You Yangs MTB Park

toofar22

toofar22

Likes Dirt
I have hit up the youies twice in the last month. Fantastic place to ride and definitely enjoy the more technical aspects.

Someone on this thread suggested this route: http://app.strava.com/activities/52193806 and I wanted to thank them profusely for helping an old fat slow dude out. Have done it twice now, once solo and once with some colleagues.

Basically start at boulder and finish boulder, which suits me. I am still making a heap of mistakes but love the place and plan to head there more often.

I have two questions for the regulars if you don't mind.

1) How does this place hold up in the winter? I see the soil can be very sandy so I am guessing drainage is quite good. Are there any particular periods where you would recommend that I not venture out??

2) best tyre for this terrain

Also thinking I might need a full face if I ride at the youies more often as I do like my teeth and I guess so does my dentist....thieving bastard

Many thanks.
 
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ADD

ADD

Likes Dirt
toofar22 said:
I have hit up the youies twice in the last month. Fantastic place to ride and definitely enjoy the more technical aspects.

Someone on this thread suggested this route: http://app.strava.com/activities/52193806 and I wanted to thank them profusely for helping an old fat slow dude out. Have done it twice now, once solo and once with some colleagues.

Basically start at boulder and finish boulder, which suits me. I am still making a heap of mistakes but love the place and plan to head there more often.

I have two questions for the regulars if you don't mind.

1) How does this place hold up in the winter? I see the soil can be very sandy so I am guessing drainage is quite good. Are there any particular periods where you would recommend that I not venture out??

2) best tyre for this terrain

Also thinking I might need a full face if I ride at the youies more often as I do like my teeth and I guess so does my dentist....thieving bastard

Many thanks.
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1) Actually the sandy terrain erodes pretty easily. We had some heavy rains a couple of years back which resulted in closure of the park due to the condition of the trails. Since then there has been a lot of work put in by the You Yangs crew and others resulting in trails that drain so well the park can be open and rideable in almost all conditions. They've done an amazing job.

2) I find an all mountain style tyre set up works great for myself. Have been running Hans Dampfs but am now running a specialised ground control on the rear which has been great.
 
dunndog

dunndog

Eats Squid
ADD said:
1) Actually the sandy terrain erodes pretty easily. We had some heavy rains a couple of years back which resulted in closure of the park due to the condition of the trails. Since then there has been a lot of work put in by the You Yangs crew and others resulting in trails that drain so well the park can be open and rideable in almost all conditions. They've done an amazing job.
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They do do an amazing job, and the thought that goes into the sustainability of the tracks is second to none. As far as holding up in poor weather though, the tracks are bombproof. The closure of the park you refer to was due to successive exceptionally heavy rainfalls, far above anything considered normal. The biggest issue resulting in prolonged park closure was asbestos culverts being uncovered due to erosin of the roads, not the trails, and a few natural springs that reared their heads, yes a couple in the middle of trails. Under normal conditions, the youies holds up exceptionally well when wet and would be one of a very small handful of places you could go and ride in the rain confident that you're not trashing the area. trashing yourself might be a different story though..
 
C

Cúl-Báire

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Was out there tonight, still a little damp in places but otherwise, loads of hero dirt!


During the rains the place is generally pretty ride-able in the wet, past experience has taught me that the wet sand kills drive trains in a hurry!

As for tires I am running 2.25" Schwalbe Racing Ralphs (Snake Skin) because they are a bit of a do everything XC tire, for general riding around or "trail riding" something like the Schwable Hans or anything bigger then a 2.2 will go ok, Kenda's seem to do pretty well too.
 
The Duckmeister

The Duckmeister

Has a juicy midrange
Cúl-Báire said:
During the rains the place is generally pretty ride-able in the wet, past experience has taught me that the wet sand kills drive trains in a hurry!
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Brake pads cop a shredding too when it's wet, I've destroyed a set there once. In normal wet conditions it's probably the only place around Melbourne that remains rideable. What we had a couple of years ago, which closed pretty much everything, was extremely exceptional rainfall.

