Melbourne Social Rides

B

benketch

Likes Bikes
The idea is to have a roaming social ride to meet new fellow mtbers and ride new and different trails. Feel free to suggest a ride - especially if you, at least partially, know the trail network and can act as a guide. The idea is to have social rides, not races, with a focus on trail and all-mountain riding. The preference is for these rides to explore lesser known trails; however, to get the social rides started, some of the rides are to be held at well known riding spots.

More info at: http://mtbmelbourne.wordpress.com/
Thanks to Roasted Chicken for the website.

So far:
Saturday 16th June - You Yangs Stockyards (weather permitting) - difficulty level 4B - COMPLETED
Sunday 1st July - Smiths Gully - start time 9am - meet at Smiths Gully General Store - level 3 technical difficulty and level B fitness rating
Sunday 15th July - Buxton - start time 10.30am / 11am - difficulty of ride TBC
Sunday 29th July - Wombat State Forest 10am - difficulty rating TBC


Given these rides will be at trails that some people don't know and often with riders who don't know each other, the below difficulty rating system allows new riders to make an educated guess as to which rides are for them.

Ride technical difficulty:
Level 1 (white): Have ridden a mountain bike at least ten times, capable of controlling bike speed and direction on smooth doubletrack and rolling singletrack trails. Would embrace more riding time.
Level 2 (green): Have been mountain biking for at least one year, can climb and descend under control on moderately steep singletrack with loose rocks.
Can ride with mild exposure at times.
Level 3 (blue): Have been mountain biking for over two years, are confident riding all types of singletrack, are able to ride small drops and jumps
and descend technical steep sections including rocks drops and uneven roots. Can ride confidently with exposure.
Level 4 (black): Have been mountain biking for over five years, can ride very technical trails and including jumps, drops and narrow elevated trail sections. Can ride confidently with exposure.
Level 5 (double black): Freeride/DH trails – very technical riding…if you don’t know if you’re up to this, then it’s likely that you’re not

Fitness Levels:
Level D: Recreational rider, Rides 2-3 times a month
Level C: Rides 1-2 times per week, occasionally completes a longer ride 40km+ road ride or 20km+ off-road
Level B: Rides 2-3 times per week, completes a longer ride (80km+ road or 40km+ off-road) 1-2 times a month
Level A: Rides at least 4 times per week and completes a long ride (80km+ road or 40-50km+ off-road) most weekends
 
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C

crim 87

Likes Dirt
sounds great man ive only recently got back into it and im loving it , so im super keen to explore some new trails but its been pretty hard with this weather
 
E

Eugenius

Squid
I would definitely be interested. Been in Melbourne 6 months now and been out on a few of the Monday rides near Hans loop, but still don't know too many other riders or other riding spots apart from Lysterfield, Erica, Yarra Trails and You Yangs.
 
pistonbroke

pistonbroke

Eats Squid
You/we will need a calendar page to be successful. Ride details will get lost in these threads.
Also a ride/rider grading system works well, with detailed description of what to expect on each level of ride. Something like;
Level 1. Absolute beginners. Dirt rides and bike paths. Lots of help and instructions given. Lots of regroups and rest breaks.
Level 2. You know how your gears work and may be ready for some easy trails and easy single track. Nothing too technical. Still plenty of help given and regular regroups.
Level 3. You can ride most trails and single track. May be some big hills to climb and some flowing single track descents. Ride may be longer in duration. You are expected to be self sufficient with tools and spares.
Level 4. Ride will be ridden at a fast pace with few breaks. You are expected to ride technical trails and climb mountains. Ride may last all day and cover lots of kays.
Level 5. Hard core epic rides. Only for fit confident riders. Ridden at race pace over long distances. May be multi day long haul rides over tough terrain.

This is only a guide but works well. Feel free to change/scrap it as you please. What I can tell you is, the most popular rides will be level 2 and 3.
All rides should be free. But everyone pays their own way for food or accommodation if needed.
 
