Please recommend off road cycling track in Auckland

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Please recommend off road cycling track in Auckland

kobiak

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#262023 30-Dec-2019 20:30

Hi guys, I'm sure there are off road cyclist on geekzone.

Would anyone recommend free off road track/trail/path to the beginner (myself), something that is 2-3 hrs long with good scenery to test my ability to mountain bike! I've got 'el cheapo' full suspension mountain bike and thought maybe long bay is suitable? or there are better options.

I googled couple mountain bike parks, but these are not free (woops). Is Sanders Reserve a better option?

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quickymart

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#2383126 30-Dec-2019 21:05

Someone I know used to go cycling out somewhere near Riverhead or Woodhill (I can't remember which). Not sure if they were free or not, but he used to go quite often.

Senecio

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#2383142 30-Dec-2019 21:44

Forget Sanders Reserve. You could ride around it twice in 20mins let alone 2-3 hrs.

Riverhead would be better for longer rides and its free but I would strongly recommend that you stump up the $15 to go to Woodhill for the day. Its really not a lot of money and its a great venue. The benefit of going there is if you get into any trouble there's plenty of experienced rider and staff around to help you.

xpd

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#2383165 30-Dec-2019 23:41

How cheap is "cheapo" ? I had a "cheapo" full suspension bike a few years back... lets just say it didnt survive Woodhill - and that was on fairly easy grade tracks.

XPD / Gavin

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kobiak

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#2383175 31-Dec-2019 06:58

@senecio thank you. I will try Riverhead

@xpd this https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/diamondback-mason-27.5in-alloy-dual-suspension-mtb-green-box-508/R2550001.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_t2c1vfd5gIVBCUrCh0CTA6aEAQYAyABEgKnK_D_BwE

I don't want to do downhill at this stage. I want to cycle for some views and maybe a little adventures just to get me out of the house for few hours. I daily commute to work in ebike, so tired of the city views haha

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clevedon

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#2383647 1-Jan-2020 13:28

kobiak: @senecio thank you. I will try Riverhead

@xpd this https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/diamondback-mason-27.5in-alloy-dual-suspension-mtb-green-box-508/R2550001.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_t2c1vfd5gIVBCUrCh0CTA6aEAQYAyABEgKnK_D_BwE

I don't want to do downhill at this stage. I want to cycle for some views and maybe a little adventures just to get me out of the house for few hours. I daily commute to work in ebike, so tired of the city views haha

The dams in the Hunua Ranges have massive amounts of roads and trails for bikes and horses, and a few downhill tracks.

scuwp

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#2383710 1-Jan-2020 19:35

Congrats on the bike purchase. Once you figure out what sort of riding you want to do I think you would find more enjoyment doing an upgrade from a proper bike store sooner rather than later. Good gear makes a huge difference. Good secondhand markets also as an alternative, check out FB 'NZ Mountain Bike Sales' for one.

Woodhill really is the go-to place locally. Hunua is the other alternative for just tracks to ride. Plenty of trail options out of town, particularly Rotorua/Taupo area...it's a mountain bike paradise.

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kobiak

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#2383726 1-Jan-2020 20:06

Great. Thanks guys.

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kobiak

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#2384263 2-Jan-2020 16:09

Oh my Lord. I was too optimistic about 2-3hrs mountain biking.

I visited Riverhead forest tracks today. I was done after 50 mins! Got on easy track to the right and 2 intermediate on the way back. Hills just killed me on the way up. Going downhill was fun, but I was too scared to go full speed haha

I will be back for sure.

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Senecio

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#2384294 2-Jan-2020 17:50

Riverhead really is great place for mountain biking. Make sure you download the Trailforks app for your phone. It makes it a breeze to navigate all the different trails.

sidefx

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#2386434 7-Jan-2020 09:20

Totara park is great and free (and not sure where you are but more convenient for me than riverhead or woodhill)

There's some small trails in arch hill reserve too which you can easily cycle to using the northwestern cycleway - haven't been for a while so not sure what current condition is.

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kobiak

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#2386442 7-Jan-2020 09:41

@sidefx I'm west aucklander so anything out there is better, but thank you, I might give it a shot too.

I wonder if anyone did Te Arai/Mangawhai cycling up north?

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#2386899 7-Jan-2020 18:06

kobiak: Oh my Lord. I was too optimistic about 2-3hrs mountain biking.

I visited Riverhead forest tracks today. I was done after 50 mins! Got on easy track to the right and 2 intermediate on the way back. Hills just killed me on the way up. Going downhill was fun, but I was too scared to go full speed haha

I will be back for sure.

Was that the West Coast Rider's Club part of Riverhead?
I'd check out Totara Park. I've never ridden there, but my partner does a bit to stretch her legs.

Senecio

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#2386902 7-Jan-2020 18:12

I was out at the West Cost Riders section on Sunday for the first time. There's some very technical trails out there!