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The Common MTB Festival
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Four of us went up to Dungog today to check out the course for the 8hour enduro on The Common this coming weekend. It was our first experience of the trails and we've come away very impressed and looking forward to the weekend. We met Les, Chris and Al who were hard at work putting the finishing touches to the loop and the camping area. The course loop is brilliant with something for everyone and stunning views at every turn. It sounds like a great program across the weekend with live music, mtb movies under the stars and a 16inch bike race Saturday afternoon! Who else is heading to this event?
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Yeah the trails up there are awsome,a mate and i are signed up as pair as this is our first ever event so we not knowing what to expect but are looking forward to the experience.
Yep, awesome up there! Great singletrack with lots of variety and plenty of fun as well as cow pats, kangaroos and great views. We were blown away with the view from the picnic table on the hill. So many great sections on the loop- love it!
I'll be there. Never been there - so you're review is psyching me up!
Brother and I are doing the pair 8 hour. Sounds like a fun weekend.
Look out for a Banshee 29er and a Chumba 26er dually. Not the most common bikes around.
Looking forward to this.
My bride just got word from the Temple of Facebook about some of the final changes to the course. Jacks Black, a nasty little climb with plenty of rocks, is not in
Unfortunately The Bowlo is also out 
Les will apparently be putting the final course details on the website tomorrow after he adds a few features to the map. Really looking forward to the event and a weekend in the country! Let's hope the weather holds!
What a brilliant weekend! Great weather, great track. The 'small town' hospitality feel of the event was fantastic. I'll definately be back next time. I just hope some of those rocky sections disappear... My OTB bruise is a whopper.
A great job by the event organizers. A huge thanks your way.
Awesome track! I mean really really great - way beyond anyones expectations. there was one little section 3/4 of the way in, that i couldnt get the hang of - kept taking a through the grass (and over rocks) lowline. Technically challenging with lots of very fast sections for grin factor.
Without question, Dungog common is worth a day trip for a ride.
Totally agree,entered into pairs and only managed 7 laps between us but very happy with our result 1st event.
My biggest bitch was the amount of bloody puntcures i got,2 on sat arvo and 2 on race day and to top it all off i ran out patches and tubes so many thanks to the 2 kind riders that threw a couple of tubes my way on the way past.
Sitting here at The Common this morning reminiscing about the event. Glad we didn't have to drive home last night
Congrats and thanks to everyone involved in putting the event on. Amazing course and so much fun. Great atmosphere on and off the course. The 16 inch race under lights on Saturday night provided plenty of laughs and spectacular spills! We had a blast and can't wait to hit the Dungog trails again soon. Definitely worth the drive up from Newcastle to enjoy such a brilliant track and the hospitality of Dungog.
Fantastic Event - will definitely be going back next year, hopefully soon, the track was great, had a bit for everyone, some fast flowy sections, some rocky sections, enough climbs. The live band playing 80's music, the Loins club Spag bol, the 16" racing Sat night.
I didn't even know about these tracks. Keen to get up there and have a look now.
Not really much further for me than Awaba.
I haven't been up there either. I'm wondering if we have the potential for a Melrose type setting in our own backyard!!
I raced the Paradox, and had a ball. Perfect track flowy, with a few small rocky technical bits.
Plenty of tracks up there. Certainly heading back next year.
might have to get myself up there again-was there bunting or signs to outline the track?
There is a pretty good map of it here:
http://www.commonmtbfestival.com/The%20Common%20...
And directions here:
http://www.commonmtbfestival.com/Directions.pdf
I got the impression that without recent trackwork & bunting, it would be a little easy to wander. But the map is good.
We were up there a couple of weeks ago before all the new track was in and it was fairly easy to follow.
great event, will probably head there at least once a month, the track is the top track in the hunter in my opinion.
it's settled. I'm buying a holiday house in dungog
Refresh, let me know when your keen to get out there. Would be good to catch up. This weekend is out with the Patto 3hr.
I was on Domain last night checking out property
All I need to sort out is a way of working from home 
Buy a Pub at Dungog and ride single track all day. What more could you want.
sounds like a great idea Floydo. Who built those trails???
and Les and Al.
The area has been used for years for various things, army reserve training, state enduro moto rounds blah blah blah......
I can se heaps of potential in the area. Housing is cheap, they have other activities up there (markets, film festival etc). It could be a bit of an MTB and adventure sport meca in NSW
http://otesports.com.au/
http://otesports.com.au/melrose-fat-tyre-festiva...
whats the lotto worth this week????
They already have the dungog pedalfest that has been going for more than 5 years now, it is pretty big already.
The guy that is responsible for a lot of the trails is a fella by the name of Jason hile, unfortunately he passed away earlier this year. He has left us with some fantastic trails to remember him by.
is Dungog getting now?-nothing dry on the coast here!
This town and the area around has heaps of potential for trails in the area. Plenty of state forests close by. I have spent lots of time hiking,4WDing and camping in this area.The town probably doesn't have the rider network to build and maintain and extensive network of trails. But I think the town realises the potential for tourism using MTBing.
I'm sure we could get that network together and work with the locals to help build and maintain the trails. I'm one who would like to get involved who would we contact? I'm sure there are plenty of others keen to help. Are there organised maintenance days?
one of my old mates is on the council. He rides a bit of MTB. I think we can take care of that lack of experienced rider base in the population by heading up there and settling down.
Most likely wet, been raining in Singleton/Ravensworth most of the day, was pretty heavy this afternoon.
http://www.pedalfest.org.au/
Based on the weather radar it looked like Dungog was sort of on the edge of it all so might not have copped as much. eg Tocal is the closest weather station and only copped 11mm.
Maybe I am just hoping because everything here is saturated and unless I can find somewhere dry on Fri I'm going to end up going to work.....
We need a Dungog correspondent.
Hey browny do what i do and give the tourist info centre a call, there open every day i think.
Double Post
Hi, Can anyone reccomend a house for rent in Dungog for a Friday and Saturday Night in July
Need 4 bedrooms for 5 riders.
Looks like there is very little on Stayz.
Thanks
Andrew