E

emerthis

Likes Dirt
pistonbroke said:
You/we will need a calendar page to be successful. Ride details will get lost in these threads.
Also a ride/rider grading system works well, with detailed description of what to expect on each level of ride. Something like;
Level 1. Absolute beginners. Dirt rides and bike paths. Lots of help and instructions given. Lots of regroups and rest breaks.
Level 2. You know how your gears work and may be ready for some easy trails and easy single track. Nothing too technical. Still plenty of help given and regular regroups.
Level 3. You can ride most trails and single track. May be some big hills to climb and some flowing single track descents. Ride may be longer in duration. You are expected to be self sufficient with tools and spares.
Level 4. Ride will be ridden at a fast pace with few breaks. You are expected to ride technical trails and climb mountains. Ride may last all day and cover lots of kays.
Level 5. Hard core epic rides. Only for fit confident riders. Ridden at race pace over long distances. May be multi day long haul rides over tough terrain.

This is only a guide but works well. Feel free to change/scrap it as you please. What I can tell you is, the most popular rides will be level 2 and 3.
All rides should be free. But everyone pays their own way for food or accommodation if needed.
Click to expand...
Damn, man - that is a good idea too. I will start research on the calendar. Does anyone have any suggestions for this?

Cheers,
Emerson
 
B

benketch

Likes Bikes
Yep, we definately need a calendar. For now, I could just update the first post with details of planned dates/trails.
I could list the agreed dates, venue and meet up details.

It might be good to start thinking about the first ride location and a possible date. Any thoughts?

I'm a bit torn about where the first ride should take place.

On one hand, I think it would be good if the first ride was nearish to Melbourne so that people do not need to travel far.
On the other hand, I know that people are keen to get away from their normal ride locations and ride some different trails.

At this time of year the weather will be a factor when considering ride venues.

Some reasonably water friendly trails include Forrest and Blores Hill.
While Forrest trails are not great when they are wet, they seem to avoid rain when Melbourne is getting smashed.
I know the Forrest trails well enough, but it is at least a 2.5hr drive from Melbourne.
Blores Hill in Gippsland is also supposed to be quite weather resistant, but I've never ridden there (but I MIGHT be able to recruit a guide) and it is also a long drive.
I have also heard a couple of times that the trails north of the great divide are not getting nearly as much water as Melbourne.

Anyone have any other ideas for a venue?

The grading system is a great idea. I would like to seperate the higher grades into seperate ratings for technical vs fitness.

Some riders are really fit and some are highly skilled bike handlers...I think it is useful to have different ratings for technical vs fitness.

Taken from the "Big Mountain Adventures" website is this technical rating:
Level 1: Have ridden a mountain bike for at least ten times, are capable of controlling bike speed and direction on smooth doubletrack and rolling singletrack trails.
Would embrace more riding time.

Level 2: Have been mountain biking for at least one year, can climb and descend under control on moderately steep singletrack with loose rocks.
Can ride with mild exposure at times.

Level 3: Have been mountain biking for over two years, are confident riding all types of singletrack, are able to ride small drops and jumps
and descend technical steep sections including rocks drops and uneven roots. Can ride confidently with exposure.

Level 4: Have been mountain biking for over five years, can ride very technical trails and including jumps, drops and narrow elevated trail sections.
Can ride confidently with exposure.

I think a seperate fitness rating needs to give suggested tempo of the ride and duration.
 
E

emerthis

Likes Dirt
benketch said:
Yep, we definately need a calendar. For now, I could just update the first post with details of planned dates/trails.
I could list the agreed dates, venue and meet up details.

It might be good to start thinking about the first ride location and a possible date. Any thoughts?

I'm a bit torn about where the first ride should take place.

On one hand, I think it would be good if the first ride was nearish to Melbourne so that people do not need to travel far.
On the other hand, I know that people are keen to get away from their normal ride locations and ride some different trails.

At this time of year the weather will be a factor when considering ride venues.

Some reasonably water friendly trails include Forrest and Blores Hill.
While Forrest trails are not great when they are wet, they seem to avoid rain when Melbourne is getting smashed.
I know the Forrest trails well enough, but it is at least a 2.5hr drive from Melbourne.
Blores Hill in Gippsland is also supposed to be quite weather resistant, but I've never ridden there (but I MIGHT be able to recruit a guide) and it is also a long drive.
I have also heard a couple of times that the trails north of the great divide are not getting nearly as much water as Melbourne.