As for tires I am running 2.25" Schwalbe Racing Ralphs (Snake Skin) because they are a bit of a do everything XC tire, for general riding around or "trail riding" something like the Schwable Hans or anything bigger then a 2.2 will go ok, Kenda's seem to do pretty well too.
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I've found the Ralphs at their best when the dirt is in Hero state, but get pretty skaty when it dries out. Maxxis Crossmarks are my preferred boots (XC is my thing), although something a bit chunkier would be better for more aggro trail/AM riding.
 
Howie66

Howie66

Likes Dirt
1) Yeah Il agree that they do an amazing job.. The trails do drain very easily.. They have been closed a couple of times with heavy downpours, but this hasnt happened for a while now, but it does happen, although that was a really heavy rain, flooding etc.. I think it was during the Victorian Floods last time it was closed.

2) As for tyres, there are a lot that work well out there...It depends on your riding.. I use WTB prowlers on my AM and MAxxis Minion Fronts on my DH.. High Rollers work as well.. I had a Holy Roller on my old HT and i dont reccomend this hahahaha
 
C

Cúl-Báire

Likes Bikes and Dirt
The Duckmeister said:
I've found the Ralphs at their best when the dirt is in Hero state, but get pretty skaty when it dries out. Maxxis Crossmarks are my preferred boots (XC is my thing), although something a bit chunkier would be better for more aggro trail/AM riding.
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Interesting, I didn't find the Crossmark to be all that good a tire around there! Each to their own I guess.
I have one (26 x 2.25) for sale if you want it, its yours for $20, still shed loads of life in it.
 
C

Cúl-Báire

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Was very cold out there late last night but the trails appear to have held up will with the rain we've had over the past few days.
For the most part Kurrajong was still dry; I'd imagine stockyards would have been a little damper (not as much tree cover) but it always drains well anyways!
 
M

max_croft

Squid
Was out there Wednesday. Love the new end section on Lactic Acid.

Getting faster and more confident with Cressy's ... didn't know my 29er could get air as easy as she does. Woooooo! Huge grin on my face when I got to the bottom.

Speaking of tyres, I'm on 2.25 Racing Ralphs snakeskin and though the knobs are small, they give me so much grip than you would expect just by looking at them.
 
MountainBikeMike

MountainBikeMike

Likes Dirt
Nerdbox said:
Reckon Youis will be rideable tomorrow? The southern areas didn't cop it too hard and it seems to drain well??
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You yangs is amazing in the wet. It rides way better than in the day. I was there last summer when it absolutely was mega pissing down. We both thought we shouldn't be there. The road in was fully flooded.. But we had the raddest time ever lol
 
S

Sjh

Squid
Went out on Sat arvo, tracks were perfect with plenty of grip. There were some small puddles here and there, but nothing too major.
 
P

positron

Likes Bikes
I would like to thank those that stopped and helped with my fractured pelvis, which required me to be helivaced a fortnight ago. No surgery required, but still have the best part of three months on crutches ahead of me.
 
N

Nerdbox

Likes Dirt
positron said:
I would like to thank those that stopped and helped with my fractured pelvis, which required me to be helivaced a fortnight ago. No surgery required, but still have the best part of three months on crutches ahead of me.
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Brutal, must have hurt like hell

All the best for your recovery
 
Brown Dog

Brown Dog

Likes Dirt
you yangs ride day 22nd of june

YYMTBInc will be holding a ride day on the 22nd of June.
Cost-$40 and $10 for day license
Time- 8am-4pm
Cost includes bbq lunch, drinks and shuttles all day
Email the cluub at youyangsmtbinc@yahoo.com with your full name and phone number to secure your spot
 
gnarly_rider

gnarly_rider

Likes Dirt
Anyone know anything about the police chopper activity on Queen's Birthday (Monday) in the private property immediately NW of the Stockyards? Some kind of search?
 
CharlieDontSurf

CharlieDontSurf

Likes Dirt
I was there on the Sunday and saw one of the Air Ambulance Bell 412's cruising slowly around NW of the park. Not sure why. I Could ask a few Paramedic mates who work at Essendon Airport with the Police also if they were doing some training or exercises there
 
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