The Big Hill Events Mountain bike Marathon offers three lenghts to allow riders of differnt abilities to challenge themselves but not be pushed past their limits. Each of the 90km, 69km and 36.5km course are made up of sections. The lesser distance course miss some sections.
See below the map for section descriptions
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90KM - SECTIONS 1 TO 5
69 KM - SECTIONS 1, 2 ,4 AND 5
36.5 KM - SECTIONS 1 AND 5

Click on a section to skip to its description or scroll down
ONE - TWO - THREE - FOUR - FIVE

SECTION ONE
Section one is the toughest section of all and what better place to have it than first. From Wondong you will start up Dry Creek Road. The first kilometre is all dust right now which is annoying and if you’re back in the bunch it is going to make it hard to see, hard to breathe and hard to stay straight. Once you’re past this, it’s a climb until Main Mountain Road. Its gradual and the climbing bit is only about three kilometres in length so it’s the perfect start for the race to break up the field a little and allow you to be amongst riders of your own ability. Just before the top we have a secret section of single track which is 2kms long.  It’s a bit of fun and good to get the skills involved early.  At the end of it you are  on Main Mountain Road but its not for long.  The new course turns you onto Drag hill road where you then hit a very fast and quite dangerous descent.  The road is in good condition but we will have lots of signs warning you to slow down so please abide by this and be careful.  At the bottom you ride into the Andersons gardens picnic area.  We have a mini feed zone here with cups of water and fruit for those that want to stop.  There are also toilets here if you happen to need them. Maybe that descent scared you a little.  The course then follows the about 3kms of the Andersons gardens race track which a very nice single track section above Sunday creek.  So your now about 16kms in and the main climb begins.  The new climb back up the mountain start nicely along Westcott road which gives you a bit of altitude with very little effort.  Its not long enough though as you turn into Escretes rd things go a little pear shaped.  You have 2 tough sections ahead of you and believe me,  NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, ITS GOING TO HURT. The two sections are about 22% and you may need to walk.  It’s the only climb like this in the race and its only 2 500meter bits so soon enough you will be out of the red zone and rolling into Feed zone 1.   <top>

FEED ZONE 1 AND 4
This is the big feed zone.  It’s a huge open area and your family and friends can drive up and see you come through here. If you feel like it, grab some food and a drink and and take a break, not too long though, don’t want to miss the cut offs.

SECTION TWO
Out of Feed zone 1 your on Main mountain road again and descending which feels great.  Soon though your into another climb.  Its all gradual and when you turn off onto Engine Camp road your right amongst the tall trees which must be the prettiest part of the course.  It’s a narrow double track for the next 5kms as you take Upper Sunday track until its end.  We then sweep left onto Cottrell Road for about 1km before a fast right hander into the narrower Forest Creek Road that eventually becomes Comet Link Road. This three kilometre section has a few great sweep descents that whilst short are a good bit of fun. It does have a small amount of climbing but none are steep or long. This road ends and you turn onto Allisons Road for a two kilometre super highway section. It undulates a bit but with momentum they are over before you realize and then lo and behold the 16 kilometres is over and you’re at Feed Zone 2. In summary this section is very pretty and nothing is too hard.  Its cool amongst the trees and well protected.<top>

FEED ZONE 2 AND 3
Unlike the first stop there really isn’t much to see here.  But don’t worry, we will have plenty of great staff to chat to and of course the food and drink to get you through that next stage fully fueled.  There is some shade around so if you feel like a break by all means, take one.  There are no toilets so if you have to go, its going to have to be a bushman’s squat.

