Joined: Dec 25, 2001 Posts: 32,917 Location: Liberty City
Posted: Mon 25/Jun/07 11:50am Post subject: Where/ What Are Fosters Clearing And Whites Bay Loop?
Are they good rides? Do they have spanky singletrack? If Wakamarina makes me pitch trouser tents and giggle until I dribble down my chin will I love them?
Weeeeeell big T, you know when you do Wakamarina, and you start at the Onamalutu carpark end, and about an hour in, you get to a clearing?
Thats Fosters Clearing.
Fosters hut is about 10 minutes up the track that breaks off from there.
The Whites Bay loop track starts from the hill above Rarangi (the last headland on the northern side of the Wairau valley) and the track goes up towards Mt Robertson. I've never ridden the whole loop, as the start of it is a pretty brutal climb, but I have pushed up a ways and ridden back down. The lower part of the track says no bikes, but I've been told by Greg Leov at the local MTB club that no-one seems to care about that sign, and it gets more bike than foot traffic anyway
One of these days I'll have to bully someone into doing the whole thing with me..
Joined: Mar 30, 2006 Posts: 1,465 Location: dodging bullets
Posted: Mon 23/Jul/07 3:12pm Post subject:
Butch wrote:
Weeeeeell big T, you know when you do Wakamarina, and you start at the Onamalutu carpark end, and about an hour in, you get to a clearing?
Thats Fosters Clearing.
Fosters hut is about 10 minutes up the track that breaks off from there.
The Whites Bay loop track starts from the hill above Rarangi (the last headland on the northern side of the Wairau valley) and the track goes up towards Mt Robertson. I've never ridden the whole loop, as the start of it is a pretty brutal climb, but I have pushed up a ways and ridden back down. The lower part of the track says no bikes, but I've been told by Greg Leov at the local MTB club that no-one seems to care about that sign, and it gets more bike than foot traffic anyway
One of these days I'll have to bully someone into doing the whole thing with me..
Hi T and Butch,
Me and mate Simon ride these trails regulary(usually alternate weekends) and just rode Fosters with Butch yesterday!!
As above ,Fosters is the first quarter to third of the Ono-Waka ride ,just over 1 hour up, mostly granny but once you get to the clearing and turn around and come the way back, you get aroung 20-25minutes of the sweetest flowy single track.You can hit some pretty high speeds on this track and get plenty air off some small kickers.
Whites Bay Loop is probably my fav..but many make the mistake of attack from the wrong side, you need to park you wagon down in Whites Bay itself ,then ride out up the track on Northern side (25min) then you hit the road ,head Nth (3min) you will then see the DOC sign pointing up the hill "Whites Bay Loop" this is a fire road (also DH track)which you ride(20 min) its pretty steep so some pushing is required.Fire road ends and track starts.
This part of the track is very steep and pretty much requires pushing most of way (40min max) you then get to the top of the Ridgeline, Doc Signage left to top of Mt Robertson or Right down the southern side of the Whites Bay Loop...
This is the pay-off, the money shot ... the track has everything, roots,clay,rock gardens,steepness, off camber turns but this then changes into open flowy track...
I recommend knee/shin guards in you bag and strap them on at the top....just in case.
If your looking at coming down,and dont mind couple of locals to come along(and guide)
PM me...always ready to ride
Joined: Mar 30, 2006 Posts: 1,465 Location: dodging bullets
Posted: Mon 23/Jul/07 4:46pm Post subject:
inzane wrote:
I will give you guys a yell next time i am heading up to ride these trails...
What are the trail conditions like at the moment?? Everything has turned to slush here in Canty...
Gidday,
Track up to Fosters was a bit slushy in parts but nothing to worry about...If your planning going right through to wakamarina it could be a different story, as that side of the range seems to get alot more rain, and I havent been through since Oct/Nov..
Mind you once your on the track you just have to adjust to the conditions.
WBL we rode weekend before last, slippery on the roots, but I had a rear tyre that was needing replacement, thats happened so I expect it will be fine.
Most trails up this way have high sticky clay content so it does help to have tyres that clear mud well...
Joined: Mar 30, 2006 Posts: 1,465 Location: dodging bullets
Posted: Tue 24/Jul/07 4:42pm Post subject:
Havent rid that yet, in fact will ask around. ive heard it mentioned years ago, i have a feeling its up the Wakamarina way as well.
Linkwater long cut is also a pretty decent 1/2 day ride...
Some of these rides are on the Nelson Mtb club website, they have a photo gallery of many good day rides in the Nelson/Marlborough region.
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... the track has everything, roots,clay,rock gardens,steepness, off camber turns but this then changes into open flowy track...
