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

News

Bushrangers MTB Club / News (Page 13)

Maroochydore to Emu Mountain Ride Summary – 08/04/2018

Hey Bushies,

Now I should warn you that I’ve just finished reading a series of rhyming storybooks to the young lad so it may influence my writing tonight.

So Sunday’s ride was meant to be a Parkland’s ride but it was deemed too wet in there so we dug out a 50km Maroochydore to Emu Mountain ride that we haven’t done for awhile. There was a bit of pavement involved but we did manage to get a bit of dirt under our wheels behind Coolum.

Starting point was Denna St shops Maroochydore

17 of us meet at the Denna St shops near the Maroochy Bridge including a new nicer Ben and Wendy from CORCA who has joined up with us as well – thanks for coming and we hope you both had a good time. A roadie ride was also meeting at the shops and I think they were getting a bit worried when everyone started arriving with mountain bikes.

17 little riders, pulling bikes from our cars. Confusing all the roadies with our flat handlebars. 

We took off at 7am and headed over the bridge, through Twin Waters and along the coastal pathway. When it was time to head in behind Mt Coolum Al and Julie (both rehabilitating busted arms) went their own way and avoided the rough stuff.

17 little riders, feeling fit and keen. 2 turned right now there’s 15.

Behind Mt Coolum the grass is tall, the ground is wet and there is a lot of erosion and loose rocks everywhere. One of these rocks took a bite at Marty’s derailleur.

15 little riders, running low on steam. One bike died, now there’s 14.

We got to the bottom of Emu Mountain and decided we should really climb it and check out the awesome view. Our President missed the turn and ended up waiting for us at the High School.

14 little riders, climbing to the peak. Ben got lost, ’cause he is a geek.

We made it to Coolum where Wendy said her farewells and left us. We stopped in at the courtyard behind a cafe on Birtwill Street and everyone went off and scavenged their coffees while we waiting under the shade sails. Tania finally got her coffee last and placed it down onto a bench, where Sonja accidentally knocked it off before Tania could drink it. I’ll remember that look of rage/frustration/rage/sadness for the rest of my days.

13 little riders, enjoying a Sunday ride. Sonja bumped a cup and very nearly died.

We hopped on our bikes and headed for home. We used some back roads to avoid running over tourists (they get cranky if you do that). After Mudjimba everyone’s coffee must of kicked in because the speed started getting faster and it became a race back to the cars.

12 little riders, full of sugar and caffeine. 9 went warp speed now there were 3. 

Everyone made it back to the cars at about 10.30am and from all reports all had a very enjoyable adventure. Photos below and thanks for the ride folks!

Yours sincerely,

Michael “I’m a poet and I didn’t know it” Johns
Club Secretary 

 

Ride Map and Elevation

Ewen Maddock Dam Ride Summary – 01/04/2018

Hey folks long time no see! With all the recent ride cancellations and work on grants and the AGM we haven't had much time to do any write ups. [caption id="attachment_6479" align="alignright" width="300"] My mudguard worked well...

Get Out Get Active Women’s Mountain Bike Program

The Sunshine Coast Council has teamed up with our Go GIRLS and CORCA's Women on Wheels to offer the Get Out Get Active Women's Mountain Bike Program. This six week programme will offer you the opportunity to develop essential skills needed to make mountain biking a enjoyable and safe activity. Additionally you will be provided a hire bike (if you don't have one) and a one year Mountain Biking Australia (MTBA) membership through either club ($85 value). When: 17th April - 24 May 2018, Tuesday or Thursday afternoons. Where: Sunshine Coast - Kawana Sports Precint or Caloundra Cricket Ovals. Cost: $66.00 Registration: > HERE < Contact: Kurt Martin kurt.martin@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au (07) 5420 8671 Don't worry if you've missed out - we have a whole bunch of beginners coaching sessions planned for the next year so keep an eye on our website and social media for updates....

Congratulations to Shelly – No 1 Wild West Series Rd 6

Congratulations to Shelly for her podium at the Wild West XCO series round 6 at Wooloon! She's been training hard and racing well and she may have had a doubt we certainly didn't. The Walloon course is tight and twisty with obstacles and long gradual descents and climbs, it's hard to go fast and you have to time the overtaking to make best use of the short sprints. Organised by JR's Gym and Bike the Wild West XCO series consists of 6 rounds over the summer, west of Brisbane. For more information checkout the series' Facebook Page....

Welcome to the new 2018 Bush Rangers MTB Committee

Hello everyone, The full 2018 annual report will be coming out soon but we wanted to quickly introduce you to your new committee for 2018. President - Ben "OK but this is the LAST year" Johns is happy to stay in the position for 1 more year so he can flash his recent MTBA trophy around a bit more. Vice President - Welcome to Greg "Sure! Why not! I love clamps" Smith who has volunteered for the VP position. He will be in charge of all vices. Secretary - Michael "I'm just here for the pizza" Johns will stay in the role but is planning a career change so may have to move away from role. Treasurer - Craig "Why did I buy a bloody fatbike" Pearson is happy to stay on in the role. Women's Advocacy Officer - Susie <High pitch squeal> Hume is happy to stay on in the role. Trails Officer - Rob "I haven't slept in 4...

