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Down Hill in Thredbo over Easter weekend
I would love to go down to Thredbo for a longer weekend to do some DH fun everybody talks about.
It's gonna be my first time, so any comments are greatly appreciated. I ain't a lucky owner of a DH bike (not yet anyway), so I want to sort everything out at: http://www.thredbomountainbiketours.com.au/thred...
Of course, if you got your bike & gear, good for you, at least there will be more money left for evening drinks. I intend to take my XC bike anyway, just in case 3days in a row turn out to be too much for me. I can chicken out to do some easier biking in the area.
I am not that keen on any particular weekend (incl. FR, or MO to make up for 3 days). I thought, Easter weekend might be easier, at least for single guys, anyhow.
I got a car, which easily fits 3 other people + gear (we can always rent a trailer, or borrow a bike carrier, maybe?).
Any kind of accommodation is fine with me, from camping in a gutter to nice motel/cottage (excluding top$$$ places).
Any suggestions? I guess, more people get together, the more fun!
What do you think?
PLEASE, send comments of any nature! THANK YOU .... Tony .
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If you do go in easter take a lot of warm clothing. I just came back from there this weekend and it was already 0 degrees at the top of the chairlift.
Definitely hire a DH bike and all the protective gear. I see some silly people ride down there with XC bikes and that surely can't be fun.
Three days in a row will be pretty hard work if it's your first time there. The people I went with were all pretty sore after 2 days and we've all done it before. Better start making your braking finger very strong because that will sure get a workout
Thanks Buck! Very good point. On the webpage, they say they are open till 10th of May, so I figured Easter should be still doable if we get reasonably lucky with weather. A lot of warm clothing for sure, Thredbo is not Glenbrook:)
Yeah, that's right, 3 days is non sense. Lets say leaving Sydney SAT morning, getting to Snowies in the afternoon, arrange accommodation,... Starting SUN straightaway the lift opens, or completing the initiation for newbies.
Initiation is pretty straightforward. They make sure you can ride a bike by seeing if you can ride down a set of stairs....I kid you not. Then they show you how to put your bike on the chairlifts. Then a slow guided tour of the track with lots of stops to warn you of upcoming obstacles.
That all takes 2-3hrs. So when I did it I only got in one lap for myself before the lifts stopped for lunch.
Weather can change quickly so be prepared. The first time I was there it was overcast at the start of the chairlift ride. Half way up it started raining. Two thirds of the way up it was hailing.....lucky I had a helmet on! The hikers on the chairs behind me were not so lucky
I reccently went to Mt buller for Downhill for the first time and my fingers were rooted on the 2nd morning. we only did half a day and moved the 3rd day of riding 2 days, so we had a chance to heal.
you'll love it tho.
I don't know what to expect, how much it hurts, aches,...
(I guess it depends who is riding)
I look at it as skiing in Europe. It has never been anything cheap, so you try to get as much "music" out of your lift pass as possible. Queueing up in to morning before it opens, and making sure you time it properly to catch the last ride in late afternoon.
Yeah, this might be a bit different.
Don't worry about the lifts. They are near empty all day during this period.
Your body maybe not so willing after serveral runs though
Im interested in going again for at least one weekend before the season closes. I have a 2 bike downhill rack that can bolt onto a towbar. Happy to contribute towards petrol, share driving, etc.
Im unemployed for the next 2 or so months, so happy to go (almost) whenever.
Shamus
Hey Shamus,
-------------------------------------------
welcome on board! I'll PM you shortly to talk details .... Tony .
I went down for the first time over Christmas and had a blast. I had to hire a bike, all the gear and lift pass etc, got a package called "the Works". If wasn't cheap - about $400 - for 2 days but it's worth it. I was sh*tting myself the first few runs and I never took my fingers of the brakes! But mid afternoon on the first day I was right in the zone and LOVING it! I couldn't believe how different it was from trail riding.
My advice is to hold the line and only let them pass when convenient.
The hill was pretty busy when I was there and we saw a whole range of bikes even down to old hardtails with v-brakes! So you can ride anything down but it will be really slow and boring I imagine. Defintely get a DH bike - I even rode my Trance down the big firetrail in the BMC MTB recently and again I was pooping my pants.
