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GNR - Shepherd's Gully Road
Great Northern Road - Just wondering how technical Shepherd's Gully Road is as a descent? Would it compare to Manly Dam technical sections and is it technical all the way or just some sections.
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The answer is it's 'way' technical compared to Manly Dam. Very much longer than any descent there, and very much rougher. It's not overly steep though, so just take your time and you'll be right.
The top section was graded couple years back, but recent reports (http://nobmob.com/node/13689#comment-43878) are that it might be rough as I remember.
Yeah, its pretty rocky just now, but is certainly smoother the faster you go. Those bg baby's head rocks are a nightmare a low speeds, but let it fly a bit and you'll cruise over them.
I might add that recently we have climbing it too, and it is a really fun climb that is tech without being too much of a flog. Bonus points for climbing it without unclipping once!
If you go slow it's nothing to sweat about. It only gets tricky with speed. You know you've done it properly if you have to bend your hands open to get them off the handlebars at the bottom
Bring a first aid kit and go for your life ......
No, go slow, especially on your first time there. I did this on the trail we are discussing...
... despite having ridden it many times before at probably the same speed. It's dark and moist down there (in the gully, that is), rear wheel just slipped off a mossy rock and I hit the deck with the right arm. This wouldn't have been so bad, but there must have been a sharp edge to the rock and it ripped my arm open as I slid along. Doh!
Thanks for all your feedback - I might not show these responses to the two girls lined up for the ride. I gather they can just get off and walk it over the really tricky bits. Sounds like fun to me.
There's no crazy drops or such like. It's just a bit scrappy in places - don't get me wrong I absolutely LOVE Shepherds Gully and so does the Yeti. If you have any concerns, pad up and scream if you wanna go faster........
Walking would work, but it's 2.2km:
http://nobmob.com/node/8899
As a girl.. I enjoyed it, even though I walked a fair chunk!! the views definitely make up for anything too scary to ride!
If you go into Shepherd's Gully after doing the 10km of rocky stuff on the Great Northern Road from the junction at the top of Western Commission Track I think you can consider Shepherd's Gully an easy fast descent with a few bits which can be dicey if you're going too fast. There's nothing like the rock ledges & steps you find at Manly Dam or on the GNR before you get to SG. The biggest cautions are there are some moist/slippery sections under the trees, there are 3/4 sections with fist sized rocks to negotiate (most near the top), and there are occasionally people with or without bikes coming up the hill, but if you go at a speed where you can control your bike your only concern will be the bill you'll get for the surgery you'll need to remove the smile from your face.
Oh, you'll hate the 10 or so km trug back to the ferry on corrugated gravel and tarmac when you get to the bottom, but Shepherd's is worth it!