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Lithgow explore
Valley Drive, Lithgow
Who's up for a good 'ol explore of the technical riding around Hassans Wall and also the Donnybrook downhill trail at Lithgow?
The ride will be of the more technical in nature. Although my description of "downhill" is a little off - they are not actually a downhill race track at all... but in fact are excellent fun as you blast down a long and flowing technical trail. There are some fun bits to stop and play on along the way. It is some of the best trails I have ever ridden.
Put your name down, all are welcome to ride! An excellent opportunity to get out of town before the summer heat really starts cranking over the summer. Tempted??
MEET HERE:
"Valley Drive, Lithgow, NSW"
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode...
Okay!! See you all there!! 
Were you there and have a story to tell?
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But I think it could still be hot by midday, it is Lithgow.
John.
Should be able to play tour guide barbie for a little bit atleast. Might even have a new track or two to show off by then
I'll be in.
Will you be looking to visit the area up on the Newnes Plateau? There is mean't to be some great singletrack up there.
The single track on the Plateau is good but very sandy in places and tends to be overrun with motos on a weekend.
...unless I'll move that weekend. Needless to say, I'd prefer to spend the day working up a sweat riding my bike rather than moving boxes...
any suggestions on whether this is a big bike or xc ride? i havent ridden these trails before.
Talk about out of touch!
Yeah - this is a big bike ride!
sweet
Ditty what are the plans? If we are having a look/play around it's probably not worth organising shuttles?
I think ride up (Not too bad on the big bike). Check out the top of the Gun Club track down to Bumble Bee Hollow or the top of Big Thunder then push back up. Then continue out to the Donnybrook Trail and work our way down. If there is time and people are still keen to head back up we could then do Ch 6.
down, out, injured, etc. see you all when I've healed !
am I going to do if you don't need a driver????
You have the once in a life time opportunity of shuttling without having to drive
Caro you could always to the photo takerer...
If people want to shuttle well need trailers and vehicles.
In that time you could easily do 2 runs on 3 or 4 different trails.
Our trailer will take 20 bikes but they over hang so may not be quite legal for the through town sections of the shuttle.... otherwise it will fit 9 inside it
didn't think of that!
Will leave the decision about what to ride and wether to shuttle or not up to Ditty, not my call but as I said.... am happy to be involved in the uphill transportation support crew
Craig, I would stand by your suggestions mate, as you know best.
As long as we fitted in the Donnybrook trail, I am not fussed about where else we ride.
As for vehicles, I can get a trailer hired if need be. One of those boxy ones with a cage. Would that do if we need more space for bikes? As Caro said, she can drive the tour bus for us, which was a nice offer.
Just thinking more about trailers... does anyone have a large vehicle (i.e. 4x4) that would let us hitch a trailer, if need be??
I was just thinking with such a large group trying to organise shuttles may be a pain. you can hire a 20 seater bus for the day for~2- 3 hundred but then there is trailers and the like too.
There are plenty of spots where we could stop and play around on drops or rock gardens so just doing 1 or 2 tracks with a lot of stops to take photos and muck around could be just as fun?
I have a tow bar on my car that we could tow a trailer with if needed but I like Flynny's suggestion, trying to shuttle 19 people requires too much seating (4 std cars).
The other thing to consider is the mixed abilities of the group making shuttles near impossible.
I bet I am going to regret say that while walking my bike back to the top
We could leave the cars at the top and Shuttle drivers up in between runs?
Sneak peak
http://nobmob.com/node/7159
The donnybrook is the second trail (starting about 3.30 in the vid)
Just to reiterate...
This ride is likely to contain some quite technical sections and as such, bears little resemblance to your standard Terrey Hills 'out and back'. We will see on the day whether we can manage a shuttle or not. Whatever works for the group I suppose. But I don't want anyone to be misled about the skills required to complete this ride.
Having said that, I feel certain that all the riders posted so far will love these trails and will have a hoot of a day!
The tech sections tend to be short in nature. These we can stop and play on.
As long as people ride within their limits, remember there is no shame in walking parts, and don't get pressured to ride something they don't feel confident on we'll be right.
I take it that armours a good idea
I noticed in the vid that these guys are on XC bikes
Big bikes not a necessity then
All this talk of big bikes and shuttles had me wondering
Armour can be handy if you are planning on pushing your limits. Shin guards are a good idea as it's fairly rocky.
I've ridden all the trails in the area and most of the A lines on a XC bike.
Hell back in the 80s we did most of them on BMXes
Run what you brung.
what sort of time are we looking at leaving syd to get to lithgow at 11?
About 8 a.m. But if you leave at 7:30, you can arrive a bit earlier and have breakfast somewhere. Drive up the Great Western Highway, or the back way through Bells Line of Road.
Hi Liam, can you please confirm the meeting point with a google map link?
Cheers
Brian
Hi Flynny,
So what is this Gun Club track? Is it a good place to start on the day? Can you provide some valet instructions please? Where do we go?
The old State DH trail on Hassans Walls.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/997429
Basically just before you get to the top you turn right through the locked gate. Head up the hill and take the left fork (Same as Donnybrook.) Just before the road descends down into the gully look for a ST on the right (Road swings left and down, ST goes straight over a small jump to start)
Where to Park depends on how you are going to handle things.
If you are planning to ride up best place to park in the Aldi car park
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode...
I have added in the meeting place, but I am not sure it works. It may be too long for the available field. Anyway, try this:
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode...
what time is this ride likely to finish because i have to be at work in Lawson by 630, also hows the weather out there?
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It's wet today and forecast is for isolated shower tomorrow. the trails, being on the ridge top drain well and hold up great when wet.
As for time, it's the reserve is fairly contained so you are never going to be more than 45min from the car if you need to head off early
I'm a tentative on this due to a healing knee (from the race last week). If I feel good and it's dry I'll probably be there.
Awoke to blue skies and puffy clouds down here in Lithgow this morning. Those who are coming down look like they will enjoy a great day's riding.
Sorry guys - can't make this one now.... have a god ride.
Thanks for the great day. The trails were awesome, even after the rain on Friday and only stopping early Saturday morning I can only remember seeing one puddle. I can't wait to see the photos of the guys on the big bikes. Watching them ride the things they did, I don't know how they do it. I'm a bit sore now after big off I had on what was my last run, just glad I decided to pad up or it could have been a lot worse. Also, thanks to Flynny for supplying a shuttle trailer and Caro and Matt for driving, it was a real treat.
Ride Profiles. On some I did forget to press the start button.
First run where we rode up to the top.
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7278266
Second & Third shuttle
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7278267
"can someone tell me the order of some of the trails we did"
Donnybrook.
Pauls Secret trail...
Ch6
Gun Club/Hassans Wall DH trail x 2
Someone needs to write up these areas in the rides DB
But local trail for local riders... Doh!
I will get around to it eventually but please leave Pauls track out for the time being.