and constructed to keep much of the same
feel along with a new carpark and trailhead
facilities.
GETTING THERE
The park is located on Elizabeth Drive, Cecil
Hills. 5 minutes’ drive west from the M7, there’s
a large sign pointing towards the Olympic
Sport Shooting facility that the park shares
an entrance road with, on the eastern side of
the road you can’t miss the big car-park and
trailhead. It is possible to ride from the M7
cyclepath, at the moment this requires a bit of
a ride along the road but it is possible, this is
planned to improve with the M12’s introduction.
TECHNICAL NATURE
It’s definitely a pretty simple affair which makes
it perfect for beginner to intermediate riders.
Advanced riders can still have fun working out
where there’s options to turn the rollers into
double jumps and finding some creative lines
while keeping the pace high. The last section,
Descent and Home Run has been deliberately
designed to be a quick and fun descent back to
the car park with a few different step-down and
step-up jump options for the quick riders out
there.
One of the great design features is the kids’
loop integrated into the main loop, this stays
reasonably flat and non-technical for kids and
families to get out together on the trail.YOU’LL NEED
Besides a car or other way to access the trail
there’s not much else you’ll need besides your
bike, water bottle and helmet. A couple of
spare tubes, a pump and tools in the car might
be a good idea, as it’s a bit of a drive to the
nearest bike shops.DISTANCES
Within the network of trails, there’s a 3km,
6km and 12km loop to give a few different
options for either a longer loop, or one or
more shorter loops. Kids and families can
use the kids’ loop, this splits off the 3km loop
around the half way point, back towards the
carpark. Every one of the distance options
uses the first and last bit of trail from and to
the carpark, the difference being how quickly
you exit the network back onto the western-
heading descent and home run section for that
final bit of fun!LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Have a look at the weather forecast before
heading out – from September through to
March or so, temperatures can be scorchingly
hot. If it’s a hot day aim to ride early in the
morning to beat the heat, otherwise expect
to drink a lot of water. Watch out for snakes
in the heat of summer, they’ve been known to
frequent the area so if you do see one, leave it
well alone.
The Pump Track and Jump facility at the
carpark is a useful training facility to practice
pumping and jumping skills valuable on this
and any other trail.BEST TIME OF YEAR
The best time of year to visit is year-round,save for the hottestdaysofsummer.Being
Sydney it’s neverquitetoocoldtorideunlessit’s
raining, in whichcaseyoucan’trideitanyway!
In wet weather,besuretocheckthe“Wylde
MTB Trail” Facebookgroupforthelatestopen
or closed status.Intimesofrainordamptrails
the trail will beshuttoavoiddamagingthetrail
surface, and largefinesareenforceable,so
don’t be “thatguy”thatridesitinthewet.WHILE IN THE AREA
It’s a bit offthebeatentrackoftherestof
Sydney whichmakesitfeelabitlesshecticthan
most of Sydney.Forthefamilyorvisitors,it’sa
half hour drivewesttotheWarragambaDam
Visitor’s centreandthere’stheCalmsleyHill
City Farm andTreeTopsadventureparkoverthe
other side of theM7,partoftheWesternSydney
Parklands thatWyldebelongsto,checktheir
website for detailsofthevariousareasthat
form the Parklands.LOCAL BIKE SHOPS
The nearestwouldbeABCBikesatLiverpool,
around 15 minutes’drive.Furtherafieldthere’s
more shops atPenrith,Blacktown,Narellanand
Campbelltownbutyou’reupforatleastahalf
hour’s drive away.TECHNICAL FITNESS CROSS COUNTRY TRAIL ALLMTN DOWNHILL JUMPSPLACES THAT ROCKhttp://www.ambmag.com.au - 103