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Tracks for Families
Hello All
1st time Blog.
New to MTB. Tried Manly Dam, it was sensational.
Then took my nine year old son along, ended up pushing two bikes up the big hills.
Question: Does anybody recommend any starter trails suited for kids?
Cheers
APD
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Welcome APD. Thankfully, the answer is simple:
Easiest ride: Bairne Track. Flat as a pancake and with great views. Ed - OK, sorry - it's all relative. Maybe this has half the vertical of Manly Dam but it's much easier to handle (no rocks, no walking needed, even for newbies).
Second: Terrey Hills. Perimeter only has few small rises but is only 14Km return. Building up to 23Km with more hills if you toss in the Long Trail).
Hope this helps
then I would suggest starting from the Japanese School. It avoids the larger / often sandy hills at the start and the awful rock ledge that is always covered in horse excrement flavoured water
is hardly horse excrecment is it now?
it's covered in mud from run off from the land flow!
honestly! only about four people actually RIDE their horses on the trails these days!
and there is always Narrabeen Lakes - that is flat!
No offence Blondie, but the 'water' running of the land there is hardly spring quality - nuff said!? Stuart's plan from starting next to Japanese School (aka. Durumbil Rd) is probably the go 'til things dry out a bit.
As for the Lakes? Hmmmm... unless anyone knows a way to get round without riding some distance along Mona Vale road we shouldn't really be calling it family friendly
don't you mean Wakehurst Parkway as if he is up on Mona Vale Road then he has probably missed Narrabeen Lakes altogether
and i am fairly sure the Japanese School is on Laitoki Road...
I am also fairly sure Stuart said about the horse manure just to have a dig at me but stand by the fact that it's freakin MUD!!!
he can ride from Narrabeen to Dee Why and back and not go much road at all...
This comment has been moved here.
back to the topic
Bobbin Head is also worth a look at for beginners. The first few km is dead flat firetrail. It then goes downhill to the marina. That is a fair climb back up but you can always turn around when the trail heads down.
Only problem is that it is a very short track.
as soon as you hit the school zone. Park down the end of the street near the schools. Ride onto the gravel Rd and this will lead you onto the more family friendly sections of Perimeter trail, its the fire trail on the left at the end of the gravel rd / drive.
Have fun
Some other "easier trails" you might like to try:
1. Andersons - the fire trail from Wentworth Falls to Woodford - about 35km
2. The Oaks - the fire trail from Woodford to Glenbrook - about 28km
3. Perimeter Trail and Long Trail at Terrey Hills - an out and back exclusively on fire trails - about 25km.
4. Duckholes and Centre Track combo at Terrey Hills - an anti-clockwise loop starting in an easterly direction - about 20km.
APD - just about all off road MTB riding will involve some hills, whether small or large, steep or other. When you start out, for sure you will be pushing your rig up the bigger hills. Its all part of the learning process, just like I had to do. Once you have been out on 10 rides or so, you will notice a massive difference in your conditioning. This goes much faster if you are able to ride once every weekend or two. What seemed like an impossible hill, now merely seems do-able. Especially when you see others doing it. I am personally amazed at some of the hills and obstacles I have seen MTB riders get up.
The trails listed above have some hills in them. This is all part of the fun. Don't let them discourage you or your son from the greater good, which is to get outside, enjoy the fresh air and the environment, improve your fitness, and have a great time. After all, there are far more expensive and dangerous hobbies out there to take up instead. Your perseverance will pay off in the long run.
Cheers mate,
Liam.
There is an off road track there???
All I know is it is a 4km climb up to the National Park booth from the marina. If I have my figures correct, it is a nice, easy 4km climb at a 4% gradient ... on road, that is.
Bobbin Head Track (not the sealed road). Just turn around before it gets steep near the end (near the water) and come back, check out the side tracks. Park just outside the park and ride in. There are also some easy trails SE of that track, look in your street directory it's an M street or something. They are long to and are close to those. Total newbie stuff.
Lady Carrington Drive Audley. Down south. Very long and flat, winds next to a big river/creak thing in a national park. Pay to get in.
Lane Cove is nice and easy too. Head upstream from the south end of Kissing POint road and turn left at the green bars. Follow next to creak. Turn and come back. I ride LC quite a bit if you ever want a tour of some trail there.
All depends where abouts you live realy. Something local can be handy as find you ride it more often.
Sure is a firetrail at Bobbin Head
http://nobmob.com/rides/bobbinhead
Not the easiest of climbs out if you go all the way to the end of the track. But dead flat until the last kilometre or so.
Also try fire trails (and some single track) at the end of Murrua Street, South WEST (not SE as I said) of Bobbin Head Track. Very flat and easy, a few trails to explore there. Quiet riding around there, not many riders to worry about.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Australi...
Andersons Fire Trail would be a good way of discouraging most 9 year olds from ever wanting to ride again.
Though I might just stick to the road when I am around Bobbin Head. The climb out of the marina is a nice one. With skinny tires, of course.
Do you mean that black stuff that the men in tights ride on?