Diamonds 415 Report post Posted October 29, 2015 After some alternatives to Stromlo. Had intended on riding Stromlo with the young fella in Dec, but now find the MTB Nats are there the exact time we are booked. They have sole use of the venue according to the website. Daughter is swimming Sat/Sun at the AIS Pool. I am looking for options for thurs, fri and Monday. Off road MTB options only. Staying at west end of lake but can drive to other spots. Ta Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shrek 259 Report post Posted October 29, 2015 Bruce ridge is a lovely network of trails behind the Canberra Motor Village there is also Majura Pines and Sparrow Hill... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted October 29, 2015 Bruce ridge is a lovely network of trails behind the Canberra Motor Village .. Too funny. I am actually staying there. Just looked at a map. It looks like the van park is inside Bruce Ridge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shrek 259 Report post Posted October 29, 2015 ha good stuff....stayed there a few times....go do other rides elsewhere during the day...then of a evening after dinner...go spin through the trails of bruce ridge at sunset....they have improved it a great deal in recent times...but its great to roll out the gate of the van park and be straight on the trails... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted October 29, 2015 Thanks for the tips. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roman 100 Report post Posted October 30, 2015 shame - stromlo is by far my favourite MTB location so far Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thekeeper 52 Report post Posted November 5, 2015 You will still be able to ride Stromlo where the racing is not on. The are plenty of tracks other than the XCO course tracks that will be suitable. You should also take the kids to Majura. which is a 10 min ride from where you are staying. If you want a longer ride drive out to Sparrow and East Kowen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted November 5, 2015 You will still be able to ride Stromlo where the racing is not on. The are plenty of tracks other than the XCO course tracks that will be suitable. You should also take the kids to Majura. which is a 10 min ride from where you are staying. If you want a longer ride drive out to Sparrow and East Kowen. Great. Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted November 30, 2015 So if the mtb nats were on at Mt Taylor on the weekend (going by instagram photos) what exactly is the Stromlo version in two weeks? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roman 100 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 heading to stromlo this weekend with some friends... can't wait - love that place Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thekeeper 52 Report post Posted December 1, 2015 It is part of the National series. http://www.mtba.asn.au/event/national-series/ The national champs are held in Bright and strangely enough do not count towards series points. The points accumulated in the series do give you a better start position for the National champs. And this means everything in XCO racing. If you start at the back of an XCO race the leaders are gone before you get out of the first bit of single track. So you do the series because it is alot of fun and it gets you a good grid spot. The Stromlo XCO course used normally is the World Cup course which is easily the most technical in Oz and one of the most technical on the world cup circuit when it was used for the World Champs. So if the mtb nats were on at Mt Taylor on the weekend (going by instagram photos) what exactly is the Stromlo version in two weeks? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted December 3, 2015 Ok. Ta. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted December 10, 2015 How ****ing awesome is Stromlo! Putting in a transfer to Queanbeyan first thing Monday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted December 10, 2015 Bugger you Roxii. How f u c k ing awesome is Stromlo!!@ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roman 100 Report post Posted December 10, 2015 stromlo is awesome. I tried out the Majura Pines MTB park last weekend after stromlo as well. Was fun but nowhere in the same league as stromlo IMO. Unfortunately one of our group fell at stromlo and broke her arm on day 1 of the weekend so riding was cut short as we got her to hospital but still - stromlo is definitely still my favourite MTB place so far Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thekeeper 52 Report post Posted December 11, 2015 (edited) If you think stromlo is good you should check out the tracks at Jindabyne, Bungarra, Crackenback, Thredbo, Sparrow Hill, Kowen, Tuggeranong pines etc etc etc. Edited January 9, 2016 by thekeeper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted December 11, 2015 Righto. On the list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted December 14, 2015 What a weekend with the young bloke. 7 rides Thurs-Mon at Stromlo and Bruce Ridge (plus snuck a little tri in on Sunday). Got a guided tour from the resident mtb expert to finish the trip. First mtb trip of many with the young fella. He is hooked. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roxii 5,447 Report post Posted December 15, 2015 How old is your young bloke Diamonds??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted December 15, 2015 (edited) 10, we have spent the last 12-18 mths building up on local trails. Edited December 15, 2015 by Diamonds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roxii 5,447 Report post Posted December 15, 2015 Nice, my young bloke is 9 and getting right into it, which is great fun. What bike is the young fella riding? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted December 15, 2015 He was on a 24" until about 9 mths ago. Picked up a small ladies 26" Merida which has a lower step over height which has been a massive plus. With the bigger wheels there is not much he can't get over. Just had to use black duct tape over some girly livery but he loves it now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fluffyduck 41 Report post Posted December 16, 2015 You could also ride some or all of the centenary trail. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted December 17, 2015 You could also ride some or all of the centenary trail. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Yes, I have heard good things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted March 25, 2016 So back again. Rode Sparrow Hill short loop (plus some add-ons) with the young tacker today. There is something great about breathing that pine forest air. Enjoyable riding but I personally prefer the variety of Stromlo a little more. I think I prefer more elevation change both up and down in an off road ride. Stromlo in the morning. Either Majura or a whip around Bruce Ridge in the arvo. They are certainly spoilt for choice down here. Does anyone know if there is decent riding at Red Hill for a mtb? