Must-Ride: Riding the Fox Creek Core Loop, SA

The Fox Creek trail network is located 45 minutes out of Adelaide SA and it’s a place you want to visit. This fully signposted trail network has something for all mountain bikers. There is even a vineyard at the trailhead with a pizza oven. Great times.

Flow caught up with IMBA Australia director and trail builder Nick Bowman for a ride on the brand spanking Core Loop, to look around and see how he and the crew go about making some of the most fun and flowy trails in Australia. We also checked out an unassuming little yellow dozer that makes building trails a whole lot quicker.

Being one with the bike needn’t scare the shit out of you. If a trail flows and challenges weekend warriors and elite riders alike then it’s the right thing for mountain biking and the growth of our sport. This trail hit the mark perfectly; on one level it’s designed for your kids or other half to catch the mountain biking bug, but faster riders will soon find how the rollers morph into doubles and start spotting inside lines and catch berms.

Fox Creek Loop-1 — IMBA director Nick Bowman with the bike-washing stand. A clean bike is very important as it stops the transfer of seed and disease for one trail network to another. Vitally important in a town (city) like Adelaide with five trail parks and counting.

Fox Creek Loop-3 — What’s in an Australian trail builder’s pack? Coffee, water and a fire extinguisher.

Fox Creek Loop-4 — Proud as punch of this little dozer. This thing can cut a berm as the blade pivots on the horizontal and vertical axis. Dozers need lube too before a ride.

Fox Creek Loop-5 — Calm and cute, then pure power. Seeing this little dozer in action is fantastic! It’s purpose built in the states for trail building and is the only one in Australia. I would like to say that it’s all repairable with a multi tool, probably not though.

Fox Creek Loop-6 — This is basically a before and after. The dozer cuts a 1.5m wide section. The trail then narrows over time and ultimately the riders decide on the final lines.

Fox Creek Loop-7 — The trail is cut in by the dozer is then hand finished.

Fox Creek Loop-9 — The climb features big open vistas at the top and Aussie bush at the start. The trail reminds us of places like Rotorua in parts. It’s a pleasure of a climb but was built with national cross country riders in mind.

Fox Creek Loop-11 — Dropping on the techier parts of the trail (originally the escape route for the dozer) at the bottom of the descent. It’s a very fine ending to a fantastic trail.

Fox Creek Loop-14 — The Green Smoothie trail is half descent and half climb. The descent takes 6-10 minutes and was recently used as a stage in Gravity Enduro SA race. The trail is high speed and super fun. With big berms and table tops it’s designed for big and little kids alike.

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