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Trail Database & Other Ride Goodies

Submitted by Rob on Tue, 20/09/2005 - 17:17.

Here are a few details of the NoBMoB MTB Trails Database.

First off, it's always a work in progress as there are always new trails to find and explore. If you know of a ride or trail not in here then please create a ride database entry or alternatively post something in our ride/trail forum to let us all know about it.

Intro out of the way - for the impatient: "Shut up already and just show me them all!" Or click on the blocks to the right, or even better the stars on maps under 'By Location' below (if your browser is fancy enough to see them).

Areas and Profiles

Back when this site started the trails database consisted of just short descriptions of various areas to ride around. While this is handy, it doesn't really give anyone a feel for how far one could ride in any particular area. For this reason the original entry type has been renamed 'Ride Area Review' and complemented with 'Ride Profile/Route' entries. The second of these being a place to write about a specific route one took, hopefully with hill profile, etc (links to MotionBased are great for that).

Basically:

  • Ride Area Review - A description of an area (hopefully wilderness) where one can ride.
  • Ride Profile/Route - A description of an specific ride in (or passing through one or more) of the areas.

The ride profiles page lists all profiles added so far. It's sortable by clicking the columns at the top. Maybe this will get some filters added one day. Eye-wink

Planning a Ride

Of course, what's the point of knowing where the trails are if you can't get out there and have some fun with a few friends... erm... or random strangers? Eye-wink Check out the Ride Planning page for all the low down on how to organise a meet.

Hot Laps

By popular request - 'Hot Laps' - a page dedicated to the times one can make on these trails. Take a look & post a comment with your time.

Interactive Maps

For those with Google Earth we have a number of .KMZ files, each covering a different area. There are links to these on the individual ride pages, but also a master NoBMoB KMZ file which has network links to all of them.

Here's one example (Manly Dam) of how this looks (click to enlarge):

For more information about how these are laid out and how to view, see the maps page.

Categorisation

Many ways to skin a cat, and as it happens, also to describe bike rides. We have several categories that should help you find what you want... well... if the author's have done their job! Eye-wink

By Location

Where is this ride?

Northern Beaches - Yup, in our favourite neck of the woods. Click the stars on the map below for details:

Sydney - Other places in Sydney.

Days away - Anything not technically in Sydney, but manageable in a day trip.

Further afield - Anywhere not comfortably done in a day from central Sydney.

By Geography

This category is for describing specific ride profiles. Not to be confused with location, what we mean here is how a ride is cycled. You know, like...

  • Loops - Erm, yeah, start and finish in the same place.
  • Out and back - Kindof like a loop, only you turn round at the end of a run and go back the way you came.
  • One way - Where you'll need alternate transport to get back to the beginning (DH shuttles or trains, etc).
  • Others - Anything that isn't the above. Usually this applies to areas there are many intersecting trails - like Cascades, Oxford Falls, etc.

By Fitness Requirements

This category is for describing specific ride profiles.

Bit of a tricky one, but basically, how fit do you have to be to ride the route.

Some might say this scale should be reversed as you blow less the fitter you are, but don't ask me - it was like this when I got here!

  • 1 blown lung - you rarely exercise and are looking to get into mountain biking - this is the ride for you. You would rate your fitness as poor.
  • 2 blown lungs - you ride maybe once a week for at least 10Km and possibly do some other form of exercise.
  • 3 blown lungs - you ride 10-15Km offroad weekly and do some other form of exercise during the week then your fitness is average.
  • 4 blown lungs - you ride 2 or more times a week offroad for 20Km+ and you go to the gym 2-3 times a week. You would rate your fitness as good or above-average. You've done the Urban Polaris or Polaris Challenge or half marathon (50Km) events.
  • 5 blown lungs - you ride or exercise more days than not with a weekly total or 50Km+ offroad and frequent flyer points at the gym. You ride full marathon (100Km in a single day) events.