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dromana 44 Report post Posted March 25, 2016 So back again. Rode Sparrow Hill short loop (plus some add-ons) with the young tacker today. There is something great about breathing that pine forest air. Enjoyable riding but I personally prefer the variety of Stromlo a little more. I think I prefer more elevation change both up and down in an off road ride. Stromlo in the morning. Either Majura or a whip around Bruce Ridge in the arvo. They are certainly spoilt for choice down here. Does anyone know if there is decent riding at Red Hill for a mtb? Red Hill Mornington peninsula? There's a heap of tracks there. I think there's a website with maps Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted March 26, 2016 Red Hill Mornington peninsula? There's a heap of tracks there. I think there's a website with maps Nah. Canberra. Thanks anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted March 27, 2016 Rode Majura this morning. I loved the variety of trails and the compact nature, especially the southern corner. When the young bloke got tired, I could do repeats of Planet Claire et al and still be within earshot while he recovered. Stromlo is dead for us once he gets knackered as the ascent to the very back is so long. It is still his fave but Majura is better for us at such differing fitness levels at this point in time. While the lowland trails are fairly ho hum, they are just short blurts. The warmup tracks and jumps park is fun too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slowman 249 Report post Posted March 27, 2016 There are some trails around the back of Mount Ainslee too which I've ridden a few times. The last time I went to Canberra were stayed not far from Majura but a lot of the trails had been logged and it was mostly fire trails left. So I rode south to Mount Ainslee and did a few loops, then later I found Bruce Ridge trails - that saved the weekend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slowman 249 Report post Posted March 28, 2016 Rode Majura this morning. I loved the variety of trails and the compact nature, especially the southern corner. They might actually be the Mt Ainslee trails Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted March 28, 2016 (edited) ÃÂ They might actually be the Mt Ainslee trails Definitely Majura Pines. Signposted. Park and entry off Majura Rd. Cross under Majura Pkwy via tunnel and straight into it. http://www.majurapines.org/trails.php Edited March 28, 2016 by Diamonds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted July 1, 2016 Wish me luck ð© The young bloke is adamant we will be right in the Jayco this weekend so off to Canberra we go. 0-13 temp range. Should be toasty. Front bum free and I did survive a July Lithgow camping trip once so might be ok. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ironpo 2,997 Report post Posted July 4, 2016 Wish me luck ð© The young bloke is adamant we will be right in the Jayco this weekend so off to Canberra we go. 0-13 temp range. Should be toasty. Front bum free and I did survive a July Lithgow camping trip once so might be ok.it was minus three on Sunday morn so hope your still alive!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chookman 220 Report post Posted July 4, 2016 Wish me luck ð© The young bloke is adamant we will be right in the Jayco this weekend so off to Canberra we go. 0-13 temp range. Should be toasty. Front bum free and I did survive a July Lithgow camping trip once so might be ok.Haha, reminds me of a camping weekend we did at Newnes near lithgow many years back. 1 of the guys had a chainsaw to cut up some dead wood for the fire and it crapped itself so we were scrounging around looking for sticks all afternoon. From memory it got down to minus 6 or 8 deg and the only stuff that wasn't frozen was the food and beer in the eski! I haven't been camping since! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted July 5, 2016 (edited) Yep Sunday morning was coolish. -3.8. I bought 2 x 2000W fan heaters for $19ea from Bunnings after a tip from a mate. Had to turn one off as I was sweating up. Sunday warmed up ok by mid morning. Monday on the other hand...... It was 2 deg early and was still only 5 deg at 1pm which was ridiculous. On the plus side the trails were near deserted. If you are passing through, get to Pushys Warehouse at Fyshwick. I bought a decades worth of mtb clothing for the two of us for about $200. Baggy shorts galore with chamois inners for ~$30. Edited July 5, 2016 by Diamonds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ironpo 2,997 Report post Posted July 10, 2016 Yep Sunday morning was coolish. -3.8. I bought 2 x 2000W fan heaters for $19ea from Bunnings after a tip from a mate. Had to turn one off as I was sweating up. Sunday warmed up ok by mid morning. Monday on the other hand...... It was 2 deg early and was still only 5 deg at 1pm which was ridiculous. Yep That's Canberra for ya Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory-dognz 445 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 I'm going to Stromlo next wednesday on the way from Sydney to Thredbo; this will break up the drive There will be my 17 year old son and me, after a nice loop that suits me XC, him all mountain. The website has 6 loops listed, any recommendation on the best flowing, rideable one. or do we just follow our nose on trails. Also any must see MTB bike shops in Canberra? cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thekeeper 52 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 Depends, just how all mountain he is. there are some techy all mountain trails out the back not n the website maps and there is a new flow trail (Vapour Trail) also. Check out this FB page who make the trails: https://www.facebook.com/MakinTraxAustralia/ MTB Loop 2, 3 or 6 will tick a few boxes 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 415 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 The new vapour trail is great fun. Rode it almost exclusively for descents three days in a row last week. You can roll what you dont want to jump. Great addition to the park and needed with the appeal of Thredbo down the road. Prefer Cockatoo Switchbacks to Wattle Happen for ascents generally. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory-dognz 445 Report post Posted April 18, 2017 11 hours ago, thekeeper said: Depends, just how all mountain he is. there are some techy all mountain trails out the back not n the website maps and there is a new flow trail (Vapour Trail) also. Check out this FB page who make the trails: https://www.facebook.com/MakinTraxAustralia/ MTB Loop 2, 3 or 6 will tick a few boxes Thanks for this i also found Flow's 6 best trails for Stromlo and loop 2 covers the best 2 trails so that may be the go. Also will suggest the Vapour trail for son. The stop is really to break the travel to Thredbo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