Anyone have any other ideas for a venue?

The grading system is a great idea. I would like to seperate the higher grades into seperate ratings for technical vs fitness.

Some riders are really fit and some are highly skilled bike handlers...I think it is useful to have different ratings for technical vs fitness.

Taken from the "Big Mountain Adventures" website is this technical rating:
Level 1: Have ridden a mountain bike for at least ten times, are capable of controlling bike speed and direction on smooth doubletrack and rolling singletrack trails.
Would embrace more riding time.

Level 2: Have been mountain biking for at least one year, can climb and descend under control on moderately steep singletrack with loose rocks.
Can ride with mild exposure at times.

Level 3: Have been mountain biking for over two years, are confident riding all types of singletrack, are able to ride small drops and jumps
and descend technical steep sections including rocks drops and uneven roots. Can ride confidently with exposure.

Level 4: Have been mountain biking for over five years, can ride very technical trails and including jumps, drops and narrow elevated trail sections.
Can ride confidently with exposure.

I think a seperate fitness rating needs to give suggested tempo of the ride and duration.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on the ratings. I don't know that many of the group would ever be up for a Category 5 epic as referred to in the initial suggestion by pistonbroke - certainly not me, anyway. I am not greatly fit, so I don't do 'race-pace' much at all, if ever - but I have been riding for many years and come from a DH/XC background (you can't avoid this in the 'Gong), so I love the more challenging trails.

I reckon we simply post a proposed schedule for a couple of months, with rides posted, say, every 2-3 weeks, mixing up Saturdays and Sundays to maximise the participation options, without runnign ourselves into the ground trekking all over Victoria.

I think Buxton or Youies is probably a good starter. And I have to rule myself out for this weekend, which doesn't help.
 
B

benketch

Likes Bikes
I reckon we aim for approx a ride every 3 weeks - give or take.

I don't know Buxton, but like most people, I know the youies very well.

How about Saturday 16th June at Youies? I'm keen for an early morning start...this alright with others?

I'm doing inter-winter race on 8th July, so how about Sunday 15th July as a tentative date for the 2nd ride? It could be at Buxton?

If this sounds good to others, I'll put it in the first post.
 
E

emerthis

Likes Dirt
pistonbroke said:
Anyone want to know about the corner man system?
Click to expand...
I reckon it goes like this:

Group of riders sets out on singletrack. People lose sight of each other. Leading rider on singletrack reaches a junction - where they wait for the next rider, to show the way, who then waits for the next rider, to show them the way.

Is it that system? Many group rides I've been on work that way - especially in groups of mixed ability on trails with a lot of opportunities to get lost. I intend to use this approach to ensure we don't lose anyone along the way.

Another approach is to have an experienced rider (who knows the route) at the back of the group. This can be done in turns, or by one particularly patient and generous individual.

If there's another way (or if I'm completely headed down the wrong track, as it were), please tell =)

Cheers,
Emerson
 
L

leithel

Likes Bikes
I'm in....
By all means include the more well known rides (Forrest, Lysterfield, You Yangs etc) but at the end of the day we can all grab a map from the Parks Vic website and ride them ourselves. I feel the focus should be on getting out and doing lesser known rides with somebody who knows the network well.

I'll list a few trails I want to be escorted around:

The Wombat/Macedon area (trails other than the main wombat loop)
Castlemaine (rode the Walmer Forest area yesterday)
Red Hill
Plenty Gorge (will organise this with you soon emerthis!)
Smiths Gully

Blores Hill is amazing........ Get there! A map is available on the Gippsland MTB club website. I rode the trails in 6 enduro last year and they are supposedly fantastic to ride all winter long. I'm heading out there on Saturday. It's a bit of a drive, so I recommend getting some accommodation and making a weekend of it.
 
B

benketch

Likes Bikes
Yes, I'd love to do some of the lesser known trails. Anyone who can act as a guide, please come forward. There are a couple of apparently epic long not well known descents (not DH specific trails) in the alps region that I want to ride later in the year.
 
