Ride Gradings
Grade 1: Fairly flat, wide and smooth track or gravel road. Suitable for all first-time riders/family.
Grade 2: Gentle climbs and easily avoidable obstacles. You couldn’t ride it in your sleep, but most beginners will still enjoy 1-2 hours.
Grade 3: Challenging riding with steeper slopes and obstacles, possibly on a narrow track with poor traction. Requires riding experience and moderate fitness. 2-3 hours.
Grade 4: A mixture of long or steep climbs, loose track surfaces, more difficult obstacles. Good fitness and bike skills required. 2-4 hours.
Grade 5: Long hard climbs, steeper grades, sharp corners, some tricky obstacles. Some sections are easier to walk. Very good fitness and bike skills required. 4 hours or more.
Ride Types
Club Rides
You’re required to be a member for these rides, member of another club, or at least have a free 8 week MTBA trial membership (this gives you insurance cover whether riding with the club or by yourself). Find out more over here.
Our weekly club ride is Sunday mornings (time varies as the seasons change).
All our rides accommodate a large range of skill and fitness levels, so if you’ve been on a few mountain bike rides and have a moderate level of fitness you’ll be fine. We often split in two or more groups when the numbers allow, and will have a fast and slow group.
Most of us ride together for the social aspect and join up for a coffee after the ride.
Make sure you check out the ride gradings as some rides are tougher than others.
Rookie Rides
For newbies or those who enjoy a relaxed, social pace)
Basic beginner rides (rookie rides) held monthly – usually in Parklands, Ewen Maddock Dam or Wooroi Forest.
We travel in a group and have frequent rest stops to catch our breath and ask questions, so it will probably take an hour or so. There will be hills, loose surfaces, log rollovers, fire roads and twisty singletrack.
Community Rides
First Sunday of each month is our open invitation community ride. As long as you have a bike in good working order, an approved helmet, and water (and maybe some money for the coffee shop). Children welcome, but under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on the ride. We try to cater for all skill and fitness levels – please ensure you have a chat with the ride leader before setting off as the ride may need to be altered to accommodate (we are happy to do this so don’t so don’t feel like a burden).
We encourage non-members to sign up for MTBA’s 8-week free trial membership which will give you insurance (you can also sign up for a one-off day permit or just sign a waiver by using the link on the calendar event). More details available on our Join Us page. If you are already covered by an existing insurance policy that includes mountain biking activities (e.g. member of another bike club) then you simply need to bring along proof.
Tag-a-Long Rides
Our members do their own regular rides and some are happy to have others come along to join them. Check the calendar and contact the person for more details. These rides are not organised by the club so you ride at your own risk so keep within your limits and bring all your essential equipment.
