It's in the Christmas Hills area north of Melbourne, one of the best places to ride and train close to Melbourne. This is principally because there are so many hills, but none of them are too long. Just a scheissen load of them!

The ride starts from the Rifle Range Park, which is on Buttermans Track (Melways map ref. 265 -J3) You'll see on the map that there is another way to get to the Rifle Range Park, but don't worry about this. The Buttermans Track entry gives you more tracks and a slightly longer ride. Once you have parked your car on the right hand side of Buttermans track, you'll see a fire access trail take off directly in front of you. Go down this for a short way and you'll cross a small river. Some very nice technical stuff here, as it is pretty chewed up by 4wd's. Go straight up the hill and follow the trail until you get to the top. Don't take the track that goes off to the left (100 m up). It's OK, but not as good as the way we're going to go. It's a tough climb, and a shitty way to start the ride, but definitely worth it on the way back down. Once at the top go left and follow the trail all the way along the top of he ridgeline. This trail links the Rifle Range Park and One Tree Hill Park. You'll see you sort of go through somebody's back yard just as you climb up the trail about 1 km along. I've ridden this heaps of times and never been told off so you shouldn't have a problem. You'll find the trail merges onto the driveway and you'll eventually find yourself on the One Tree Hill rd. Go across this and you'll get into the One Tree Hill Park.

There are gates that you go through with all the usual stuff about who can and cannot go in there. Nothing about MTBs so it's all good. Follow the 4WD track along the ridgeline and you'll get to the top of the hill where an old house once was. It's sort of a clearing with an incredible view of Melbourne. The trail gets a bit hard to find but just keep going in the same direction, but sort of stay to the right of the ridgeline a bit. There you'll see the 4wd track take off again. This goes for 500m until it starts to go down - very fast and very technical. There are tons of rocks and ruts to fly over. I had one of the biggest front end loses here ever. Dunno how I didn't crash! This descent goes all the way down to the track in the valley. There are some very cool switchbacks and hairpins on the way down. Great fun if you are racing your mates. Once at the bottom, go left. If you are short on time or fitness, go right and you'll climb all the way back up to the top at the Rifle Range rd. Once at the road go right again and head up the road for 500m until you get to the spot where you entered the One Tree Hill Park. Go left here. Then you head back.

But, forget this, 'cause you'll be missing some great terrain. So as I said, go left at the bottom on the Happy Valley track. Go all the way down this trail until you get to a fence. Jump this and you'll be on the Eltham Yarra Glen rd. Turn right and across the other side the road about 50m along you'll see a 4wd track take off to the left. Go up this and get ready to climb. It's a fairly tough climb with the surface being slippery because of loose rocks and twigs. Don't worry about getting lost. Just keep climbing. At the top is a fence line. Jump this and you'll find yourself in a clearing where a house used to be. There you'll see an old driveway going off to the left. Take this, it leads to Ridge Road, that is on the boundary of the Sugarloaf Dam. Once you hit he road, turn right and ride for about 1km to the intersection of Ridge and Simpson. Go across this intersection and keep going up Ridge rd. After the first climb, look out for the singe track that leads off to the right of the road. This is one of the best little single tracks anywhere. It follows Ridge Rd all the way back to the Eltham - Yarra Glen Rd. Watch out where is crosses Ridge rd - it continues on the other side. It's super fast and downhill almost the whole way. With logs to jump, and countless little switchbacks it is a great track to hone your single-track skills and have a laugh. At the Ridge Rd - Eltham /Yarra Glen Rd intersection go left and cross the bridge and then go right up Alma Rd. This is a made road that climbs up to your next turn off at Long Gull Rd, about 1 km away. Turn right at Long Gully and follow this dirt road all the way to the intersection of Broad Acres, Motschalls and Long Gully. Take Broad Acres and climb all the way to the top. It's a medium climb and has some great views. Turn right and keep going the intersection of Broad Acres and Clintons Rd until the intersection of Clintons and Spanish Gully. Turn left onto Spanish Gully and head down the extremely fast downhill until you hit Smiths Gully Rd. You'll love this down hill! At the intersection of Smith Gully Rd, turn right and head up to the intersection of Smiths Gully and One Tree Hill Rd which takes off the right. Go up One Tree Hill Rd all the way until you reach the One Tree Hill / Rifle Range intersection. You'll remember this because you have been here before. Go left and then head back the way you came at the start all the way back to your car.

I reckon you should photocopy the Melways is you're not familiar with the area. Take a copy of the ride review as well, and between the two, you should be able to find your way without any hassles.

It's a fantastic ride that takes around 2 and1/2 hours. It's got a bit of everything in it. You do have to be reasonably fit, but try it anyway - It's fantastic!

Call VICMTB for more details and watch out for the Sunday ride coming up soon. We're going to do this one.

Diets