About Our Club

Our club was formed in 1993 and incorporated in 1995 when mountain biking (MTB) in Australia was in its infancy. Since then the club and the sport have gained popularity through advocacy and participation. The Bushrangers MTB Club is a volunteer based organisation run by enthusiasts, for the benefit of promoting and supporting mountain biking across the region.

We do regular rides all over Sunshine Coast and SEQ from Cooloola to Brisbane, in national parks, state forestries and council parks. Check out this website for more information on events, news, and for places to ride.

Latest News

February 2017

2017 Bush Ranger’s AGM – Sunday March 19th, 2pm

It's AGM time for 2017 (and that's means "Annual General Meeting" not "Asiatic Geese Migration" - don't repeat my embarrassing mistake). So this year's AGM will be back at the Arts and Ecology Centre located within the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens at Tanawha - https://goo.gl/maps/CoXPm2WcWeQ2. The meeting will kick off at 2pm and food and drinks will be provided. Ben will probably show us an awesome PowerPoint again - WOOHOOO!!! (that was sarcasm). Want to add an item to the agenda? If you have something you want on the agenda then send it through to secretary@bushrangers.org by the 03/03/2017 so I can get it written up and sent out to everyone. Want to have a go in the Committee? We are planning on adding a few new positions this year so if there is something you'd like to be involved in then throw your hat in the ring. Committee positions and example tasks President (Ride calendar, advocacy, grants, project and stakeholder management) Secretary (Club administration, social media, grants, helps committee) Treasurer (Watches...

DARK GNAR! A Parklands Night Ride Summary – 15/02/2017

It was a warm afternoon, not as hot as it had been in recent days but still warm. I had had a hard day at work and the lonely drive home was long and even being the first person in the car to spot the big pineapple didn’t cheer me up. But as I drove behind a Camry doing 70kph in the 90 zone I tried to convince myself to go on that evening’s night ride.

I started with the ‘arguments against’ because I’m pretty negative that way.

  1. I had 20 minutes to get home, eat food, check bike, check my lights, put bike in car and get changed.
  2. Chad could take me down some random scary track – again.
  3. I might break a perfectly good helmet on a tree – again.
  4. Everyone is always so nice and friendly and good to chat with (makes it very hard to maintain my aloof and cynical hipster image).
  5. Snakes, Toads, Kangaroos, Mozzies and Drop Bears etc.

Upcoming Rookie Ride at Ferny Forest – Sunday 19th

We want to give our new beginner members some love so in addition to the normal club ride we are also putting on a rookie ride this Sunday. So bring your bike (that works), some water, sun screen and a helmet and come along for a ride and chat. Day: Sunday 19/02/2017 Time: 7.30am ride off Location: Ferny Forest trail (carpark opposite the Big Cart Track on Steve Irwin Way near Landsborough). Trail type: Ferny Forest is a green (beginner) trail and is a 10km loop - 40 to 60mins (no rush). Notes: Try and get there a bit earlier so you can get ready. Look for the guys with the Bushranger shirts. Sign up for the 8-week free trial from the MTBA if you haven't already so you're insured. There is a coffee van at the carpark so we can have a coffee after the ride. Email me at secretary@bushrangers.org if you have any questions. Ride on! Michael "When is coffee?" Johns Club Secretary...

Parklands Ride Summary – 12/02/2017

Hey everyone,

I woke up this morning and as I looked in the mirror, brushing my teeth, I thought to myself “Michael you handsome bugger you! You know what this club needs more of? ….FORMS!”

Seriously what isn’t made easier when you use a form – bank loans, blood donations, buying bike parts, sex – everything is just so much easier!

So I put my innovation cap on today and came up with this kickass document for the ride summaries we do. It’s so easy, so quick and still maintains that personal and sincere method of communication that forms are famous for.

What’s next for MTB on the Sunshine Coast?

Hey Folks, Yesterday we sent out a post giving an update regarding the grants we currently have in place. This money will pay for new trails and training which was the most requested items in last year's member survey. However we need to look to the future and keep applying for more grants so we can keep the ball rolling and grow mountain biking within the Sunshine Coast. So we ask you to start thinking about some potential projects that we can use when applying for grant money. Things like new trail ideas or maybe training programs for different rider groups e.g. beginners, women, children. The project has to be sellable to all stakeholders, be able to show how it will benefit the community and be in line with the club's mission and abilities. Some potential project ideas that are floating around at the moment are: Marathon length trail right around Parklands Bottle 'n Glass or Mapleton downhill trails Great Rides Trail Project - Glasshouse to...

Mapleton Community Ride Summary – 05/02/2017

Mapleton was as lovely as ever as we all meet up near the Lilyponds just before 7am.

We had some new riders come along with us that day so welcome Sue and Leigh, we hope you had a good ride.

Joe Black wasn’t too impressed with the 20 bike riders interrupting his breakfast

We took off towards Linda Garrett park and then followed the access roads into the Mapleton National Park. It’s always beautiful here even with it’s spoke devouring branches across the tracks. We made it to the carpark at the top of the Magic Mile (Turpentine) track the group got bigger as we met up with some hardcore riders who rode up from Yandina. It was here that Brad also found a black snake about to make a meal out of a hapless lizard.

Grant Updates

Here is an update regarding the grants.

Get Playing – Places and Spaces grant

The Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing Get Playing Places and Spaces $100,000 grant deed documents have been signed, sealed and delivered. Check out the club seal – it has a chain ring on it! pretty cool eh?.

We have a couple of pre-payment admin tasks to complete before the money comes in but the next major step is meetings with QPWS to nail down the project specifics e.g. exact location and specifications of new loops, flow trails and new bridges, cultural heritage assessment and sensitive vegetation area checks. QPWS have a regional meeting in Gold Coast this week to create a consistent approach to MTB development and management in their parks.

Get Playing – Get Going Clubs grant

The smaller Get Going Clubs grant for $7500 has come in and we are organising specific subject experts to provide us with training clinics. We are also arranging for subsidised coaching qualifications for interested club members.

Easter in the Alice

For the travelling riders there's a stage event happening over easter in Alice Springs aptly called 'Easter in the Alice'. The event is organised by the Central Australian Rough Riders MTB Club and consists of three stages over three days. The intent is to have things done and dusted by morning tea so you can spend the rest of the day enjoying the area. Each stage is described as follows: Stage 1:  Saturday 15 April.  The Long Stage and MTBA National XCM round 3.  75 km, 800 m climb Stage 2: Sunday 16 April.  24 km, 300 m climb.  Expected winning time 75 minutes Stage 3: Monday 17 April.  Fun flow fun.  37 km, 350 m climb.  Expected winning time 90 minutes There's a bit of variance to the stages depending on what category you've entered so don't be too concerned with nastier sounding numbers. Event cost for the three days is $190.00. Lasseters Hotel and Casino, sponsor and event location, is offering 20% of their normal accommodation...

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