Castlemaine Pineys Social Ride

[fourrunner]

The central victorian mtb club are celebrating the birthday of the Queen in style, with a tour of all 25km of single track in the Moonlight Flat Pine Plantation.Come and learn your way around the infamous "Pineys Singletrack", voted best winter riding destination in Victoria (albeit by us!)

There will be two groups - fast and medium - but all riders need to possess a reasonable suite of mountain bike skills.

12 June 2006, 10am departure from the carpark opposite the gun club on Colles road, Castlemaine. MTBA members $3; Non-members $8 (including day license).

See www.rockyriders.com for any updates

[AUDIOZ]

I'll be there.

[Bodin]

I'll be there as well.

I'm in the process of producing digital topographic maps of the trails there, so if you see the guy riding one-handed while trying to use the orange GPS without a bar mount and stacking in to trees a lot, then pick me up, dust me off and say g'day. :o

[Hud]

I'd like to come. Does anyone know how long it takes to get to Castlemaine from a certain point in Melbourne. I live in Lilydale in the east.
Can you pay etc when you arrive?
Hardtail or duallie?

[gnarly_rider]

No need for a duallie at Castelmaine (and I ride one); its a slow technical track, that whilst not smooth, is too slow to require the rear suspension. It's about 90 minutes from St Kilda.

[AUDIOZ]

I'll beg to differ a little on that point - Ive ridden the Piney maybee a dozen times - and although its a VERY slow VERY technical track you definately will benefit from suspension to smooth out the ride.

Not saying dont do it on a hard tail - just be prepared to get bounced around as its pretty rocky.

a nice 4 inch [ish] travel bike front and rear is ideal and lets you track really nicely around the course.

[Bodin]

No need for a duallie at Castelmaine (and I ride one); its a slow technical track, that whilst not smooth, is too slow to require the rear suspension.

I've been riding Castlemaine for years and my bike (http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=35025) is basically built specifically for those trails. I think 100mm front and rear is ideal, as it's mostly fairly rough trail with the odd technical section and some short, steep, rutted climbs, where I think having rear suspension helps the traction.

It's true to say that you don't need a dually, as I think you'd probably race it faster on a hardtail, but for a social trailride, I'd recommend a dually.

It's about 90 minutes from St Kilda.

I would've thought it would take a bit longer from there, but you've probably got a better car than me.

[Hud]

Well the hardtail has clipless and I'm a clipless newb, so I'll take the duallie.
Thanks for the replys.

I'd like to do some more riding while I'm up there though, 25km ride is not much considering it's 2 hrs drive away, or will it be enough??

[craigb]

pft dualy hardtail rigid who cares what your on just ride it and love it its an awsome place to ride. id say 25km is a fair distance. its great riding out there and well worth the trip. im in frankston and aslong as its not pissing down all weekend ill be there

[gnarly_rider]

Well the hardtail has clipless and I'm a clipless newb, so I'll take the duallie.
Thanks for the replys.

I'd like to do some more riding while I'm up there though, 25km ride is not much considering it's 2 hrs drive away, or will it be enough??

It is a VERY slow track, so 25km will actually take much much longer to cover than anywhere else (eg Lysterfield, Youies).

[AUDIOZ]

It is a VERY slow track, so 25km will actually take much much longer to cover than anywhere else (eg Lysterfield, Youies).

I agree - 25kms at the Piney is a pretty big ride - lots of technical climbs, switchbacks, and lots of obstacles to navigate.

Wether you are super fit and boost around it or take it as a casual ride - its still a dam good workout there.

[gnarly_rider]

I agree - 25kms at the Piney is a pretty big ride - lots of technical climbs, switchbacks, and lots of obstacles to navigate.

Wether you are super fit and boost around it or take it as a casual ride - its still a dam good workout there.


Finally someone agreed with me on something!!!! :D

[woollybut]

I know it is a bit late, but I might be heading up for a ride - I have a spare spot on the roof rack if anybody needs a lift. I am in Coburg. I am will leave about 9 - 9.30 am and I will need to be back in Melbourne by 4 @ the latest.

let me know, I will be on my email all afternoon.

J :)

[solo]

I ride castlemaine quite a lot as i live only 15 mins away and i wouldn't say its a slow track at all sure it has some great climbs but it also has some wicked undulating parts that are huge fun and some great down sections.Secondly i used to ride a hardtail and that was great for a few years but once you get the full susser bug your never going back my current bike like bodins is built perfectly for this track 5 inches front and back and why not its the best track in vic bar none.Hope you guys have a great ride i have to work no public hols for me damn, you will enjoy it i used to ride with the rocky riders they are a good bunch and jake built those trails so you wont get lost.

[Bodin]

I am will leave about 9 - 9.30 am

You'd wanna be leaving before 9 if you want to get there for the 10am start.

See you there anyways. I'll be the guy on the Stumpy wearing the Borsari Cycles knicks (yes, I wear knicks... laugh all you want... :rolleyes: )

It's going to feel a bit funny paying to ride in a place that I ride every other weekend for free, but I've only built about 0.1% of the trails there and if a few bucks means I can ride the other 99.9%, then it's a price I'm happy to pay for such sweet riding. :cool:

Hope the weather improves. It's fricken bucketing down here in Melbourne at the moment... :(

[Bodin]

Hope you guys have a great ride i have to work no public hols for me damn, you will enjoy it i used to ride with the rocky riders they are a good bunch and jake built those trails so you wont get lost.

Shit, solo, you need a new job. It appears to be cutting in to your riding time... :p

[Hud]

Does Castlemaine get much colder than Melbourne? I'm at about the 25% mark of wimping out.

[craigb]

i was looking at wimping out but feel its going to be a good day even if it rains.

[Bodin]

Does Castlemaine get much colder than Melbourne? I'm at about the 25% mark of wimping out.

It's usually warmer, but, more importantly, it's almost always drier.

[woollybut]

Yeah right, 8 might be a better start time from Melbourne.

The weather always changes once you get past Mt Macedon. I come back from Castlemaine today and it was a bit windy with odd shower but nothing like lovely Melbourne this afternoon!

J

[Hud]

Thanks for the encouragement, I'll be there on a GT Idrive5 with pikes.