SECTION THREE
Right so you’re doing the 90 kilometre if you’re on this one and I’m guessing by now hoping like hell we go easy on you out here. From the feed zone you take right down Neils Road. Down doesn’t last long as Neils Road passes by a few crests. It’s not much but you aren’t going to roll up these few. They are less than one kilometre climbs and some fun sweeping descents follow with plenty of good road to choose your line. It’s well protected with forest close on either side. After about five kilometres you cross Main Mountain Road and keep going out. There isn’t really a lot to write about the next couple of kilometres as the undulations are pretty minimal right up until the left hand turn into Strath Crossing Track. Hope you have your breaks on because whilst straight the drop into the Strath Creek crossing is fast and to make it even better there is a few water bars with the last one quite dangerous. DO NOT ATTACK THIS DESCENT. Once you have your speed it’s not going to be possible to wash it off before the base water bar which could launch you right over the bridge if you hit it full tilt. It’s sharp and nasty, making keeping your wheels on the ground a task in itself. We will have marshals here for safety so please slow down. You will see warnings on the approach so no reason to be an idiot. Over 90kms, you’re not making up any time here that’s worth the risk. Right so warnings out of the way it’s over the bridge and a nasty little climb out. It’s steep but like all the climbs of recent only short. This road’s undulations are noticeable but the descents of these are good fun with sweeping corners and not to many ruts to worry you. Soon it ends where you turn left onto Murchison Road for one kilometre until you hit the No. 1 Scout camp area.  You will turn right down Flowerdale road then left into a 2kms single track section and then back to A1 scout camp and down Flowerdale road the other way.  A few kms down Flowerdale road to Turners track where its good to get back into some smaller stuff.  It’s a very gradual climb up turners then onto Allisons Road to take you back to the feed zone you were previously at. In summary this back loop shouldn’t test you too much. The pinches will make you feel your legs though but if you have hydrated properly then cramping shouldn’t be a problem.<top>

SECTION FOUR
You know you’re on your way back now so is it time to push a bit harder? That may not be the best thing straight up on this section as it’s the second hardest for the race. The first four kilometres along Neils Road, Poison Post Road and Poison Link Road is easy and generally has more down than up but soon you turn onto Main Mountain Road where you need to climb a few sections.  They are not steep but its exposed and hot so can take it out of you.  After 3kms you turn right into Westcott creek road and plummet down for just under a km.  Don’t worry its worth dropping some altitude as the turn onto Watering Creek road brings shade and another pretty forest track section.  It undulates along for approximately 5kms before you come back to Main mountain road.  Your just 2 kms from the last feed zone but a few small climbs are ahead of you.  They aren’t much and for the big hitters its time to start thinking of a break away.  Not many chances left if your a climber.   In summary this section is over quite quickly and the new roads make it much cooler and protected then it was.  A hell of a lot better view as well.  Main Mountain road is busy and wont be closed to traffic so :YOU MUST OBEY THE ROAD RULES AND KEEP LEFT AT ALL TIMES. <top>

SECTION FIVE
After your final feed you head down lords road where we have a few single track secrets waiting for you.  We have found about 3kms of single track for you here and a lot of it involves fun descending.  Be careful of sticks though the derailleur though they are tight sections.  There is also another great European marathon treat in store for you.  It’s a HIKE A BIKE SECTION!  Its not far but this rutted 50m pinch is unrideable and a bit of a scramble as well.  Look to the right as there is another track, still not rideable but can be easier to get up.  Over this, more single track and then onto Bruces creek road where the descending begins!  In the next 10kms you have to pedal about 1 of it!  Ok maybe a bit more than that but your on the home run.  Onto Main mountain road, 1 little nip, right into Dry Creek Road.  You climbed up it to start so you earned the right to go down it. Its fast and windy but be careful as the ruts in the corners can bring you unstuck in a hurry as one of our friends found out. If you’re going to be passing, keep it safe and let the rider in front know. It was a short climb and feels even shorter on the down side but despite a few very minor rises you are still headed down and you can smell the finish line its that close. You do have to get through the bull dust again which I’m hoping by race day has minimized but if not either stick with the guys around you or allow space. Ten metres off the back and you won’t see a thing. Very hard to stay upright in this fine dust when its like that. But then it’s over, onto the bitumen and into the oval and finish line where some refreshments are waiting for you. Well done you have completed the Big Hill Events Marathon. In summary the single track after so much riding for some will be a test. Still its mostly down and a lot of fun.  It will be over in no time. A good finish to a testing days riding. <top>