AMB weekend to Canberra

What an amazing weekend! A total of ten riders headed down on Saturday 28 May from Sydney to Canberra. Mick Ross was our 'go-to' guy from Australian Mountain Bike Magazine. He has been with the mag for some 27 editions, he has been riding since hanging up his tap shoes (truth), been a 'pro' racer and is one funny guy. 


The bikes and riders were loaded in North Sydney and Moore Park and next thing we were in Goulburn at the Greengrocer Cafe. It was a tad cold and the ride from Goulburn to Sparrow/Kowen was rather foggy but everyone was 'amped' to hit up some flowing single track. 

First ride was Sparrow, originally 40+k of trail now only 12 ... I say only because it is still amazing track, hats off to Paul Cole and his crew for keeping it is such great condition. We did a brief skills session on how to 'J-hop' and Mick taught us about how to handle the bike in other situations - all great stuff. The lap was pretty hot in pace and it was a good chance to ride behind Mick to watch how a tap dancer rides.


Needing a little energy and before hitting up Kowen we stopped back at the bus for a bite to eat. A few adjustments by our guest Aaron Dunford - FUSION PEAK - and we were back out on track. The MTB trails over there are great especially after being used for the MONT 24 Hour a few months back it was certainly hard packed.   

After that loop we all looked a little shagged and it was time to refuel with a beer, yogurt and fruit, not necessarily in that order.


Check in at the AIS was short, before I could get the bikes out of the trailer all the riders were back at the bus and ready to ride again. It was coming on to dusk, most of us had lights, some riders had demo lights from RADICAL LIGHTS and before you knew it we were at Bruce Ridge ready to play in the spaghetti system of trails. 


The natural light went quick, a few riders decided to head back to the AIS but a few stayed out to play. One of those being Mick Ross, above I mentioned that MOST of us had lights, well Mick did NOT. We rode till around 6:30, completely dark, and Mick never missed a beat. Riding behind him to give him some light was quite the sight to see. It looked like he had ants in his pants as his legs were opening in all different directions so he could get the light to shine on the track! Oh and I was pushing it just to keep up with him! One word, amazed!


Back to shower and then consume some calories at all you can eat dinner at the AIS. Aaron takes the cake for being the human vacuum this weekend, for a tall lanky fellow the boy can put away a bit. After dinner, since we had all worked very hard, we head off to All Bar Nun down in O'Connor for some well deserved refreshing ales.

Bed and back up at 6:15 to hit up the trails of Bruce Ridge again. An hour out on track to loosen the legs up was just what the DR ordered before breakfast. The temperature was perfect, two weeks before it was ZERO degrees when all of the GEAR UP GIRLS came out for the Sunday morning ride, this time it had to of been 5C - almost balmy! 


Breakfast - all you can eat - well done Aaron - then off to Mt Stromlo. CORC was having a 7k race out there but that doesn't mean that the trails are closed, another reason why the MTB family are such great people. We did a warm up loop and then a climb to the top. No need to rush and you could see it on the riders faces that they had done some pretty hard work already this weekend. 


Once at the top for the obligatory photo it was time to descend. We reconvened at the bridge before the start of Luge, talk about smiles on faces! The calls of "can we do that again" were heard over and over and they still had luge to go. We all made it down safe and sound and then it was time to check out the Willo Track, Double Dissolution and some others on the back side of the Mt. We had one little spill which required a 'DNF' back to the bus ... it was a pick up but we all live to tell the story, some just have better stories than others from the weekend. 

Lunch out on course, it was great to reminisce about the ride/weekend and general good times in the glorious Autumn day - again Aaron going to WORK. Back to the AIS - shower, off to Dickson for a coffee, or beers and munchies for the ride home. A few sleepers for the ride back but there was also lots of other chit-chat about MTB'ing and general riding.


It was a great weekend, the trails, weather, riders and food were spot on. Thanks to all those who came along, Richard, Laurie, Greg, Aaron, Mick, Garth, Damian, Luke and Mark. Looking forward to having you along for other weekends in the future and another AMB weekend down the track.