About the Briars Highland Fling

10-11 November 2012

The Briars Highland Fling is a Mountain Bike Marathon starting and finishing in the village of Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands, NSW, on Sunday 11 November 2012. Riders can enter as a Full Flinger (solo approx 110km), Flinging Threesomes (relay team of three but can be done as a pair), or Half Fling (solo approx 55km). There is also a 100mile Fling option (165km). And there's also the Casual Fling, a 14km untimed participation ride.

• Route Description
• Where is Bundanoon?
• The Briars Highland Fling Draft Schedule
• The Real Insurance MTB Marathon Series
• Event Jersey by Hot Designs
• Event T-shirt
• MTB Trails of The Southern Highlands Map
• What to Carry
• Rules and Conditions
• Catering – Saturday 10 November
• Catering – Sunday 11 November
• Feed and GU20 Drinks Station
• Shimano & Raceworx Support
• Squirt Lube Station
• Aquamann Bike Wash Station
• Kids MTB Skills Course
• Todds Real Estate Kid's Fling
• Marathon-Photos.com
• Body Mechanic Massage/Physiotherapy
• Bundy On Tap
• Fundraising at the Fling
• Join the Dark Side - Marshals and Volunteers
• Bundanoon Dash & Battle of the Businesses
• Casual Fling

Route Description

The race will follow a unique route that will take riders out from Bundanoon on great farmland tracks and eventually into Penrose State Forest before riding through more farmland to Wingello Village which marks the end of the Ground Effect Stage. From here riders will start the Shimano Stage and enter the beautiful forest and gully country of Wingello State Forest including the network of singletrack. Riders will loop back to Wingello Village and, for the GU Stage, will follow a different route into Penrose State Forest and eventually back to Bundanoon. You'll ride on singletrack, open paddock, rough 4WD track and dirt roads and a tiny amount of sealed road. There is some 2300 metres of enjoyable climbing in total and, given you finish back where you started, some 2300 metres of even sweeter downhill!! The Highland Fling will test all who take on the challenge.

• Full Fling - Complete Ground Effect,  Shimano and GU stages.
• Half Fling - Complete Ground Effect and GU stages.
• 100Mile Fling - Complete Ground Effect stage, Shimano stage (twice) and GU stage.

More info, map and profile available here.

Where is Bundanoon?

Bundanoon, the event centre, is a picturesque village in the heart of the Southern Highlands. Situated only 90 minutes’ drive along the Hume Highway from Sydney or Canberra and an hour’s drive from Wollongong, it is the perfect base from which to explore the beautiful Southern Highlands. In the village you will find numerous shops and cafés and a wide range of accommodation options. Bundanoon is also world renowned as Australia’s First Bottled Water Free Town.

Bundanoon is the southern gateway to the spectacular Morton National Park which offers a wide range of recreational opportunities (bushwalking, camping, cycling, photography), with numerous scenic walks, breathtaking views, scenic waterfalls, gorges, sandstone plateaux, and the nocturnal delights of the Glow Worm Glen to discover.

Bundanoon is also close to Penrose and Wingello State Forests, both of which offer a wealth of singletrack and forest tracks to explore.

Map of how to get there: location.pdf

Brochure on Bundanoon: bundanoon-brochure.pdf

The Briars Highland Fling 2012 Draft Schedule

The Real Insurance MTB Marathon Series

The Briars Highland Fling in 2011 is part of the Real Insurance MTB Marathon Series. Put together by the guys at CycleNation, this is a bit of fun (and serious for the top riders going for a $15000 purse) to rank riders taking part in some of the biggest Marathon (100km+) and Half Marathon (50km+) races in the country. This new series looks like a great way to link some great events

The Marathon races forming the 2011 series are Capital Punishment (19 March), The Dirtworks Classic (1 May), The Husky 100 (19 June) and The Bottlebutt MTB Marathon (10 September). The Briars Highland Fling (13 November)  will be the final event of the Series. Riders in the Half and Full Fling will have their results included and all riders get to count their best (or only) 3 results out of the 5 participating events.

The Briars Highland Fling Jersey

Ride the Fling and beyond with your very own Briars Highland Fling jersey. Produced by our good friends at Hot Designs, it is a great way of remembering the weekend and we conservatively estimate that wearing it could knock perhaps 10 minutes off your time. The 2011 jersey design is found below. The 2012 design will be shown in the weeks leading up to the event. (Disclaimer - The jersey should not be relied upon on its own, but should be used as part of a training and dietary regime!).

Briars Highland Fling Jersey Sizing

Mens	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Chest	86-90cm 34-36in	91-95cm 36-38in	96-101cm 38-40in	102-106cm 40-42in	107-111cm 42-44in

Womens	8	10	12	14	16
Bust	82-86cm 32-34in	87-91cm 34-36in	92-96cm 36-38cm	97-101cm 38-40in	102-106cm 40-42cm

The Briars Highland Fling T-shirt

An Australian made, guaranteed sweatshop free, 100% organic cotton t shirt! The 2011 Briars Highland Fling t-shirt is shown below, the 2012 design will be shown in the weeks leading up to the event. T shirts are $35. Click on the design to enlarge.

