You are hereForums / General Discussion / NoBMoB Chat / where to ride within a few hours drive of Sydney

where to ride within a few hours drive of Sydney


commandokamikaze's picture

By commandokamikaze - Posted on 28 April 2015

Hi all,

With the cancelation of the Convict and having already booked myself a long weekend off work im itching to get out for a decent ride this weekend but question is... where?? Not sure how much other regions have coped this horrible weather recently, I don't mind a bit of a drive so long as there is some decent rideable km's i.e not underwater or litered with downed tree's. Was wondering how places like Wingello are currently and even as far as Orange? I'm keen to hear from you

moman's picture

I don't think you could go wrong with Kiwarrak. Rode there on the anzac saturday and it was awesome. Stay at old bar. Get a bit of beach action in and ride kiwarrak, get lost and ride some more!

http://nobmob.com/rides/kiwarrakstateforest

hawkeye's picture

Beat me to it

commandokamikaze's picture

Don't mind a long drive for an epic ride but according to the nobmob link it's only got around 8 km's of single track is this correct? Also what style of riding is there? XC, all mountain, etc...

armo's picture

The weather model for Nth coast not looking to favour Kiwarrak.

Pete B's picture

Why not head down to Canberra? Stromlo and Kowen /Sparrow Hill great trails and can give more than a few days of riding. Easy to find accommodation there too.

Pete B's picture

Orange has some awesome trails too, there's Kinross forest for XC, Canobolas for AM and plenty of unsealed roads and fire roads if you just want to rack up the kms. Stop at Rydal on your way there for some nice singletrack and You could also call at Bathurst on your way home and ride their trails. A full weekend of riding Smiling

KT's picture

'Single track nirvana' is the local club's motto at Kiwarrak - there's about 50km of the sweet stuff! Mostly XC. Trails include obstacles and jump tracks to challenge and a massive see-saw on one of the popular descents (Up River). Take a map, you will need it.

commandokamikaze's picture

Thanks for the input fellas, Kiwarrak is sounding pretty good, as is Orange and even Canberra I think the weather will probably dictate where we go as i would dread to drive 2-3 hours only to find the track closed due to flooding or heavy rain. Thanks again fellas.

MarcT's picture

The beauty of Stromlo is that you can pretty much ride it in all conditions. The trails are even better when a bit wet. Keep that in mind as the weather forecast looks like shit everywhere in still reachable distance.

Brian's picture

Canberra is only possible rain 1-5mm on Saturday and < 1mm Sunday

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/act/act/canberra

commandokamikaze's picture

As always you guy's are legends! Thanks for the chat.

MC's picture

I'm heading to Stromlo on Friday.

There's a chance of a shower forecast but granite tracks love a bit of moisture to keep the dust down. Like Marc says, the riding is actually better if it's a bit damp.

They missed all of last weeks weather too so you don't have to worry about things being waterlogged or trees down. Anywhere on the coast is looking like getting soaked again over the next few days so you've gotta head inland for sure.

rider21's picture

Canberra is looking good for this weekend but factor in that access to some of the Stromlo trails will be restricted on Sunday due to the Dirt De Femme race. If you're going for the whole weekend it might be best to ride Stromlo on Saturday and one of the other many Canberra trails on Sunday. And yes Stromlo is great after (and during) a bit of light rain.

commandokamikaze's picture

Thanks @21 i had a look at the stromlo forest park website today and they mentioned that there is an event on Sunday, think we'll plan to go down early Saturday and smash out a solid 4-5 hours grab coffee and a feed in town then cruise back to Sydney. Anyone else keen if I post a group/social meet?

Antsonline's picture

So on Sunday at Stromlo there is the Dirt de Femme (ladies race / event) and on Sunday at Sparrow there is also a CORC (the local club) XC race.
I have done a CORC XC race before, and they are really well run events, and always welcome newcomers, and usually have grades from A-D....

If you dont wanna race, Sunday is Kowan, or Majura I reckon....

commandokamikaze's picture

Thanks everyone, just booked in for Capitol Hill tonight. Gonna get away from this Sydney misery and smash up some Stromlo tomorrow morning. posting a social ride up now if anyone else is keen for a bit of fun.

MC's picture

Rode Stromlo yesterday. Hard to believe but it's dustbowl dry down there and in need of a bit of rain if anything. Was getting nervous on the drive down as it was still raining at the start of Lake George, but 20kms later the sun was out!

Dicko's picture

A Great day out in Canberra

Road the Northern section of the Centinary Trail - dry dusty and warm.

Https://instagram.com/p/2K3ZrCBpmi/

staffe's picture

Did a day trip to Stromlo and I'm glad I did. Superb conditions.

Antsonline's picture

I rode down in Canberra too but got up to this...

(instagram photo wars...)

https://instagram.com/p/2MakqeQkob/

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Best Mountain Bike