The Brackenbury - Creswick, Vic - 22nd 23rd October

D

drfuentes

Likes Dirt
Come to Creswick in the goldfields for a full weekend of events.

The Creswick community are getting behind trails. We are working with Parks, DSE and council to bring a whole new network built around the awesome Great Divide Trail in the next two years.

Committee for Creswick and the Ballarat- Sebastopol cycling club are teaming up for our first "Brackenbury" this October.

A three stage Road race for shaven, Fun run and half marathon for the runners and even Cyclocross for everyone.

But the best is for the mtb's.

All-day Saturday from Hammon park in the centre of town there will be Demo bikes, escorted social trail rides through our favourite trails, mtb coaching for the kids, cyclocross and cowbells.

On the Sunday is the Brackenbury Mtb Epic. We have a 30km course with the lot. One lap or two. Pineapple optional.

The entry website will be hosted at www.thebrackenbury.com.au going live soon
check out www.creswicktrails.com
and of course BSCC is at www.cyclingballarat.com.au

Put it in the diary 22nd 23rd october and pack the kids, the dog and mother in law for a huge weekend.

For more information about accomodation check out www.creswick.net

Check back weekly as we announce sponsors and the course map

This is going to be one of those events where you will look back and say "I was at the first Brackenbury"
 
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uhuforrest

uhuforrest

Likes Dirt
drfuentes said:
Come to Creswick in the goldfields for a full weekend of events.

The Creswick community are getting behind trails. We are working with Parks, DSE and council to bring a whole new network built around the awesome Great Divide Trail in the next two years.

Committee for Creswick and the Ballarat- Sebastopol cycling club are teaming up for our first "Brackenbury" this October.

A three stage Road race for shaven, Fun run and half marathon for the runners and even Cyclocross for everyone.

But the best is for the mtb's.

All-day Saturday from Hammon park in the centre of town there will be Demo bikes, escorted social trail rides through our favourite trails, mtb coaching for the kids, cyclocross and cowbells.

On the Sunday is the Brackenbury Mtb Epic. We have a 30km course with the lot. One lap or two. Pineapple optional.

The entry website will be hosted at www.thebrackenbury.com.au going live soon
check out www.creswicktrails.com
and of course BSCC is at www.cyclingballarat.com.au

Put it in the diary 22nd 23rd october and pack the kids, the dog and mother in law for a huge weekend.

For more information about accomodation check out www.creswick.net.au

Check back weekly as we announce sponsors and the course map

This is going to be one of those events where you will look back and say "I was at the first Brackenbury"
Click to expand...
I spoke to one of the ladies organising this last week-end.

Although she knew very little about MTB'ing, she was very interested in the process we use working with local government and land managers.

Could I suggest as many of you as possible show up for this event to show the Creswick community how much support is out there for MTB events.

It will go a long way to help the organising committee with their work to improve access to local MTB trails, and may even result in the building of more single track around the town.

Regards

Roland
 
S

Spoka

Likes Bikes
get on it

Yes the Creswick Community are right behind MTB so look for a friendly and welcoming weekend. Heaps of activities for all! Just over an hour away from the centre of Melbourne and 15 mins from Ballarat so easy to get to and plenty of options to stay and make a weekend of it.
With a big turn out the plan for Creswick Trails will only gain momentum.
Course is has a few fun hills, some nice scenery, fast fire trails and some quality single track to top it off.
Look forward to seeing a big turnout
 
D

drfuentes

Likes Dirt
Race entry set at $55

Wow lots happening as we gear up to bring you a new race. Congratulations to the Gippsland crew on delivering a great race this last weekend and of course to our own Phil Orr for winning it :)

The budget is set and race entry is only $55. And that includes all the festival events all day Saturday. Bargain.

Even means you could afford to do the Surfcoast on the Saturday on Creswick on the sunday. Might miss work Monday though!

Check out the June AMB article on the GDT where it says "the best singletrack is north of Creswick"

website going live soon
 
solo

solo

Likes Dirt
I'm there good to see another local event and i like the idea of a festival type atmosphere incorporating both road and mtb
cressie's a good spot for it i have rode the gdt there and it has great potential can't wait
 
floody

floody

Wheel size expert
Back in the day, they ran an mtb event alongside the Brackenbury Classic run. I'm talking mid-late 90s. I can remember getting lost (misread a turn off and continued climbing a monster hill for about 10 minutes!) and still took out junior, haha.

I think it was 23.5km? This was a long time ago. I'm pretty sure I remember it taking in a lot of forestry, trails out the back of Koala Park etc.
 
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S

Spoka

Likes Bikes
Any word on whether this event is still going? I heard a rumor that Parks won't let bikes on any single track, including sections of the "bike friendly" Great Dividing Trail. Is this correct?
 
uhuforrest

uhuforrest

Likes Dirt
drfuentes said:
Yes we have struck a huge roadblock in the form of the local parks ranger who has a "no singletrail" stance. We understand that this is nots Parks vic policy and that Parks vic are working with lots of clubs around the state to get things happening and get users out on the trails.

We have not given up and hope to show everyone what a great place to ride Creswick is. The main thrust of this weekend was to be community flood recovery project. So please keep it in your diary.

If nothing else we will have a huge social ride!
Click to expand...
Refer to later posts :clap2:

Regards

Roland
 
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D

drfuentes

Likes Dirt
On a positive note the road race, event village and mtb social and demos on the Saturday are all confirmed

the Brackenbury website has been witheld for the above reason

Awesome news : We are going to have frisbee (disc for the enthusiasts) tournament at the event central

Another activity for the kids whilst you are out on the bike
 
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solo

solo

Likes Dirt
Difficult to understand how a parks ranger 's personal opinion can clash with their employers policy and hold back what could have been a fantastic event and bring much needed
money to their local area very very disappointing!!!
as someone stated the gdt is bike friendly so how can above mentioned ranger not agree to let people ride on it ?
so will the social ride be all fire road???
 
