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Riding in the Hunter Valley


GAZZA's picture

By GAZZA - Posted on 26 December 2011

Going up the Hunter for a few days tomorrow and will probably take road and Mtb's.
Apart from the obvious Trails at Singleton, does anyone know of any nice loops to do around the area? Hoping for a nice road ride on not too busy roads if there is such a thing?
Thanks,
Gazza

[Mod. moved to Newcastle & Hunter]

jaseh's picture

Where are you staying?

GAZZA's picture

I think?
Someone else has booked the house and I havnt received the full details yet.

Hop fiend's picture

also some bits of singletrack in the Werakata NP just north of Cessnock with heaps of firetrails in there

jaseh's picture

Got the mail run road ride on Friday, starts on the southern side of the river underneath the new England highway. Is a 100km tide that never ventures more than 25km from singleton so, if you've had enough you can ride back pretty easy. Starts at 6 am. Let us know if you want to ride singo.

GAZZA's picture

Earlyish if it's not peeing down?
Myself and Martine. ( she's an impatient bugger that never wants to stop for chats! It's RIDE, RIDE, RIDE with her!)

Fatboy's picture

Gazza,

There's a guy who sponsors some events run by Chocolate Foot from memory. He has a winery in the Hunter and one of his labels is something like "jimmy jacks". My wife got talking to his wife (and bought some wine) and she said he has built something like 6km of single track around his vineyard and is always up for a ride.

Try either jimmy jacks or probably a link from chocolate foot and call him. His wine is good too!

Hop fiend's picture

it is about an 1hr of 2 from Singo/Cessnock out at Denman or Jerry's Plains way

GAZZA's picture

I'm looking at stocking up the wine collection.
Would have been nice to give a little back to an event sponsor but not looking at going out an extra hour or two. I've enough driving over the next week!
Thanks Guys!

Hop fiend's picture

bottom of Hermitage road-just up from where it starts on Broke Rd

GAZZA's picture

Is that a winery?

Hop fiend's picture

James Estate sells wine from it on Hermitage Rd but grows the grapes & makes the wine up at Denman

GAZZA's picture

Thanks, will go and check it out.

jaseh's picture

I think I've been booked in to go shopping tomorrow. Been out on the bike the last 6 days in a row so I best not complain. Track is in real good condition at the moment, we have only had a little rain overnight and none so far today. James Estate is out on the Bylong Valley way about 10km from Sandy Hollow. Takes about 1 1/2hrs to get there from Singleton and would be longer from Cessnock, even going through Broke. I think you have to get in contact with them first before turning up.

GAZZA's picture

Three laps,
Will post my hot lap later!

Brian's picture

How did you like it. I did a 3 hour there and loved it.

GAZZA's picture

Much more interesting ridden at speed though. I can imagine a race would be good fun there.
It's a nice little loop, shame it's not a bit longer but hey, I enjoyed it anyway.

jaseh's picture

Much better at speed. If you just pootle around it can get quite boring but if you try to ride a fast lap it can be quite demanding with all the accelerations out of corners.

Hop fiend's picture

white C'Dale in the back of a white van at McGiugans/HV cheese just b4 2pm today?-with the other coupla hundred tourists there today?

GAZZA's picture

And knee length shorts?
We were just walking out and saw you looking into my van. My non cycling friends were a bit concerned at someone looking at my bike but I saw your calves( I'm not gay) and told them you were probably another cyclist having a look.
Small world! You should have hung around and said G'day!

Hop fiend's picture

plus look like an "internet stalker"-I was the bloke in the TNT 6tonne truck with the PPE standard fluro singlet

GAZZA's picture

So I had a few people eying the bike up!
Were you having a bit of lunch up the road with a few work mates?

Hop fiend's picture

I do a daily pick up from Hunter Valley Cheese & since it is so cruisy post X-mas can sit up there & have chat with one of the ladies who works there-hey Gazza what are thoughts of the vineyards? & yes the roads are f#$k*n s!@t-I tried a couple of years ago to build some singletrack on land below the mountain range but snakes in early spring(only baby but!) & wasp nests in small scrubs(ouch) killed enthusiasm-the place has heaps of potential for mtb tracks

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