MTB Trails of The Southern Highlands Map

Finally, the long awaited expanded 3^rd Edition of our MTB Trails of The Southern Highlands Map is now out and will be available at the Fling

The Southern Highlands of NSW offers a wealth of riding opportunities for road and mountain bikers alike all within 2 hours of Sydney, 1.5 hours from Canberra and 1.5 hours from Wollongong. Quiet country roads, expansive State Forests and National Parks all make for a cycling paradise. This double sided map and guide suggests some of the rides available to mountain bikers as well as covering a large area allowing you to plan your own rides.  The 3^rd Edition of this 1:25000 scale map includes the route of The Briars Highland Fling,  the Wingello State Forest MTB Trails, the classic tour from the Highlands to Kangaroo Valley and much more. Price: $16 per copy (includes mailing)

What to Carry

Essential:
Suitable mountain bike or cyclocross bike in good repair
Approved cycling helmet worn at all times
Race number plate mounted on handlebars with number clearly visible
Timing transponder
2 litre liquid carrying capacity *
Food e.g. energy bars *
Whistle *
Toolkit with minimum pump, puncture repair, inner tube
Water resistant jacket (may be reviewed on the day) *
First Aid kit (minimum of crepe bandage, bandaid strip, sterile dressing, 6 x painkillers e.g. Paracetamol)

* Not required for Bundanoon Dash

Recommended:
Mobile phone – Telstra Next G good reception. Some others limited reception.
Multi tool, spare chain links, zip ties, electrical tape
Sunscreen
Sunglasses or clear lens glasses

Rules and Conditions >>

Catering – Saturday 10 November

Whilst there are numerous places to eat in Bundanoon on Saturday night, they couldn’t hope to feed all 3000+ fuelling riders and their supporters. So there will also be a dinner available in Bundanoon Hall (provided by Bundanoon School P&C). There will also be a  BBQ down at Ferndale Event Centre by Bundanoon Rebels Soccer Club (where a coffee van will also be stationed from Saturday afternoon).  The Briars will run a bar in Bundanoon Hall and down at Ferndale Event Centre.

Catering – Sunday 11 November

Breakfast (provided by Bundanoon Rebels Soccer Club) and the all important coffee carts will be fired up from before dawn and drinks (including Sportdrink) will be sold here throughout the day. Food and cold drinks will also be available all day at the Wingello Oval Transition Area (provided by Wingello School P&C) as well as a coffee cart. Lunch (included in your entry fee) will be provided back at Ferndale Event Centre by Exeter School P&C, who will also be cranking up the BBQ with the Exeter kids doing their world famous milkshakes. There will also be the Briars Bush Bar and BBQ at the event centre.

Feed and Drinks Station

Water - Water will be available at the Ferndale Event Centre from taps and from the Water Stall. Water will be available from Aquamann at the Wingello Oval transition area. Water and GU20 will also be available at the Frequent Riders Lounge approx 29km into the Shimano Stage. You may be able to obtain water at other locations along the route – taps, rivers, and creeks – however the quality of this is not guaranteed. Note that The Briars Highland Fling is a Bottled Water Free event. No bottled water is available to purchase at the event or within Bundanoon.

Feed Stations

Wingello Oval Transition Area – A feed station will be set up here for riders finishing the Ground Effect Stage and those about to start the GU Stage. It will offer bananas, buns and sweets along with GU20 sportsdrink.

The Frequent Riders Lounge – is located approx 29km into The Shimano Stage. The lounge will offer Full and 100Mile flingers sustenance in the form of bananas, buns, sweets, water and GU20.

Aquamann Irrigation are the official water carriers and suppliers to the 2011 Briars Highland Fling

Shimano & Raceworx Mechanical Support

Shimano and Raceworx Mechanical Support will be providing a bike repair service / basic spare parts available on Saturday afternoon / evening in the hall at Bundanoon.

On Sunday morning this will shift to the Start / Finish area at Ferndale Event Centre from 6.00am to 7.30am before moving to Wingello Transition area for the rest of the day from 8.30am to 3.30pm.

Squirt Lube Station

Also down at Bill O’Reilly Oval, Wingello will be the Squirt Lube Station. This will be in place from 8.30am-3.00pm. So have a quick break and get your chain Squirted so you can experience Squirt firsthand. And feel better inside with the knowledge that when you go through the numerous picturesque creek crossings at the Fling you are not washing poisonous hydrocarbons into delicate aquatic ecosystems. Because Squirt is 100% biodegradeable and the tadpoles just love it.

Due to Squirt's wax only composition, build-up due to dirt does not occur and no grinding paste will form. Continuous application can be done without having to clean the chain. Never degrease again. