Just a heads up on a few trail advocacy happenings mentioned in the forum lately.

First off, our friends over at BMORC have locked in 4 maintenance days this year, starting on Feb 25 with Knapsack Build Day - XC and DH. All the dates are in the calendar. See their announcement for more details and discussion: 2017 - Knapsack Trail Day Schedule.

Then we have a couple of consultations here or coming up in the local area:

• Eastern Blue Mountains Escarpment Master Plan survey - Thanks to BikePhysio for the heads up, and as he says, "Please take time to invest in their very short survey and propose more cycling infrastructure including the reopening of the old Glenbrook tunnel."
• OMV public consult coming soon - Your chance to have your say on restoration of public land around the existing OMV site. Naturally, the more voices asking for extended MTB infrastructure the better. Be heard! And thanks to Hawkeye for kindly volunteering to liaise on this matter - it's a pretty dry and thankless task but someone has to do it!

Just a heads up for those thinking of riding in the Blue Mountains: the Oaks single track has been closed by NPWS due to "...potential asbestos contamination". Doesn't appear to affect the rest of the trail though.

Full quote:

Glenbrook Single Mountain bike track will be closed due to potential asbestos contamination. Riders and walkers will not be permitted on the track during the closure. Woodford Oaks fire trail riders can continue down the Oaks fire trail to exit via Glenbrook. Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Richmond area office on (02) 4588 2400 or Blue Mountains Heritage Centre on (02) 4787 8877 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

Form more details see: http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park...

Once again it's that time of year where we will all (well, mostly all) have time to get out on the trails and enjoy whatever form of riding it is we love.

Big shout out to all those who showed up to the Xmas ride recently and made it what sounds like a big success. And thanks to the other Rob for organising. Don't forget anyone can post up their social rides in the calendar for more of the same.

More thanks go to Tristan for his insightful post about the morning. Very good points for all those who have forgotten about the true meaning of Xmas... erm... I mean MTB

So, whatever your plans this holiday season, wishing you happy trails. Enjoy & stay safe.

Cheers

In case you hadn't seen Please! Stop riding Bantry Bay Engravings Trail: The selfish few threatening new trails... well... a gentle reminder of it's message:

It takes literally years to negotiate authorised access to trails in and around Sydney. When people don't respect the land trails pass by and deviate from them it jeopardises access for all. Both now, and in future projects.

Please respect the areas we have the privilege to be able to ride in and stick to formed, authorised trails only.

Thank you

Just in time for the holiday break another amazing win for local riders. Bantry Bay Gahnia track is now open.

Aimed at experienced riders this trail runs in a one way North to South direction from the Bluff Track entrance. See Gahnia Trail Map.

NPWS explains, "...the first 50 m of this track has been designed to test if your bike handling skill is at the level needed for tracks rated ‘more difficult’. If you find you are not yet competent at all the challenges in this section, then do not proceed any further along the track. It is permitted to go back up the track to the start from this section only. Do not cut through the bush to exit the track.

Thanks to Mario for the pictures (more after the break) - this stuff looks great.

Get out there!

More discussion here: Gahnia - Bantry Bay ready to ride Christmas Eve.

I'm not sure if this applies to other NSW parks, but while out riding this morning noticed that this weekend (15/16 Nov) is NPWS Fee Free in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

The toll booths are closed and there's a sign up stating no fees for entry this weekend.

If you enter the park on a bike this doesn't make any difference of course

... however, beginners who baulk at the entry fee (come on though!) and for whom the ride up to somewhere like Bairne Track, Towlers Bay, etc. is a little far could take this as a chance to try out those locations.

Bairne Track is great for beginners for example. Towlers Bay maybe a little less so (just be careful on the way down and aware of the killer climb out).

Or use this as an excuse to take your non-cycling buddies out to some of the places we all love and enjoy.

Racing often takes a bit of a back seat here. We're a community site, mainly here to have fun, but recognition of some sporting feats in the world of MTB really have to be congratulated.

Over the weekend Jason English became the Solo 24 Hour World Champion... for the 5th time! For much of the race Jason was out front but victory was sealed a couple of hours from the end when he put in a two blistering laps, destroying all hope of a catch the second place rider may have been holding onto. Boom!

Special mention to Brett Bellchambers too, for taking out the SS category.

There are many new recreational riders online here, so for those that don't know, this event works as so: Midday on Saturday one steps onto a MTB. They ride round a circuit (this year in Fort William, Scotland) until midday Sunday. Non-stop. Solo. The rider to finish the most laps in the shortest time before that Sunday cut-off wins. Yes - 24 hours without a break - Insane!

IMBA will celebrate its eleventh-annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day (#TKMBD) on Saturday, October 4, 2014. This is a great opportunity for you to share your passion for pedaling with kids!

Details here: https://www.imba.com/kids

Of course this isn't restricted to North America though. Why not arrange your own kids ride? Don't forget to post it up in the caldendar.

Many thanks to all the keen competitors from last weekend's Convict 100 race who took the time to blog about the event and share their stories. There were indeed some fantastic efforts and great yarns.

It's not fair to single anyone out - every participant makes an event - but is always good to share a photo so here's Tristan riding the infamous bridge. Have a look at Cycologically Challenged! to hear how he went.

Great to see so many riders keen to share like this, and so many comments of appreciation, encouragement and congratulations. This is what MTB is about to many - a huge challenge out in the (relative) wilds with mates and strangers alike. Strangers who, after a ride along the Woomerah Range, somehow you will have a special connection with forever. If you've been there, done that you know exactly what I'm talking about!

For those not sure about trying an event like this, take a look at the blogs on the Convict 100 2014 page. Just don't be put off too much. Remember: nothing worth doing in life is ever easy!

Also remember that blogs like this build into a handy reference of event results in a tab on your profile and you don't have to write an essay to do that.

Just a reminder for those who might have missed the Mowbray Park Farm track official opening calendar entry.

Enjoy the heat? Why not go and check out this new trail to the South of Sydney (near Picton) this weekend? For those that don't, might be worth a visit at another time?

The site looks like a pretty promising option for riders who may feel guilty about leaving the family at home while they indulge in the pleasures of MTB. There appear to be a tonne of family friendly activities for the significant other & kids. Kudos for the initiative guys!

All the details are on the calendar page linked above. Note club membership requirements before planning your trip!

Back in June it was announced that NPWS had put out for comment amendments to Garigal National Park that, amongst other things, included provision for an authorised trail at Bantry Bay (see Garigal NP/Bantry Bay Proposed Trails - Act Now!).

The great news is that yesterday these amendments were officially announced and include a map of proposed trails pretty much unchanged from that put out for comment (see attached).

The full plan with these amendments can be found on-line at the Environment & Heritage site here:

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/parkmanagement...

It includes some nice phrases such as...

Easily accessible mountain bike riding is also provided for in Garigal National Park. This activity will be enhanced by the purpose-built track proposed for construction in the Bantry Bay area of the park. There are opportunities to link tracks in the park to adjacent natural areas, thus creating a district track network.

The experience provided will be an authorised, cross-country / all-mountain mountain bike route, approximately seven to ten kilometres in length as shown on Map 4. The track will comprise mostly a 'one-way' route from beginner up to intermediate levels. The route will include attractive landscape features, such as view points. It will allow separation of mountain bike riders from bushwalkers. It will be supported by basic local government visitor infrastructure such as car parking space and toilets and will aim to attract local and regional visitors who may wish to enjoy a few hours exploring the park and surrounds.

Happy days