Buxton and Lake Mountain Thread
- Thread starter Big JD
- Start date
OCD'R
Likes Dirt
Rode Buxton last Tuesday evening a day after Buckie receiving 22mm and trail was perfect for levels of grip. No dust obviously and maybe two puddles at the lowest part of the track. Spider Gully isn't near as fast and smooth as it has been in the past, a bit rutted out, I think from braking and 'enduro' style riding…
Haven't been to Lake Mtn since last summer, I do know management are working on the trails atm and adding to the existing network over the next couple of months.
Your invitation to come up (or meet me at Buckie is still open JD).
Haven't been to Lake Mtn since last summer, I do know management are working on the trails atm and adding to the existing network over the next couple of months.
Your invitation to come up (or meet me at Buckie is still open JD).
Big JD
Wheel size expert
moorey
call me Mia
Big JD
Wheel size expert
we made a spur- the- moment trip to Buxton today. Amazing conditions and the trails were perfect- The Buxton burger I will skip next time- filthy bloody thing. So much work has been done out there and berms for miles. Could I possibly say that there are too many berms- it is a bit over designed/built in places and way too wide. But a great place to ride and not that far to drive. Saw a tiger snake about a foot from my wheels while climbing around a switchback- so close. I rode a 29er HT - it was perfect for there- saw all these guys on Enduro 5- 6 inch rigs- cant really see the point- there is nothing technical out there- all the jumps are tables and the drops are 0ne foot at best.
Bloody ENDURO has taken over the world- everyone needs an enduro bike right now. Even our trails are Euro Enduro- pisses me off
forgive me I was having a whinge- the trails are really cool
Bloody ENDURO has taken over the world- everyone needs an enduro bike right now. Even our trails are Euro Enduro- pisses me off
forgive me I was having a whinge- the trails are really cool
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gnarly_rider
Likes Dirt
Big John many of us can't afford/justify multiple offroad-bikes for different terrains (29 HT, duallie, race bike, cross-bike, single speed YT bike, etc), in addition to commuters and road bikes. A single Enduro-style bike covers all the terrains, whether it by all-day Buller epics, or Yarra shop-rides...
Big JD
Wheel size expert
nope I dont buy it.
I have a bike for mountain biking (HT) and a bike to commute and ride light trails (CX). I would love a 4-5 inch FS bike and a SS but you know many of us cant afford multiple bikes.
the one bike used to be a HT- then a 4 inch 26er- then a 5 inch 26er then a 6 inch 26er then a beefed up 4 inch 26er, then a 4 inch 29er now a 5-6 inch 650b or 5 inch 29er and soon a 3-4 inch rear with 5 inch front (everyone is doing one). The whole time the trails didnt really change that much- but the "one bike" did.
A 5-6 inch Enduro style bike doesnt cover all terrain- only the stuff that warrants 6 inches of travel and slack angles and excessive weight. I dont buy it mate. We seem to be designing/ dumbing down/ widening trails to suit a particular style of bike. These trails have flow, not much climbing and berms- it is not natural and most dont use the natural features. Why would you want to lugged a big heavy pig around tame XC trails for the 2% of the time when it might be useful. Sorry but unless I simply lived for the gnar/ chunk n stunt and had the trails to warrant it- I see Enduro bikes as a complete w&nk just like freeride and All mountain before it.
Now if you want to race Gravity Enduro then a 4-6 inch FS bike would be great- but you can tell me its broadly suited to the majority of our trails.
The best bits of Buxton for me dont have berms and trails 2 metres wide- the trails that drops down through the palms is gold.
Big John many of us can't afford/justify multiple offroad-bikes for different terrains (29 HT, duallie, race bike, cross-bike, single speed YT bike, etc), in addition to commuters and road bikes. A single Enduro-style bike covers all the terrains, whether it by all-day Buller epics, or Yarra shop-rides...
I have a bike for mountain biking (HT) and a bike to commute and ride light trails (CX). I would love a 4-5 inch FS bike and a SS but you know many of us cant afford multiple bikes.
the one bike used to be a HT- then a 4 inch 26er- then a 5 inch 26er then a 6 inch 26er then a beefed up 4 inch 26er, then a 4 inch 29er now a 5-6 inch 650b or 5 inch 29er and soon a 3-4 inch rear with 5 inch front (everyone is doing one). The whole time the trails didnt really change that much- but the "one bike" did.
