I'm pretty sure its not just us thinking how great it would be to combine stunning trails, a bunch of friends and a dip in the ocean afterwards during this hot spell! Just makes us even keener for Dragon Trail MTB - 3 Day XC MTB in the Tasmanian Wilderness.
Big Hill Events Director Rohin Adams will be heading over to be part of this events first run. And his not alone. We are told by the oranisers they have over 300 entered so far with less than 100 spots to go!!
Way back when.. I'd rather be clunkering too.
Les magazines VTT du siècle dernier
1979 Californie Reportage sur la course "Repack" pour l'émission Evening MagazineCan you help the Bendigo MTB club. YES. More voices will certainly help.
To the Bendigo mountain biking community,
It is with great sadness in our hearts that today we are announcing that the Bendigo Golden Triangle Epic – the mountain bike club's biggest and most successful event of the year, and one of the country's most-loved mountain bike races for the past ten years – appears unlikely to return for 2020.
The Bendigo Mountain Bike Club (BMBC) was recently made aware of new and highly restrictive permit conditions that Parks Victoria wishes to inflict on the Golden Triangle Epic. How restrictive? Well, if we were to pursue the permit application, the club would be forced to remediate (i.e; permanently close) almost all of the singletrack that we would be utilising for the race course.
You read that correctly - we would be forced to permanently close those trails.
We are bitterly disappointed with Parks Victoria's decision to impose these unworkable conditions, which will effectively bring to an end one of the most popular and successful events for the Bendigo cycling community. Of course we do not wish to close any trails just to run an event, and so we have made the difficult decision not to apply for a permit and will not be running the Golden Triangle Epic next year.
Please understand that is a decision that has not been made lightly. However, it was one that we as a club have made for the benefit of the thousands of mountain bikers and other recreational uses, including hikers, dog walkers and trail runners, who utilise and enjoy our local trail network.
While we are absolutely gutted that the Epic is unlikely to return for 2020, and while we are frustrated with Park Victoria's inability to recognise and work with our rapidly growing mountain biking community, ultimately our long term goal remains. And this is to develop and implement formalised trail networks for mountain biking and recreational access in the Greater Bendigo region.
As a club, we want to continue to support and foster the mountain biking community in Bendigo. We want to bring new riders into the sport. We want to get kids and adults out of the house, away from their TVs, iPads and phones, and into the outdoors. We want to provide more opportunities for people to be healthy and active, and engaged with our beautiful environment. We want to support adventure tourism, and bring people to the Goldfields to inject valuable dollars into our local economy.
To do this, we need the infrastructure to support our already large, but growing mountain biking community. We need to formalise a sustainable trail network - a trail network that is available for all riders of all backgrounds and ages, for locals and for out-of-towners, whether they race competitively or ride just for fun.
If you feel the same way as us, then we could really do with your help. Whether you're a club member or just a casual rider, or perhaps someone who's raced the Epic over the past ten years, we want to make your voice heard, so here are four ways you can help us right now;
1. Become a member of the club. We have just introduced a brand new Lifetime Supporter membership ($5 for singles, $10 for families), which is all about building our numbers so that those in power stand up and take notice. This is the perfect opportunity for you and your family to sign up and help grow our collective voice. Sign up here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bendigo-mountain-bike-club-lifetime-supporter-membership-tickets-85394058929. You can also join the BMBC by joining up through MTBA and showing your support to broader MTB advocacy.
2. Send an email. We’ve created a draft letter for you to send directly to the responsible minister and the CEO of Parks Victoria. This letter will be emailed to all club members, including all those who sign up as Lifetime Supporters. Otherwise email us via info@mtbbendigo.com and we can send the letter template to you directly. We need as many of you as possible to voice your concerns regarding Parks Victoria's highly restrictive permit conditions and the complete disregard for the growing Bendigo mountain biking community. Additionally, contact your local members of parliament and local government councillors - see below for all the relevant contact email addresses and phone numbers.
3. Sign our online petition. In the New Year, the BMBC will be launching an online petition that will encourage mountain bikers, both locally and further afield, to support the formalisation of mountain biking trails in Bendigo. Stay tuned for a big announcement on this one.
4. Spread the word. Share this post and keep your mountain biking friends and family in the loop. Encourage them to sign up as a Lifetime Supporter - the bigger our numbers, the stronger we are 💪
Once again, we are gutted that we have been forced into this position. But with your help, we believe we have the collective power to turn this around and make a difference for us all. If you have any queries please contact our club by email info@mtbbendigo.com.
Yours faithfully,
The Bendigo Mountain Bike Club
---------------------------------------------
*Parks Victoria*
Matthew Jackson
CEO Parks Victoria
ceo@parks.vic.gov.au
03 8627 4699
---------------------------------------------
*Members of Parliament*
The Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio
MP Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change
lily.dambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au
(03) 9422 5171
The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP
jacinta.allan@parliament.vic.gov.au
(03) 5443 2144
The Hon. Maree Edwards MP
maree.edwards@parliament.vic.gov.au
(03) 5410 2444
The Hon. Lisa Chesters MP
Lisa.Chesters.MP@aph.gov.au
(03) 5443 9055
---------------------------------------------
*Bendigo Councillors*
Eppalock Ward
George Flack: g.flack@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0429 083 993
Susie Hawke: s.hawke@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0427 462 358
Mayor Margaret O'Rourke: m.orourke@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0429 061 096
Lockwood Ward
Jennifer Alden: j.alden@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0499 005 735
Matt Emond: m.emond@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0499 007 473
Deputy Mayor Rod Fyffe: r.fyffe@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0419 874 015
Whipstick Ward
Andrea Metcalf: a.metcalf@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0499 009 096
James Williams: j.williams@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0427 211 677
Malcolm Pethybridge: m.pethybridge@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0427 376 983
It is with great sadness in our hearts that today we are announcing that the Bendigo Golden Triangle Epic – the mountain bike club's biggest and most successful event of the year, and one of the country's most-loved mountain bike races for the past ten years – appears unlikely to return for 2020.
