Due to the current Covid-19 virus Global Pandemic, it is with heavy hearts, Bushrangers Mountain Bike club have felt the need to cancel all organised rides and events including club rides, new member rides, trail care, Gogirls, and Away Rides as of 23/3/2020 until further notice.

This is based on a combination of advice from Australian & QLD health department, regulations on social distancing, our club and individual responsibility and duty of care to the community.

Let’s take this opportunity to still get out and about on solo rides (perhaps use Strava Beacon function and don’t over estimate your ability – please play it safe), keeping not only our fitness up but let the light shining help keep our morale and spirits alive.

We have such a great mountain bike community and the ability to avail of communication channels to share our rides and experiences, helping to keep us connected in some way during these difficult times. 

So, take the challenge to explore local trails, maybe plan a potential new ride route for a future club ride, take lots of photos/videos to share on Strava or FB.

Do a personal ride report to lift the spirits of those that might be unable to ride. If isolated, take the time to develop your skills in small spaces, slow ride, bunny hop, wheelie, stoppie, skinny, track stand.

Let’s Flatten the virus curve quicker than a fat bike tyre on broken glass.

We look forward to seeing all your fantastic Solo shared ride experiences and creative media.We will get through this more enthusiastic and stronger than ever so stay positive, keep safe, support each other and keep the wheels turning.Stay safe keep riding

Regards, Bushrangers Committee.

Another great turn out for the Parklands Trail care day on Saturday 18/1/2020. Nice to have some decent rain the night before helping us identify the low puddle spots and drainage needs.

The focus was on the Rookie road track in to the skills/hub area with repairs made to the sticky berm through the first creek, sand stone blocks were laid in the larger eroded channels topped up with road base kindly supplied by QPWS who are always happy to assist the Bushrangers club. Additional works are planned to stabilise existing sandstone crossing that have eroded underneath.

A big shout out to new people who attended that aren’t part of a specific club but ride in parklands, your generosity and enthusiasm is greatly appreciated “Maximum Kudos”, looking forward to seeing you all again. 

The Adopt a Trail maintenance scheme is ready to launch so keep an eye out for upcoming details if you would like to be part of an ongoing trail maintenance at Parklands, every little bit helps.

Thanks to everybody who attended.

A hard-core group of enthusiastic MTB jockeys assembled at the Corbould Park race course car park for a guaranteed adventure into the Jungles of Bone Yards. The field was split into two groups with Wayne taking the Open class steads and Toby taking the Maiden Class.

Toby’s Class group followed in hot pursuit with a similar selection of tracks ridden hard with some of the Open group dropping back to a more sustainable pace for self-preservation.  Some of the techy jungle tracks could have come from a Phantom movie with high humidity, Creeks, Palms, Vines, Pygmies?? Skull cave… maybe not. You get the idea this is a great riding area with more potential.

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Some challenging tracks including downhill gnarly rocks and roots, twisty single-track gullies, hot dusty fire trails made for a great ride with Objective achieved “Maximum FUN!!” by all classes of the field.  The Maiden group managed to win overall cup by a 2-minute margin arriving back to the carpark before the open class jockeys.

The ride concluded with the mandatory wonderful Coffee and Nosh from Malarkey Artisan coffee in Caloundra.

Thanks to all the riders and leaders that contributed to another great Bushrangers ride, look forward to seeing you all again at the Peachester ride on Sunday 29/12/19 for the last ride of 2019, see calendar for details.

The lure of flowy trails, easy double jumps, smooth burms, plus the promise of aromatic coffee and food was enough to attract an eclectic group of riders on a wide range of bikes including single speed Steel hard tail, Dual suspension alloy and carbon framed steeds with a mix of suspension travel, ebikes new and old.

With an early start to beat the heat the faster group blasted off into the twisty trails with the intention of riding every trail in the park lead by Rod who always sets a cracking consistent pace.

 The tracks while dry hold up incredibly well with reasonable grip provided you don’t get too game and load the front wheel up. Toby lead the “less air” group through the maze of decimal numbered tracks giving new members some challengers and skills to be honed in future.  Only a couple of lie down moments with no injuries sustained.

 As the group moved on to the more open northern tracks Jacob the young trail Guru took control as ride leader with aerial manoeuvres rekindling the enthusiasm of the Older school Gentlemen behind him (the rest of us) who tried to emulate riding in the air with varying success.

