Coming from Vancouver for a Visit.

[EricN]

I am coming for a wedding at the end of Sept 07 and figured I might as well find something fun to do. Thinking of bringing my bike but not sure what kind of riding there is near where I am staying, (somewhere in this area)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=central+gardens+park,+NSW,+Australia&sll=-33.829927,150.959015&sspn=0.0395,0.130291&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=-33.827646,150.959959&spn=0.01975,0.065145&om=0
Is there alot of DH/FR style riding close to there? Anyone from that area ridden in North Van. that could give me a comparison to the trails? I am an intermediate rider. Will ride pretty much anything, steep chutes, rough/rooted/rocky trails, single track, hucks drops and skinnies up to about 10' is my comfort zone since I dont want to get broken in a different country. Climb or shuttle and some Urban is fine but no epic XC since it will be on my Aline. I will also ride with anyone, no matter how good or bad you think you are, guy or girl, young or old.
If riding is doable, I will probably come for a couple weeks. If not, I will just find the closest "clothing optional" beach and just chill for the weekend.
Oh, and one last thing, any lift accesible riding there at all? May travel if I can find something lift accessed that is a day away or closer.
Thanks in advance.
Eric

[rell6103]

Hey Eric,

I love how you canadians think that 10ft drops and stuff is intermediate. You people are crazy. You're more than welcome to come join me and my friends at oxford falls and redhill. The oxford falls dh track would be right up your alley i think. I also do the redhill/oxford falls loop on the weekends. Its backtrail kind of stuff but you should be fine on your a-line, i do it on a stinky.

You would need a car to get there though,

Cheers Rob

[Doggy]

You're in for rude shock if you expect lifts to be everywhere dude. One of my canadian mates got the shock of his life when I told him we have to push our bikes up hills most of the time. Hes gotten used to it though, he doesnt whinge as much now:D

[EricN]

Hey guys, thanks for the reply.
Doggy,
I think your buddy must have been whistler born and raised or something. I live about 30 minutes from 7 major riding areas and only 2 (Cypress and Seymour in North Van) are shuttleable so I am no stranger to hike a bike. For that matter, I am 1 1/2 hours from whistler and only been there once.
I was hoping to find a resort style mountain to ride 1 day just because it is nice for cramming a ton of vert in during a short period. Since you guys dominate in the DH I figured that there must be something lift accessed there to cash in on all that practice you guys get.
Rell6103
Thanks for the offer to ride. When it gets closer to the day I will definately hit you up. I am just trying to plan my vacation days at work since I need to let them know by January.
As for the different riding level descriptions, it is kind of funny. Whenever someone comes here looking for XC trails to ride, we take them to trails like Neds and Red Mountain. Usually within the first 5 minutes we figure out that is not what they meant by XC.
So just out of curiosity, what kind of driving times am I looking at from that point I posted on the map to get to areas to ride?

[thecat]

You're in for rude shock if you expect lifts to be everywhere dude.

He's in for a ruder shock when he gets to the nude beach and realises he is the only one there under 60.....


Eric if you can venture an hour or 2 north or west you'll find heaps of trails. Ourimbah, Killingworth, Blue Mts, Lithgow (Do a search, heaps of topics/info on each around the forums). There isn't any chairliifts 'cause there aint any snow (no real mountains either) but I'm sure someone will be willing to play tour guide barbie and hook you up with a shuttle ride.


If you do want the resort/chairlift you'll have to venture 6 hours south to Thredbo. and if you are going to do that I'd set aside at least 1 day for Mt Stromlo at Canberra either on the way down or back.

[EricN]

He's in for a ruder shock when he gets to the nude beach and realises he is the only one there under 60.....


WHAT??? The "Come visit Australia" commercials on t.v. are all a lie?? Oh well, I hate the beach anyways.
As for riding, it looks Thredbo riding season doesn't appear to start untill late November so I guess that is out. The Mount Stromlo sounds like an interesting place so I may still make a trip out of that if it is rideable then.
What is the weather like around that time? The wedding is Sept 22 so I am trying to decide if I show up a day or so before the wedding and stay for a few weeks after or if I show up in the beginning of Sept and leave after the wedding.
Is there any snow riding anywhere over there around that time?

[Doggy]

WHAT??? The "Come visit Australia" commercials on t.v. are all a lie?? Oh well, I hate the beach anyways.
As for riding, it looks Thredbo riding season doesn't appear to start untill late November so I guess that is out. The Mount Stromlo sounds like an interesting place so I may still make a trip out of that if it is rideable then.
What is the weather like around that time? The wedding is Sept 22 so I am trying to decide if I show up a day or so before the wedding and stay for a few weeks after or if I show up in the beginning of Sept and leave after the wedding.
Is there any snow riding anywhere over there around that time?

hahahaaaa I didnt wanna break that bit to him as well....but yeah, thats truee as well. Nudie beaches are all oldies