Three and a half hours North of Sydney, a dedicated crew of riders has been creating a network of trails rivalling Rotorua in its flow and grip. Set just outside of Taree, the amazing trails built by the Manning Great Lakes Tip Riders are finally receiving the publicity they deserve. Chocolate Foot recently held a round of their popular Singletrack Mind series there with the course receiving nothing but rave reviews.
The next opportunity to race these trails will be on August 25th at the Brownie Points Burner XCM. Hugh Flower of City Bike Depot, who was behind the Wannaride series of races, has put together the 80km and 50km course to make the most of not only the Tip Trails area but the multitude of other trails in the Kiwarrack State Forest.
Action from a race on the Taree trails.
“We didn’t set out to make the hardest XCM course, but rather the best. My ideal race course is one that would use all the gears on your bike and all of your suspension. We have tried to create a course that will be fun to ride slow or fast and will be a journey and exploration, not just laps”.
Don’t be fooled by the distance, this is the hardest marathon race you are likely to do this year. The full XCM course has its first real challenge at the 20km mark with the Bull Hill climb. It will see you gain 220m in just 1.8km (averaging over 12%). The organisers have deemed the climb hard enough to warrant a KOM prize and are offering $350 to the first man and woman to conquer it (and finish the race!).
Of course, it’s not all pain and suffering. The course also makes the most of its 2700m of descent, by utilising double track up and fun singletrack down.
The event is hosted at the idyllic Clarendon Forest Retreat, only 20 minutes drive from Forster and Old Bar which both offer great accommodation options. There is free camping available on site for the event as well as limited accommodation with 6 luxury houses on the property. Get in quick if you’re planning to get one of the Clarendon houses has their outdoor hot spas will be hotly contested after a hard day in the saddle.
Thanks to race sponsors Lezyne, Merida, and Schwalbe, City Bike Depot and Velo Events are also giving away a Merida Big 9 Carbon XT and race package worth $4,500 – before the race! Just let them know how you’ve earned your brownie points. Visit their website for all the info and details.