A 5-6 inch Enduro style bike doesnt cover all terrain- only the stuff that warrants 6 inches of travel and slack angles and excessive weight. I dont buy it mate. We seem to be designing/ dumbing down/ widening trails to suit a particular style of bike. These trails have flow, not much climbing and berms- it is not natural and most dont use the natural features. Why would you want to lugged a big heavy pig around tame XC trails for the 2% of the time when it might be useful. Sorry but unless I simply lived for the gnar/ chunk n stunt and had the trails to warrant it- I see Enduro bikes as a complete w&nk just like freeride and All mountain before it.
Now if you want to race Gravity Enduro then a 4-6 inch FS bike would be great- but you can tell me its broadly suited to the majority of our trails.
The best bits of Buxton for me dont have berms and trails 2 metres wide- the trails that drops down through the palms is gold.
I love Buxton!
I love to ride it on my 5" FS 29r.
Its in a beautiful spot, its got a bit of everything, what's not to like?!
I too enjoy the more organic side of mountain biking, not overly keen on the 'buffed' singletrack ,
however my 11yo loves the berms and the jumps so we can ride Buxton and both of us get to
the carpark with a smile on our faces.
I agree though, Buxton Burger not so good.
I love to ride it on my 5" FS 29r.
Its in a beautiful spot, its got a bit of everything, what's not to like?!
I too enjoy the more organic side of mountain biking, not overly keen on the 'buffed' singletrack ,
however my 11yo loves the berms and the jumps so we can ride Buxton and both of us get to
the carpark with a smile on our faces.
I agree though, Buxton Burger not so good.
Big JD
Wheel size expert
thats a fair call TBay
gnarly_rider
Likes Dirt
Ahh, JD my comment was about the choice by riders in general to ride an 'enduro' style bike for everything, with no reference to Buxton and its trails in particular (haven't ridden there in a couple of years...). I missed you were specifically targetting Buxton, though my point still stands;
If I was to ride Buxton, it would be on a 5inch duallie, because that's the only bike I have, and it allows my to ride everything I want (whether YTs, descending Klingsporn or epic French alpine descents....). May not be the fastest for everything, but them's the breaks!
If I was to ride Buxton, it would be on a 5inch duallie, because that's the only bike I have, and it allows my to ride everything I want (whether YTs, descending Klingsporn or epic French alpine descents....). May not be the fastest for everything, but them's the breaks!
Big JD
Wheel size expert
I was pretty general mate but in relation to Buxton- we will all ride whatever we have.
My thoughts on the Enduro style- 5-6 inches, slack angles, droppers, 1 x 10 gearing still stand- sure you can commute on it but it isnt the best "ONE BIKE" for our trails around Melbourne- they are really suited/ specific bikes rather than the best allrounders.
cicot
Likes Dirt
it depends if your trails around Melbourne include also Maldon, Kinglake, double balcks at Youies, Waburton and so on...
petertronica
Likes Dirt
I rode Buxton and Lake Mountain last Monday (3 days ago).
Buxton was in great nick. Great berms, jumps etc. You don't need that much fitness to ride there, and the trails are so groomed as to be practically tarmac. TBH these trails could be anywhere. (JD I felt quite out of place on my Spot!)
Lake Mountain was a completely different kettle of fish. I absolutely loved lake mountain, and given the 2 are so close I doubt I'll bother going back to Buxton any time soon, I'd rather just do an extra lap at lake mountain. Extremely rocky trails, with (I thought) very technical riding. A and B lines in some spots, though we both managed to ride everything. Much more fun on a longer travel dually than, say, a hard-tail. It's more like some of the riding up at Buller. We rode the Granite Grind trail with the 'Bypass' alternative, and also the Ridge loop extension. 'Bypass' was really really awesome. Ridge loop clearly hasn't been ridden much as it was quite fresh and not particularly hard packed, but I thought that it was great too, the ranger told us it had been re-routed after the fires so bits of it were still quite new. All in all, it's a much wilder experience than Buxton, you know you're in the mountains. Probably need a bit more fitness to ride Lake Mountain, but it's not as hilly as, say, Smiths Gully.
EDIT: Strava tells me we only rode 10km at Lake Mountain, still find that hard to believe..
Buxton was in great nick. Great berms, jumps etc. You don't need that much fitness to ride there, and the trails are so groomed as to be practically tarmac. TBH these trails could be anywhere. (JD I felt quite out of place on my Spot!)