Oh BTW on the first run of day 2 on the DH I sprained my ankle pretty badly on a berm when I panicked a bit to let a fast boy through who was all over me in a rock garden, and stopped and planted my foot down at an angle
Yeah and ditto Buck's comment about the weather - it can get nasty on that chairlift!
If you don't have a decent DH rig, hire the Kona Stab Deluxe that they have. That thing rocks, and totally plows through the obstacles. Top fun. Don't go second best... hire the good stuff so you will enjoy yourself more.
I can also vouch for the weather. You will need to ride with another shirt on under your jersey. Also, when not riding, you should be dressed for cold weather. Worse if it happens to rain when you are there.
Hi Guys,
I am also heading to Thredbo (for the first time) during the Easter weekend. I have all my gear so all good. Regarding the weather, do you guys recommend to ride with a hoodie on or something like that or would a long sleeve jersey be enough? I assume once you hit the trail you will warm up pretty quickly though. Then again, I don't know as never been MTBiking in Thredbo before. Do the body armor help to keep you warm? Is bloody hot to wear it here in Sydney!!! = )
Checkmate, I will be there from Thursday night so might be riding Fri & Sat on the DH track and XC on Sun. I am going with the wife and another mate and his wife. My mate and I are hitting the DH so let us know if you want to join in. We can meet at the mountain!!! Would love to offer a lift but already have a full car! sorry.
im also hoping to be in that neck of the woods over easter,i will have a go at the down hill on my reign 1,but will prob hire a dh rig for at least 1 day so i can go abit harder....
I was there 2 months or so ago and the sun was shining and i was sweating. Once on the chairlift you get couple of minutes from the top and icy cold gusts would tear a hole right through you. 1 minute into the downhill run and your already out of the wind. DON'T EVER UNDERESTIMATE HOW COLD IT CAN BE ON A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY.I cant even imagine being there when its raining.
Unfortunately mountains have a weather system all of their own and you'll never be able to predict how its going to be so take a load of different clothes and hope it doesn't rain. good luck, it certainly is a heap of fun. If your like me you'll get to the end of the weekend and feel guilty for not riding up any hills.
Liam, thanks for the tip. I’ll make sure we don’t get the second best:) It might be a good idea to call them, and maybe book it if they allow. I left a message today.
Iguanabartola, that’s awesome. I want to drive my car down there anyway, so don’t worry about a lift. TH, FR why not? I can make time. Let’s see how many people will join in and their plans. Where abouts are you staying? I might take my non biking female friend too:) on second thought,... we’ll see. Maybe, could you PM me with more details?
Hey Matt, how are you? Are you staying in Snowies, or will you be driving from Sydney? Or do you prefer to catch a lift with someone?
Well when we went last week it was zero degrees at top station as I said. I was wearing a long sleeve thermal, pressure suit, DH jersey, windbreaker, shorts and leg armour.
By the end of the run I was fairly warm but never felt like overheating. Hope that gives you an idea of how cold it is
That said Liam and Lee managed without the windbreaker but Bruce and I definitely took the soft option and boy was that good on the chairlift!
Well im definetly going down for this and probably driving. I can possible give one other a lift, but maybe taking a mate who hasn't made up his mind.
I wont be taking the fiance so if anyone else is considering bunk/dorm style el cheapo hotel to share let me know. Im happy to do 2 maybe 3 days riding.
http://www.houseofullr.com.au/ (just behind the servo/bike shop at thredbo)
$65 p/p per night for dorm style rooms. Min 2 nights stay. They have some lockup storage space for bike available. No bikes in rooms.
Called them the other day and they have some rooms still available.
I haven't shopped around much so maybe there's something cheaper? .... but what's everyone else doing?
Easter isn't too far off.
Lets get it sorted before theres no rooms left
Maybe someone make a ride up in the Calender shortly?
Shamus
0409038657
Hey Shamus,
and everyone else interested!
I'm going down 100%. Still talking to other mates, to see what kind of accom. would suit the most.
So far, it looks the easier way would be to catch up on SAT morning in the bike shop when it opens.
I intend to ride at least 2 days (SAT, SUN), maybe MON, we'll see how it feels.
Let me make a couple phone calls to see where we stand.
Please, sign in when the ride appears in the calendar (in the next couple of days). THANKS! .... Tony .