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Well after being back in Adelaide for a full four days after returning from Colorado, I was off again to eastern Victoria to visit a brand new trail network in Nowa Nowa. After landing in Melbourne, I hired a car and set out for the east. Being on the road like that can be a good time to collect ones thoughts. Solo road trip, man on a mission, you know the deal. Anyway, I was headed for Lakes Entrance so I could conduct a “trail audit” for Mountain Bike Track Services, a new trail building contractor so that they could acquit their funds with the Feds. These folks have built a 35km trail network on Dept of Sustainability and Environment land, near the small town of Nowa Nowa in a bid to boost tourism and the local economy. It’s a common story from around Australia, and yes it does produce “pay dirt”. It’s IMBA’s job to support these budding trail networks and provide advice on international best practice in regard to trail sustainability and management.

On arriving at the trail network early the next day to commence the trail audit, I was pleasantly surprised by what I was finding. Sweet flowing trails all across the hill with attention to detail that only a local trail builder can achieve (in most situations). The gentle side slopes have allowed a fair amount of creative freedom to build nice arching corners, log roll overs and little booters that everyone can enjoy. Each trail has its own feel, but I was particularly impressed with the climb (Track 1). It’s gentle and at a medium pace it takes about 10 to 15 minutes at nice 5 to 10% grades. It’s comfortable so there is plenty of opportunity to look around at the bush. All the descents peel of the top of the climb and there is also an opportunity to shuttle to the top if you want to hit up all 5 descents in the one day. Track 2 is the favourite with most and is well bedded in now. These trails are generally of the XC variety and a hard tail would be fine, but as usual I would recommend a 5 inch “all mountain” bike for maximising the fun.

On inspection there were only a few recommendations that IMBA Australia could make to ensure sustainability and safety, so its thumbs up from us. For more info go to:
http://www.bikenowanowa.com/wheretoride.htm

Next stop Glenmaggie!

As part of this visit, IMBA Australia was asked to provide a two day workshop for the Gippsland MTB Club and the venue was the bunkhouse at Glenmaggie and the trails were were looking at can be found at Blores Hill, not far from Heyfield. Some of the Blores Hill trails are 20 years old and the local club have worked hard to ensure they blend with the landscape and lie lightly on the land. They have also been assisting Parks Vic by “discouraging” motor bike riders from using the trails. On that note, I would like to see land managers all over the country recognise the benefits of formal trail networks and partnerships with MTB riders. This example is another reason why land managers and riders can and should work together.

The trails themselves were just awesome. Flowy and fun to the max in prime dirt with some nice rocky outcrops. One aspect of this area is that it is in a rain shadow, so they may only get 200mm a year. That means that while the rest of Vic is a boggy mess, this place is totally primed for riding without causing impacts. It does also mean that summer riding is best in the early morning or late afternoon to beat the heat.

So as you can guess, the local riders from the Gippsland MTB club really knew their stuff, so in providing advice IMBA Australia was focused on some advanced level techniques such as maximising drainage with sweet rolling grade dips and trail armouring on some of the steep rocky sections. Part of this was due to the fact that the Ranger could not approve re-routes, but it was extremely worthwhile to work on the existing alignments (which were of exceptional quality) to get them dialled.

It was a real pleasure to work with folks as committed as these. It was so good to meet great mountain bikers, who live for this stuff and do the right thing out there in the bush. Mountain bikers are good people and it makes it all worthwhile when you can chat and ride with folks who have been doing it for twenty years, and doing it well. Thanks for having me, can’t wait to get back there and check out more of the area.

Blores Hill is definitely worth a visit if you get the chance.

The Club details can be found here
http://www.gippslandmtb.com.au