The trails of Sydney, Australia. Can I say will blow your mind?! Not only are they boulder laced heavy metal rock and roll headbanger music style going down (if MTB and music had matches) they are rocky technical, show-me-your-power going up. The best part? They lie within the wilderness depths of the concrete jungle of Sydney... in the wild wallaby temperate forests. Coming from a small town where the trees outnumber the cars and the riding serves up duff and mud, Sydney is everything the Humboldt Homelands are not.
The Garigal National Forest is my most frequented temperate forest riding spot six miles from my house. These trails will take your suspension to the max and the first time down them I think I hiked more than I rode. You stick to the rocks and there is a lot more force with every hit and pedalling to the top is not an easy fire-road climb... and shuttles are not an option. Manning my Green Machine Kona Process was more than a workout to say the least. There are a few drops and features but mostly large rocks and sand. A completely different riding style than Humboldt presenting with a whole new MTB experience and challenge. But this struggle was quite okay for there is so much more than just the trail. The forest is composed of so many different flora and fauna.
The Garigal National Forest is my most frequented temperate forest riding spot six miles from my house. These trails will take your suspension to the max and the first time down them I think I hiked more than I rode. You stick to the rocks and there is a lot more force with every hit and pedalling to the top is not an easy fire-road climb... and shuttles are not an option. Manning my Green Machine Kona Process was more than a workout to say the least. There are a few drops and features but mostly large rocks and sand. A completely different riding style than Humboldt presenting with a whole new MTB experience and challenge. But this struggle was quite okay for there is so much more than just the trail. The forest is composed of so many different flora and fauna.
There are Gray mangroves, Grass trees, Scribbly gum trees, and Old man banksia. There is also the most beautiful purple flower known as the Sydney Boronia which has been blooming for the last 5 weeks. The birds are just amazing too from the magpies to the cockatoos. Lastly, the sandstone is sticky like velcro and the history of the Aboriginal people is outstanding. With that... I pay respects to the custodians of the lands, the Guringai tribe, of the Garigal National Forest. After all, riding is not always about the trail and how fast you can ride it but, appreciating nature and roaming the lands. Garigal National Forest is a just a sample of the riding and wilderness Sydney and New South Wales has to offer.
With a bit of a drive on the left side of the road more trails can be ridden similar to Garigal but more challenging and MTB structured: Narrabeen and Oxford Falls. Narrabeen will certainly challenge your rock riding skills or... if your like me... will develop them quite quickly.
There are also XC trails if you feel the itch for a more mellow ride. Hornsby, Westleigh, and Manly Dam will deliver with a bit more flow, maybe a few jumps, and just a touch of heavy metal rocky boulders to shake it up a bit... it's like a symphony... with intermittent moments of a heavy metal drum solo...
There are also XC trails if you feel the itch for a more mellow ride. Hornsby, Westleigh, and Manly Dam will deliver with a bit more flow, maybe a few jumps, and just a touch of heavy metal rocky boulders to shake it up a bit... it's like a symphony... with intermittent moments of a heavy metal drum solo...
Drive north into the Bush and BAM-mo-ram-o! Awaba has an EPIC world class DH but also an incredible XC course thru a legit forest where wallabies roam 'round. Riding this in circles is like listening to The Offspring: fast paced turns, dips, roots and rocks and never a dull moment. SO good. If Awaba XC is your style, don't forget the pit stop at Ourimbah for a little more delicious XC shredding.
Gravel grinding can also be a thing if you are more on the road side of life. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offers an unparalleled ride thru the forest with gravel grinding off-shoots to the coast.
Although I have not had the opportunity to ride every trail, I can say the MTB riding, geography, flora, and fauna are outstanding. If you come to Australia to ride MTB full suspension is a must and don't forget a leg work.
Cheers and thanks for reading!
Although I have not had the opportunity to ride every trail, I can say the MTB riding, geography, flora, and fauna are outstanding. If you come to Australia to ride MTB full suspension is a must and don't forget a leg work.
Cheers and thanks for reading!
P.s. Although the riding is epic, challenging and all that jazz it certainly isn't the same when you don't have your Humboldt Homies by your side or your shop to go to and have a brewski... miss ya.