The two groups caught up for mid ride breather at the shady hut swapping tales of heroism and trail lies, while the show-offs did a couple of log rides with look at me pride Ha Ha.

Each group Set off after cooling down to then complete the remaining trails.

A deflating moment occurred when Rods back tyre was impaled on a stick spraying out sealant in a loud 360 degree display, luckily there were several experts to offer theories on how it happened including tyre spikes,  stray bullets etc..talk about creative thinkers !!.   Refocused and repairs completed the group headed back out to the new jump tracks with the brave dudes clearing the large log trail features completing another great ride by both groups.

Thanks to the Ride leaders Toby, Rod and Jacob and all the riding Crew.

 Wonderful Coffee and tucker were consumed in town at the SoMa SoMa Café, Great atmosphere of Gympie as the steam train rolled past and a history lesson from a local on old Holdens (you had to be there).

Next ride Sunday at Bone Yards 22/12/19 6:30am ride off, please see details on the Website Calendar. 

Cheers Miles.

Safe riding.

Yesterdays Parklands Post Xmas Party Ride started with a solid turn out of riders including new member Jeremy and visitor Grant from North Brisbane, great to see such enthusiasm early on a Sunday Morning.

The whole crew was quite fresh considering the jelly shots at the party seemed 9.5 parts vodka and 0.5 part jelly (just enough jelly to give the vodka some colour)… But with nobody overdoing it, we turned up bright and early for the ride with no complaints for the sweat-box that we were about to endure.

MASSIVE thanks to John and Tanya for opening their awesome home on the water in Mountain Creek – what a perfect place to gather with a bunch of (well-behaved) mates.

We all set out through Rookie Road track into the skills area where the crew did a fast-hot lap of Lush to warm up, this is a great track for new and old to hone their skills and Strava times in cornering and line choice with few obstacles to dodge.

 The group then split into two with the fasties carving up and down Road Rage where the humidity certainly had the post party drinks being sweated out profusely, on Anger Management track several riders took the challenging “A” line dodging some unexpected obstacles to survive.  Continuing along the Gumby loop to enjoy the Shady cool forest of CT track before the ascending the infamous climbing track S’s of Rock and Roll.

 We were followed closely by Toby’s group at a slightly slower pace,  Al took  them on a detour to enjoy the trails between Gumby loop and CCC, heading through Ct track must have been a faster pace as  there was a comment that Amanda’s face was the lovely colour of her pink gloves. While they headed off for a quick dash down vanderloop and heading into the meadows assisting  Jason and Lou in their trail orientation, they headed back down Spare Parts to the car park.

 From here the Fasties  decision was unanimous to test everyone’s metal on the steep sections  of Rock a Dial down toward Phoenix, with lots of grins from Jeremy and Grant. Paul then suggested the climb up to the top of Radar hill for a long descent, no one was game to protest in case we up set the yellow “Kona” gods.

On the way up Double Dab Johnny’s bottom bracket seized in protest sending him on a long walk/roll back to the carpark bike. Continuing on up to a high point fire trail then bombing down to the bottom of phoenix, up Roo valley, NZ and down Rock it Man then Ho Chi Ho where Adam and Grant looked for extra Kudos doing Jumping and  Ant (in other words we lost them).

The hot start was followed with a cool change with riders forgetting about the early challenges in the day.

Coffee and Chocolate solved nearly all the first world problems at the Forest Glen Bakery. Great ride with a super group.

Alternate Rookie Ride Report – Ewen Maddock Dam

We’re alternating the Rookie Rides between Parklands and Ewen Maddock Dam, with the aim of providing a gentler ride option for newbies or those that want a calmer pace….

Thanks to those that attended this week!

This ride was undulating and an easy 30 kilometres and fortunately perfect weather.

We had a new member Kira (apologies if spelt incorrectly) with a beautiful new Norco dual suspension. I’d also like to thank Teresa for her kind letter of thanks, she looked to be enjoying herself on her new striking blue Merida!

No crashes, everyone seemed to be having a good time, it was the kind of ride where you could do a lot of talking while riding. 
Graham 

This Coming Weekend:

Looking forward to seeing you next Sunday in Gympie at Victory heights tracks 6:30am for a 6:45am ride off.