Mountain Biking for the first time!

So we thought we would try mountain biking. The kids were keen… me, not so much. But we were in the best place to give it go, the Kosciousko National Park, with Thredbo mountain bike park being a prime spot for beginners like us!

Ok so let me start with the fact that we don’t own “state of the art bikes”… in fact our bikes didn’t cost more then $100 each from Kmart! We do love riding, along flat paths that is, and maybe every so often we have ridden through some dirt and puddles. So this was going to be interesting!

I had researched online and when we entered the town of Jindabyne we went straight to the National Parks office to gather more information and to grab a map. We decided to have a go at the Thredbo Valley track and turn around when we got to the 6km mark before it became too difficult.

The track promised some bridge crossings, in fact I had seen pics of the bridges and they were one of the reasons we decided to go there. The kids took off, quickly leaving me behind, as I was so cautious, even though the track was not too challenging. They did wait for me at the first bridge, thank goodness, and it was then that I realised that we had forgotten the walkie talkies that would have been so handy in this situation! We plodded along, smoothly riding down the hills and sometimes having to walk up others. The kids waited at each bridge for me too catch up before taking off on me again!

Every so often we waited on the edge of the track to let other, more experienced riders go by and when we met up with other families who were doing this for the first time we spoke about what we had tackled so far. I did fall once, on a right downhill turn on some soft sand. It wasn’t a bad fall, more like a ‘plonk’ although it was made more embarrassing by the experienced rider who easily cruised on past me (after checking I was ok). It seemed like in no time we reached the 6km mark near an amazing bridge that arched over the river. We made this our lunch stop and watched as the fly fisherman tried their luck at catching trout.

The journey home was not as easy, many more upward hills and so it did take us a bit longer and took a lot more energy out of us. We had been warned by some fellow riders who knew the trail that it wouldn’t be easy. We were also told that there was a track to the road at the 6km mark that might make it a bit easier, especially if we could arrange someone to pick you up…. not so easy when you are a single mum who’s is there by themselves!! Even though the journey back was harder it didn’t ruin the experience … it just made us so much more prouder of our achievement! And made the swim after at the Thredbo Leisure Centre even more sweeter!

What: Mountain Biking

Where: Thredbo Mountian Bike Park

How much: FREE!!! apart from National Park entry.

Need to know: The Thredbo Valley track does go for alot longer then we did but after the 6km we completed (before turning around) it seems to change to an intermediate track, make sure you take all safety precautions – wear a helmet, covered shoes, take water / food and tell someone where you are going, if you have smaller children (mine are 12 and 9) and are first timers maybe try a loop track like Pipline path, the Thredbo Valley track is also used for hiking so be aware of walkers, Take your walkie Talkies!!!! (we have these ones.) so that when your kids take off, you can contact them!

Have you ever mountain biked?? Any tips you want to share with beginners? Please comment below… and get out there and give it a go!

Oh and by the way…. my son wants to get a “better” bike for his birthday! I think he is hooked!

Safe Travels

Kerrie

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