Bayview Conservation Park Staging Area Official Opening

Hi Folks,   The Redland Shire Council have organised an official opening of the new Bayview Conservation Park Staging Area they've recently completed. The event will be held on Saturday March 24th starting from 7.30 and will go until 10.30am. You can find out more information from the Facebook Event. There will be lots of fun activities for the kids, plus a special guest appearance by Totally Wild presenter Ranger Stacey! Learn more about the park and check out the new walking and riding areas on our free guided tours. We'll be also be serving up some delicious coffee and sizzling up a storm for a mid-morning sausage sizzle. We recommend bringing a hat, sunscreen and wearing enclosed shoes if you'd like to participate in the walking and riding activities. Sounds fun and the trails are too....

International Womens Day 2018 – #IWD2018

Go TANIA!

So once again the International Women’s Day has come around and we’d like to give some kudos to Susie and the GoGIRLs.

Over the last year our award-winning goGIRL crew have been super active with local rides, away rides, races and training workshops. Also since this time last year the club’s female membership has more than doubled! 

So congratulations you amazing ladies – it’s a wonderful thing to see people pushing themselves, increasing their skills and confidence and having fun while doing it. Here is to another year of awesomeness!

What the GoGIRL’s have been saying

Here are some of the things that the ladies are saying over at the GoGIRLs Facebook page.

“So I’ve ditched my husbands bike and bought a new one – no more crashing . I’ve set myself a challenge…to ride Ferny in under an hour.”

“Anyone up for a ride this afternoon … 4pm around parklands or wooroi or somewhere else? I don’t know either very well but keen to try them out.”

“Excellent training session with Geoff Foxx at Parklands this morning. Thank you Bushrangers & Susie Hume for making it so and getting me a bit closer to that ‘I’m so hardcore’ feeling.  Loved it!”

“Fantastic ride, thanks ladies! Signing up asap. Thanks for being so welcoming and for all the tips! See you again soon!”

Note from Susie

Make a note in your diaries ladies – Keep 17 March free for a Mystery Ride. Details will be up soon on our GoGIRLs Facebook page.

“The only time a woman is helpless is when her nails are drying. Other than that – watch out!” – Unknown

 

Ferny Forest Trails Closed due to Wet Conditions

Hi Folks, The local ranger has asked us to spread the word that the Ferny Forest trail at Ewen Maddock Dam is temporarily closed due to rather wet conditions. To save further deterioration of the trail surface please avoid riding until after a couple of days of sunny weather. For more information see: https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/park-alerts/15632.html Kind Regards, Bushrangers Committee...

Clean Up Australia Day 2018 Summary

Bloody fatbikers!!

Hey Bushies’

33 awesome volunteers came out to do a bit of trail care and to help with the Clean Up Australia day activity at Parklands today. We filled two large bins with general waste and recycling and also dragged out around 5 ute loads of other rubbish too big for the bins. Tyres, engines, hot water systems, nappies (eiww!), car panels, batteries, TVs. It was both sad and amazing that all this junk just gets dumped in our parks.

As for the trail care there were two jobs to do with one team heading in to fix up the damage done to the new blue trail. The blue flow trail and the top of Road Rage trail hadn’t had time to harden before last weeks torrential rain soaked it through and turned it to slush. The other team grabbed the whipper snippers and did some much needed vegetation management on T-track and Lower NZ.

Great work today everyone, as always your help was most appreciated!  A special thanks to Dave for cooking the BBQ – the sausages where superb! If anyone wants a Clean Up Australia Day certificate to brag how awesome they are, just let me know.

Thanks for the write up by Tessa Patrick in the Nambour Weekly and to Clean Up Australia Day for the bags and gloves and to Sandie Johnston and the Sunshine Coast Council for the big bins, rubbish pick up and mowing the grass along Radar Hill Road for us.

Michael Johns
Club Secretary

PS: Check out the photos below.

2017 MTBA Queensland Club Volunteer of the Year Award Acceptance Speech

Recently I was awarded the 2017 MTBA Queensland QLD Club Volunteer Award. It was a quite the surprise and I am both honoured and humbled to receive this award. Since I became President our club has become a multifaceted entity delivering on many fronts such as coaching, women's advocacy, trail development and bringing back racing, all while supporting the wider mountain biking community. During these years I have witnessed many contributions made by our committee and membership and it is a particularly great feeling seeing new riders develop into competent riders who then begin to share their knowledge with others. If I am a good volunteer, it is because of the a great committee and membership behind me. I would like to call out to the club secretary and my brother, Michael, as without his help the club would not be what it is today. The same can be said of Craig, Susie, Rob, and Greg for their work as treasurer, women's...

X