Andoaks + maybe Knapsack + extra downhill

Couple of points first:

a) The meeting status wouldn't let me enter exactly what I wanted, so the real meeting status is: "If it's raining hard (more than a sprinkle) and predicted to be above 30 degrees in the mountains, I won't be there."

b) The pace will be "brisk social" - This will mean a couple of stops will happen at the creeks and the helipad, though besides that I want us to be able to move along at a fairly rapid pace, so it'd be preferable to ride with people with a higher degree of fitness.

c) If lots of people come, it may work out better to group into two (I assume most know the way) and do it as two separate groups.

d) Depending on interest, we (or some of us) could hit the Saint Helena Track instead of the Oaks. Not having done it, I'll need someone to show me the way, etc, but I'm open to that sugestion.

I was hoping that someone was going to post an Andoaks (that's Anderson's Fire Trail combined with The Oaks Fire Trail and Singletrack) ride around new years. I need to have a great ride before starting my hectic final year of school. But nobody had. So I made the brave move to post this. This 65km ride has been a favourite of mine, and many others', mostly due to the great downhills it has to offer, even if it is mostly firetrail. (full descriptions of Ando's and Oaks can be found on NoBMoB webpage so I haven't included them.)

It starts with a not so pleasant part along the highway, but soon we're cruising down an unsealed road, turning into the main track (Ando's) hitting full steam down the creek (because steam will come off the breaks when we ride through the creek!), having a nice rest, looking at the beautiful valley walls on either side of us... THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE TO CLIMB UP! The challenge will be to ride the whole thing without putting a foot down.

Now for the Oaks... ups and downs until the Helipad, another rest break, and now for the great downhill... can anyone get above 60km/h?, the great singletrack, and the not-so-great uphill before raiding the pie shop.

I was hoping some locals could show me around Knapsack Reserve at the end, as I've never ridden there, though it depends on how we're feeling.

Otherwise we'll ride down (yes, another couple bonus km of downhill) Explorers Rd back to Lapstone Station, where another downward firetrail awaits us, ending at River Road. The remaining few kilometres - sort of a warm-down - will consist of a nice ride on a quiet street next to the river before returning to Emu Plains Station

See you there if you're brave!

- Tristan White

shano, Pedalgogy, Tristania