community here.
No worries. One thing I've found moving to Oz is that friends are your family, the ones who listen and help. Things will get better.
All sounding great - except the heat and spiders - just wish I could move the work trip to autumn/spring! Will look into travel options to cooler parts. Really want to ride not swim!
Spiders are not an issue. Really.
Hey Mike thanks for posting all those videos. Finally got a chance to sit and watch them - some great rides and not a spider in sight! Ahhh too many good choices! 🙂
Don't worry about the spiders, the locals and snakes will get you first
The blatant racism is more worrying than any creepy crawly or slithery snake...
The blatant racism is more worrying than any creepy crawly or slithery snake...
Yep. Sadly my erstwhile adoptive nation is about the most comfortably racist country on earth. It does however have lots of good riding.
Out of Sydney head to Oxford Falls/Garigal National Park just north of the city. Like anywhere it takes a while to learn where the good stuff is so make sure you say hello to riders you meet. Everyone will be more than happy to let you tag along and show you the best bits.
Couple of lazy links below. The second one has some great trail maps.
http://nobmob.com/rides/oxfordfalls