The Onslow Dirt Babies (ODB’s) meet each Saturday morning at 8:30am (2:30pm on OTB Time Trial days) at various mountain bike track locations around the region 

The introduction of more user friendly and easily accessible mountain bike tracks in Wellington have rekindled the rush of riding on wonderful purpose built single tracks without the white knuckled danger of years gone by. Check out some photos of recent rides

The aim is to offer an alternative to compliment the parent Onslow Tar Babies riding group for such events as Lake Taupo Mountain Bike Challenge on the same day as the 160km road ride, or simply an alternative to keep your interest in cycling fresh on a weekly basis. Other multi day away trips will also be planned.

We have a very simple ethos.

• Single Track is the aim.
• Four Wheel Drive track is considered “Emergency Exit Only”
• Tar Seal is for Sunday unless it’s on the way to get our coffee.
• We stick together, fastest first, slowest second last, with an experienced rider sweeping up.
• Use Easy and Intermediate Tracks. Advanced Tracks can be by individual or group arrangement.
• Regular regrouping at track intersections.
• Riders must be competent and self-sufficient (tubes, tools, hydration, food, etc.).
• You don’t mind being called Dirty.

Keep an eye out on the main OTB web site training schedule for where each ride will be and any emails to the wider group from Dirty Frank or Dirty Al.

The story so far.

Around 10 Tar Babies met at Wainui Mountain Bike Park in late February. Some of us were experienced mountain bikers, some of us thought we were experienced mountain bikers, and some thought that mountain biking involved riding along groomed four wheel drive tracks. A quick loop of the Wetlands Track reinforced all of that, but as soon as we hit the single tracks the sudden realisation that going uphill on narrow tracks with the odd switchback and tree root thrown in was actually a little bit different. The earlier chatter and banter soon dissipated into a series of more colourful comments and the odd scream.  Fortunately none were in anguish and by the end of the ride everyone had a stupid grin on their face.

We were all (well, nearly all) hooked. The bikes that had been gathering dust in the garage suddenly had purpose again. We were heading back to the dark side. The coffee afterwards solidified the enthusiasm and a plan to ride a different single track every week began to take shape.

The following week Polhill Reseve on Aro Street was the meeting place. Apart from having wonderful stunning bush and relatively easy tracks it also had great coffee and cakes nearby. Once again the core of people who’d survived the first week were there determined to enjoy themselves. The banter was back, and there were less screams than the previous week.

The post ride coffee consisted of some tall tales of getting air (the front tyre may have left the ground… just) and close calls with trees, and deciding where to go next week. Progress!

Since then there has been a ride every weekend (even if I did ride solo on one wettish day). There have been a few falls, bruises and cuts, but there is a hard core that keeps coming back for more. Some have come along and decided it’s not for them never to be seen again, which is probably some relief to the local flora.

Makara Peak, Wrights Hill, Polhill and Wainui are the most frequent venues with a great selection of tracks for all abilities and some variety offered by simply riding different track combos. The weather also changes things, dirt one week and mud the next.

We’ve a wide range of rider skill and experience on the rides, everything from Karapoti Classic Veterans to Age Group National Champions to Weekend Warriors to Four Wheel Drive Track Newbies. The great thing is the better riders are there to coax the less experienced ones with great tips and advice.

We ride Hard tails, Soft tails, Twenty-Nniners, Twenty-Sixers, and the one in between, use SPDs, Flatties, Dropper posts, Tubeless, and try and avoid pinch flats and face plants. We even try and be a bit Gnarly although Andrew Sander is the definitely the gnarliest.

We are all dirty. We are the Onslow Dirt Babies.

Allan Moss