Bike Buller Festival

Wow what a great weekend at the recent Bike Buller Festival up at Mt Buller in Victoria. I heard some stories about the new StoneFly trail and just generally love the Alpine region and I was not to be disappointed with either!

The weather was a real bonus and so often can make an event (like the 2010 Fat Tyre Fest!). Apparently this was the first weekend all summer when it didn't rain! In fact it was perfect with 22 - 26 degree days and typical zero degree alpine nights!

Whilst the weather was great, the trails certainly were the icing on top! Fun, fast flowing trails not too technical but when you add speed, which is what these trails demand, then they become techi! There were innumerable berms, an awesome amount of switchbacks and a heap of flowing rollers and doubles to hammer! StoneFly was every thing it was cracked up to be with all of the above mentioned - multiplied!

It was a little daunting heading into StoneFly during the 50km race as I had just finished the climb to Mt Stirling, descended again and started the climb for the second time, when i bonked and Macca dropped me, so after a little picnic on the side of the trail I set off in pursuit! Arriving at the beginning of StoneFly a little shaky still, then I passed a guy walking his bike in the

opposite direction with a fair amount of Claret coming from his nose and face (1 love to StoneFly!) you could say I had a few mixed emotions! Time to concentrate was my first thought, but I was intrigued and after the AMB write up, I was loaded with expectation! I was not to be disappointed, with a fast, flowing, grin inducing descent! If it wasn't a race I would have turned around and done it again! maybe 6 or 7 times! The official at the bottom of this track must have been loving their job, with riders appearing at the end of the trail with mad grins on there faces!

I eventually caught Macca, I think he was cruising just waiting for me, which is what the weekend was all about; sure you want to push yourself, after all it is a race and you signed up for that intensity, but what's the point if you can't ride with ya mates which is so often what mountain biking is all about. You don't need an event to visit a mountain bike destination like Buller or Melrose, just grab a mate, a bike and come ride!

Hope to see you there! Come ride with us!