D

drfuentes

Likes Dirt
Creswick has heaps of good trails. We hope to have guided trail rides leaving Hammon park event central every two hours on the saturday for beginners intermediates and advanced riders. We will also have skills sessions with some mtb coaches. We have plans for cyclocross and short course mtb races on council reserve along Creswick creek too.

The organisers are concious that we only have one chance to make a first impression with the Brackenbury race and will not compromise having a quality, safe, entertaining, scenic trail for our event loop.

Stay tuned
 
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Y

Yerg

Squid
Been digging around

Found the about the be launched web site ... looking good

The issue with ParksVic is a concern. Given the support from Ted and Peter that you guys are getting I'd make a call and get the polys to sort things asap.
See the runners are really keen as well so it should be a great weekend.

Will see if I can find out when the site and registrations is able to be viewed publicly
 
D

drfuentes

Likes Dirt
Last night the commitee for Creswick and local Parks Rangers were able to work toward an agreement that will allow us to have an event this year. With lots of great trail.:clap2:

So KEEP PLANNING TO COME TO CRESWICK

As soon as we can we will post all the good info

thanks for being patient
 
D

drfuentes

Likes Dirt
here is what we are working towards

Brackenbury Mountain Epic

Sleep in, enjoy your buffet breakfast, it’s Sunday after all! Let those roadies go out and smash themselves over the Great Divide while you stay warm and dry. For now...
Then roll down to the Hammon Park: the scene of yesterday’s festivities. The coffee van will still be there for a morning heart-starter.
Today is an auspicious occasion: the inaugural Brackenbury Mountain Epic. Creswick has hosted 23 Brackenbury fun runs; but this is new. And it’s epic! And you and I know that mountain biking is where it’s really at!
The race briefing is at 10.20am and the mass start at 10.30am. We head straight into the historic School of Forestry. This Melbourne University Campus is one of Australia’s oldest and celebrates the work of John LaGerche who came to the district in the 1880s as a park warden. The forests had been gutted by the gold rush and the soil was stripped away. Over the next 20 years LaGerche planted over 100,000 trees!
You’ll need that fresh O2 in your lungs because we have a killer hill to sort out the field.
Now we head into the ParksVic LaGerche reserve and ride in the shade of the 130 year old oaks and redwoods. Many have been damaged by the recent drought, and then the floods which ran 2m deep through here only this year! While you’re gasping, spare a thought for the people of Creswick who’ve had their homes flooded not once but twice and who you support by riding this epic. It’s a win: win!
Then it’s out onto forestry roads and time to settle into position and grab a drink. Soon enough we’re back into native forest where you should look out for echidnas, grey kangaroos and swamp wallabies. We ride on a mix of firetracks before a fast descent back down Sawpit Gully.
Then another climb and descent to the edge of St Georges Lake – pristine enough for platypus to hide and you’re only an hour and a half from Melbourne. At the back of the dam we join the iconic Great Divide Trail (GDT). Then we ride sweet single track carved into the hill above the creek. And when we say ‘sweet single track’ we mean sweet enough to make any self-respecting New Zealander weep with envy. Just you wait!
The GDT heads alongside the pines again then, to pass the ruins of W.G. Spence’s hut. Spence was a prominent unionist in the 1890s and foundation member of the Australian Labor Party. Enjoy the winding climb up to Davey Road, then skirt the edge of the forest and head down, down, down to cross the creek under some magnificent tall stringybarks peppered with some white-trunked Manna gums, manna from heaven for koalas. Watch out for Drop Bears.
We’re thrilled to have access to the water reserve around the head of Cosgrave’s reservoir. Huge thanks to Central Highlands Water, we hope they have the bridge in, or we’ll all get wet feet crossing Adekate Creek. Storms over the summer smashed the reserve here - check it out. Then more sweet single track through the pines and out along the dam to the third marshalling point. Fuel up on your gels before we swing low along more sweet single track coming for to carry us home.
And now we’re following a water race made by the Eaton brothers in the gold rush. Then, water was delivered from the huge earthen dam to thirsty miners and even thirstier gold cradles. At a profit, of course. When the dam burst 50 years later Creswick flooded.
In homage to those tough days gone by, this track is technical and rocky. It’ll test your skills and fortitude, but how is the flow? Holler and hoot! It’s all good.
When you are spat out back out at St George’s Lake you’ll know you’re near the cheers of family and friends. Just how could you better spend your Sunday? You tell us – but this is how we’ll be spending ours.
Epic? Not until you have done another lap.
Oh yeah. But you’ll be sorry when it’s over. And a tiny bit relieved. :clap2:
 
solo

solo

Likes Dirt
thats great news that the mtb event is on again
glad to see common sense prevailed in the end and parks saw the light
once they see what a great event it turns out to be and the positive response from riders and that we don't wreck trails
like mere mortals think we do then i am sure this will be a event that continues for many years
I will be doing everything i can to keep that day free
hope to see lots of likeminded mtber's there
 
D

drfuentes

Likes Dirt
Accomodation

Yes Mrs h
I would come up on the Friday and make a weekend of it
Saturday morning the road race starts at 9am
And the MTB social rides are planned to kick off at ten and every couple of hours thereafter.

Remember that the ultimate frisbee comp on Sunday is predicted to atract 500 so accomodation will be booking up

www.creswick.net is the community go to page.
 
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