Danny B

Danny B

Likes Dirt
I like the idea of these social rides. Especially ones which are looking to cover Trail/AM type singletrack. Hans loop and Lysterfeild feel kinda limited in scope. I guess I would fit in benketch's "Grade 3".

Not so sure how regularly I could make them (with family commitments etc), but would be keen to duck in, duck out. Could realistically manage a day epic once every three months or so.

I've previously done a few social rides with forum randoms and have found that I often sit awkwardly between the super fit and fast racers, and slower unfit riders. Its good to have a fair gauge of what is expected in terms of pace and skills required, as it can be quite alienating for n00bs and equally frustrating for fitter, more experienced riders.

Corner man... please explain.
 
E

emerthis

Likes Dirt
benketch said:
I reckon we aim for approx a ride every 3 weeks - give or take.

I don't know Buxton, but like most people, I know the youies very well.

How about Saturday 16th June at Youies? I'm keen for an early morning start...this alright with others?

I'm doing inter-winter race on 8th July, so how about Sunday 15th July as a tentative date for the 2nd ride? It could be at Buxton?

If this sounds good to others, I'll put it in the first post.
Click to expand...
As a starter, I reckon Youies is a great idea. GMBC site doesn't indicate any clashing events, so the date should be fine - provided the weather is OK. Starting too early will be a deterrent, given the distance - but I am sure we could meet at Kurrajong for a 9.30am start...?

And yes to Buxton on 15/7/12. But maybe let's make that one around 10.30 or 11.

And meanwhile, any takers on Smiths Gully on Sunday 1/7/12, 9am? I can lead that one with enough confidence - especially if I have jossa along to point me in the right direction if need be. (Right Yianni?) First part of day would be from shop, down Rob Roy Rd, down into the Gully, steep up the other side, long run back down, then back up much the way we come in. After lunch we could do Boomers, cross Yarra Glen Rd, up the fun stuff to Ridge Rd, along the postie/horse tracks back down to the antique shop at Watsons, then the long haul back to SG shop. Maybe. It's a long day to do the whole thing, and I will be properly exhausted by the end. Grading TBA.
 
pistonbroke

pistonbroke

Eats Squid
leithel said:
I'm in....
By all means include the more well known rides (Forrest, Lysterfield, You Yangs etc) but at the end of the day we can all grab a map from the Parks Vic website and ride them ourselves. I feel the focus should be on getting out and doing lesser known rides with somebody who knows the network well.

I'll list a few trails I want to be escorted around:

The Wombat/Macedon area (trails other than the main wombat loop)
Castlemaine (rode the Walmer Forest area yesterday)
Red Hill
Plenty Gorge (will organise this with you soon emerthis!)
Smiths Gully

Blores Hill is amazing........ Get there! A map is available on the Gippsland MTB club website. I rode the trails in 6 enduro last year and they are supposedly fantastic to ride all winter long. I'm heading out there on Saturday. It's a bit of a drive, so I recommend getting some accommodation and making a weekend of it.
Click to expand...
Bang on. It would be great if people put on rides in areas a little less known than the big parks.

As for the corner man system, it works like this.
Ride leader stays at the front. This is usually the person organising the ride, but does not have to be.
Tail man always stays at the back. Usually an experienced rider who can help others with any problems.
All other riders stay in between the lead and tail riders.
When the ride leader gets to an intersection, he waits for the next rider in the group to come along. He then tells that rider to stay there, this is usually just done by pointing at the ground and the following rider agnolages with a nod or a wave.
That rider is now the corner man. He should point his bike in the direction of travel that the ride leader took off in. HE STAYS ON THAT CORNER UNTIL THE TAIL MAN COMES ALONG AND WAVES HIM ON. HE NEVER LEAVES THE CORNER.
This system works really well at keeping the whole group moving. It prevents the slowest riders from feeling like they are holding the group up. They get to feel like they are in the pack. It also allows gun riders to open the taps between corners and try and pass as many riders as they can. Slower riders also get the benefit of seeing how better riders ride. Remember, this is not for racing, so if the faster rider is help up a little, it is of no consequence.

Thoughts people?
 
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