The Bendigo Mountain Bike Club (BMBC) was recently made aware of new and highly restrictive permit conditions that Parks Victoria wishes to inflict on the Golden Triangle Epic. How restrictive? Well, if we were to pursue the permit application, the club would be forced to remediate (i.e; permanently close) almost all of the singletrack that we would be utilising for the race course.
You read that correctly - we would be forced to permanently close those trails.
We are bitterly disappointed with Parks Victoria's decision to impose these unworkable conditions, which will effectively bring to an end one of the most popular and successful events for the Bendigo cycling community. Of course we do not wish to close any trails just to run an event, and so we have made the difficult decision not to apply for a permit and will not be running the Golden Triangle Epic next year.
Please understand that is a decision that has not been made lightly. However, it was one that we as a club have made for the benefit of the thousands of mountain bikers and other recreational uses, including hikers, dog walkers and trail runners, who utilise and enjoy our local trail network.
While we are absolutely gutted that the Epic is unlikely to return for 2020, and while we are frustrated with Park Victoria's inability to recognise and work with our rapidly growing mountain biking community, ultimately our long term goal remains. And this is to develop and implement formalised trail networks for mountain biking and recreational access in the Greater Bendigo region.
As a club, we want to continue to support and foster the mountain biking community in Bendigo. We want to bring new riders into the sport. We want to get kids and adults out of the house, away from their TVs, iPads and phones, and into the outdoors. We want to provide more opportunities for people to be healthy and active, and engaged with our beautiful environment. We want to support adventure tourism, and bring people to the Goldfields to inject valuable dollars into our local economy.
To do this, we need the infrastructure to support our already large, but growing mountain biking community. We need to formalise a sustainable trail network - a trail network that is available for all riders of all backgrounds and ages, for locals and for out-of-towners, whether they race competitively or ride just for fun.
If you feel the same way as us, then we could really do with your help. Whether you're a club member or just a casual rider, or perhaps someone who's raced the Epic over the past ten years, we want to make your voice heard, so here are four ways you can help us right now;
1. Become a member of the club. We have just introduced a brand new Lifetime Supporter membership ($5 for singles, $10 for families), which is all about building our numbers so that those in power stand up and take notice. This is the perfect opportunity for you and your family to sign up and help grow our collective voice. Sign up here: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bendigo-mountain-bike-club-lifetime-supporter-membership-tickets-85394058929. You can also join the BMBC by joining up through MTBA and showing your support to broader MTB advocacy.
2. Send an email. We’ve created a draft letter for you to send directly to the responsible minister and the CEO of Parks Victoria. This letter will be emailed to all club members, including all those who sign up as Lifetime Supporters. Otherwise email us via info@mtbbendigo.com and we can send the letter template to you directly. We need as many of you as possible to voice your concerns regarding Parks Victoria's highly restrictive permit conditions and the complete disregard for the growing Bendigo mountain biking community. Additionally, contact your local members of parliament and local government councillors - see below for all the relevant contact email addresses and phone numbers.
3. Sign our online petition. In the New Year, the BMBC will be launching an online petition that will encourage mountain bikers, both locally and further afield, to support the formalisation of mountain biking trails in Bendigo. Stay tuned for a big announcement on this one.
4. Spread the word. Share this post and keep your mountain biking friends and family in the loop. Encourage them to sign up as a Lifetime Supporter - the bigger our numbers, the stronger we are 💪
Once again, we are gutted that we have been forced into this position. But with your help, we believe we have the collective power to turn this around and make a difference for us all. If you have any queries please contact our club by email info@mtbbendigo.com.
Yours faithfully,
The Bendigo Mountain Bike Club
---------------------------------------------
*Parks Victoria*
Matthew Jackson
CEO Parks Victoria
ceo@parks.vic.gov.au
03 8627 4699
---------------------------------------------
*Members of Parliament*
The Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio
MP Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change
lily.dambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au
(03) 9422 5171
The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP
jacinta.allan@parliament.vic.gov.au
(03) 5443 2144
The Hon. Maree Edwards MP
maree.edwards@parliament.vic.gov.au
(03) 5410 2444
The Hon. Lisa Chesters MP
Lisa.Chesters.MP@aph.gov.au
(03) 5443 9055
---------------------------------------------
*Bendigo Councillors*
Eppalock Ward
George Flack: g.flack@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0429 083 993
Susie Hawke: s.hawke@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0427 462 358
Mayor Margaret O'Rourke: m.orourke@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0429 061 096
Lockwood Ward
Jennifer Alden: j.alden@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0499 005 735
Matt Emond: m.emond@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0499 007 473
Deputy Mayor Rod Fyffe: r.fyffe@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0419 874 015
Whipstick Ward
Andrea Metcalf: a.metcalf@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0499 009 096
James Williams: j.williams@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0427 211 677
Malcolm Pethybridge: m.pethybridge@bendigo.vic.gov.au / 0427 376 983
At Bella Buxton and Buxton Bootcamp we took the environmental approach and instead of Medals gave out custom wrapped Chocolate bars by the Amazing social enterprise Mildura Chocolate Company.
But some of you may not have know what to do with them so we made this quick instructional video.
You probably all got Step 4 sorted right 😉