Lake Mountain was a completely different kettle of fish. I absolutely loved lake mountain, and given the 2 are so close I doubt I'll bother going back to Buxton any time soon, I'd rather just do an extra lap at lake mountain. Extremely rocky trails, with (I thought) very technical riding. A and B lines in some spots, though we both managed to ride everything. Much more fun on a longer travel dually than, say, a hard-tail. It's more like some of the riding up at Buller. We rode the Granite Grind trail with the 'Bypass' alternative, and also the Ridge loop extension. 'Bypass' was really really awesome. Ridge loop clearly hasn't been ridden much as it was quite fresh and not particularly hard packed, but I thought that it was great too, the ranger told us it had been re-routed after the fires so bits of it were still quite new. All in all, it's a much wilder experience than Buxton, you know you're in the mountains. Probably need a bit more fitness to ride Lake Mountain, but it's not as hilly as, say, Smiths Gully.
EDIT: Strava tells me we only rode 10km at Lake Mountain, still find that hard to believe..
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Beej1
Senior Member
But no single person can decide what's best (or not best) for all the different types of riders out there.
Enduro bikes are most definitely not the best one-bikes for everyone. But as long as there's a hill to climb and bomb back down, they can be the best one-bike for someone.
Melbourne (specifically, it's surrounds - where the hills are) most certainly has terrain for this.
Duane
Likes Bikes and Dirt
I rode Buxton a month ago, I took my Enduro 29 (it's what it's called ffs, it's not just a bloody catchphrase) but I usually take it when riding somewhere new for the first time, and I had a crook foot and it's comfy. Next time back though I'll take the XTC hardtail and may take my 9yr old. It's a fun place with nothing knarly that my boy cannot handle as long as I let him have plenty of rest stops. It did seem a bit short (rode all of the tracks) for the drive out there so if I go without the youngling I'd like to incorporate lake mountain or if there is 3 or more riders maybe some shuttle runs of Narbethong.
Big JD
Wheel size expert
oh NP you really take things to heart
you missed the point NP and once again take it all wrong- i aint telling you what to ride- you can ride whatever you want but please dont tell me that the current crop of Enduro bikes are the ideal "one" bike. They are slack, heavy, over suspended, not very efficient and really only suit 2% of our local trails. Don't believe the marketing hype- there are much better options for our local trails. You ride a Nomad- good on you. You do some Gravity Enduro events- perfect. If you read any current MTB mag- everything is Enduro- we should all be on 5-6 inch 650bs with Enduro kit and googles- yet we have fuck all long gravity trails.
Where do you need a 6 inch bike around Melbourne? Youies- for shuttles every 4 months on two downhill trails- Cressy is not a downhill. Kinglake DH track. Other than a few stunts and jumps around the place- I cant see any local stuff that warrants long travel, slack and over weight bikes. Like I said you can commute on your 6 inch FS bike in the same way I can ride my CX bike at Lake Mountain- it aint ideal/ practical / will be good for 10% and out of its depth for the rest.
This is the Buxton thread and I was discussing bikes that suit the trails at Buxton. They are super smooth and very tame with the odd table jump and one foot log drop. Hardly the stuff of Euro Enduro yet every second person was on a 5-6 inch bike with Enduro helmet, block colours and enduro kit- I just dont buy it- thats all
you missed the point NP and once again take it all wrong- i aint telling you what to ride- you can ride whatever you want but please dont tell me that the current crop of Enduro bikes are the ideal "one" bike. They are slack, heavy, over suspended, not very efficient and really only suit 2% of our local trails. Don't believe the marketing hype- there are much better options for our local trails. You ride a Nomad- good on you. You do some Gravity Enduro events- perfect. If you read any current MTB mag- everything is Enduro- we should all be on 5-6 inch 650bs with Enduro kit and googles- yet we have fuck all long gravity trails.
Where do you need a 6 inch bike around Melbourne? Youies- for shuttles every 4 months on two downhill trails- Cressy is not a downhill. Kinglake DH track. Other than a few stunts and jumps around the place- I cant see any local stuff that warrants long travel, slack and over weight bikes. Like I said you can commute on your 6 inch FS bike in the same way I can ride my CX bike at Lake Mountain- it aint ideal/ practical / will be good for 10% and out of its depth for the rest.
This is the Buxton thread and I was discussing bikes that suit the trails at Buxton. They are super smooth and very tame with the odd table jump and one foot log drop. Hardly the stuff of Euro Enduro yet every second person was on a 5-6 inch bike with Enduro helmet, block colours and enduro kit- I just dont buy it- thats all