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Dry spot for a first ride?
Hoping to take my wife out for her first off-road ride this weekend. Any recommendations for anywhere non-technical that should be dry by Sunday (presuming we don't get hosed between now and then)? Can be up to an hour or so from Sydney. I'm thinking maybe wisemans ferry or the Oaks? Other ideas?
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Damp patches aside, I wouldn't recommend either of those venues (Wisemans or Oaks) for a first ride. You want something flat as a pancake.
I take newbies to Bairn Track (off West Head road) or Terrey Hills Perimeter + Long if they are fit enough. I would imagine Bairne should be fine whatever the weather, as should Long. Perimeter can get a bit messy though (it was just coming good last Sunday so will be saturated again now).
Interestingly I was planning on taking the GF to Yellomundee next weekend and spending a lot of time trying to show her how to ride sniggle and a few bits of technical stuff. She is very reluctant to ride down the 'steep' sections of the Long track, but am hoping the sniggle factor will help (she loves Lisdale for instance).
There's steep sections on Long Track?
Joking aside, yeah I'd stay well clear of Wisemans, I'd say Devines Hill is enough to put any newbie off. However I've often thought about taking the wife on The Oaks. I know she'd love the single track and enjoy the downhill from the Helipad, but it's the uphill bits that would put her off.
Robs suggestion of Perimeter and Long Track is a good option, plus there's the really pretty lookout at the end, you can gaze romantically at the idiots driving their boats really really fast on the water below.
Give this one a whirl
I take the missus out on this one, flat 9-10k loop
dont bother with the short loop on the northern side(Oxford Falls) and stay on the Wakehurst Parkway until after the road bridge over the tributory (another 200 metres on from the turnoff) then turn left into the park entrance and then go under the bridge.
http://nobmob.com/node/5647
Narra lake circuit is pretty good for newbs. The Oxford falls detour is OK, but has a bit bridge of bridge climbing. As with any ride, ride it first yourself so there are no surprises.
is a good beginners option. Not very technical and not many hills, mix of fun single trail and fire trail. Plus options to do a short or long ride.
For a nice relatively flat ride that's good in the wet too try Perimeter from the western entrance plus Long Track. Park the car in Cullamine Rd (dirt) or Bulara St and ride from there.
Apart from the mud around the gate at the start of Perimeter this is pretty good in the wet too.
Total out and back is about 10km. You can always stop at the first lookout on Long track if that distance is too much.
Perimeter track from the East end is very wet and muddy after rain and although not overly technical there are a few hills that will test a beginner - especially on the ride back to the car!
cheers
Loki
Bobbin Head is great for a first ride. The fire trail is almost dead flat. Just turn around when it starts to go downhill at the North end. It's right on top of a ridge so it stays very dry. After really heavy rain there might be one puddle to go around. Peal off and try a couple of side trails that lead to the powerpoles if she wants to explore a bit.
Park here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Australi...
Then ride here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Australi...
Then ride down to here and see the Spinx here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Australi...
Then eat here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Australi...
Lady Carrington Drive at Royal National Park.
Smooth, level, scenic, dry. Good for the ladies and family rides.
http://www.trailflix.com.au/tfx_new/trails.php?i...
Enjoy,
Rgds, Hans
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Thanks for all the responses guys. That Bairn track looks a nice easy intro and being on the north side it is easy for us to get to.