well a couple to big days riding at Mt Buller.
Day 1: Epic + Climb back up to Mt Buller on road: 58k | 2851 Metres of Climbing. The Epic alone takes in around 1500 Metres of Climbing.
Epic starts at Village and is an umbrella trail over existing ones through Buller and out to the Telephone Box Junction Cafe.
Stonefly: from 7k at 1400 metres elevation to 14k 1620 metres elevation, so that's 200 metres elevation gain in only 7ks of riding - with lots of up and down bits so probably more gain/loss, the single track section is tough going more a walking track with lots of tight corners, exposed rocks, just twisty technical stuff that's hard to get any speed on. There was a group of runners on the second day I did it and we swapped leads multiple times; me on downhills and them on the up hills. I probably needed to be more aggressive but when you still have plenty of climbing and ks to go, well this section could easily cause you to burn up too much energy. The area you ride through is stunning.
Telephone Box Junction Cafe 17k Mark:
TBJ: This place rocks, after a death grip of a fireroad descent from Stonefly you have a narrow single track line on a pretty rocky fireroad you arrive at the TBJ cafe. Really great place run by a pretty cool mountain bike guy who is a great bike mechanic, cook, trail builder and as I found out on day 2 has fantastic local knowledge of area, so precise that he was able to draw me a custom map to Mt Sterling and then Buller of all the single track I could take. Super friendly, awesome coffee, home made sausage rolls, biscuits. Plan to spend some time chillin out here and support this venture. There's big plans for Mt Stirling area including fat bike xc in winter. The owner can also organize accommodation and a shuttle service to TBJ and tours that aren't on any mtb map - so yes an alternative to going to Buller for accommodation and to start your riding.
TBJ onwards 1277 metres elevation to 1450 metres:
More climbing folks (with up and down bits for more elevation), nothing too hard just fireroad at around 6-7%, spin up the middle ring and enjoy the surroundings. This is the Epic after-all and a black run, not only technically but fitness wise as well. This is XC machine territory, although part of my group were reasonably fit but not that technical yet they managed to get by, bit slower of course.
And finally, yes finally you see the 'welcome' log. Here's the start of 7ks of the most flowing, expertly designed and built single track probably in Australia. It's fast, has perfect lines to offer speed and cornering at the maximum you (and bike) can handle. Everything supports max flow, surface is compacted dirt, some soft edges but overall a predictable and trusting medium to really push the limits. What can I say just ride, pedal, turn, get off the seat and work the line as much as you can, a few chances to pedal, this is one part of mountain biking where words can't describe the experience of how much fun it is. Nice launch off a log at end so get some air.
After that its some single track along the river to the road at Mirimbah - where you can get the shuttle or ride.
Day 2 was back down to TBJ again and after talking to owner he gave me a rough map to Mt Stirling summit and back to Buller via Stonefly descent and other single track closer to village.
37k | 1670 metres climbing
Started at Village on Epic, then Stonefly to TBJ. Mainly fireroad from TBJ before I hit a walking track climb that eventually got me to the summit of Mt Stirling, I was the only one out there folks, no bike tyres in the dirt, just horse shoes. Over Mt Stirling with majestic views of Buller and surrounding mountains and onto Stonefly descent, a fast wicked beast that had me dropping down steep chutes at high speed. No complaints here, had enough in tank to really enjoy it. Finally back to Buller and in a word stuffed but really couldn't be any better. I had my fair share of the gift that keeps on giving.
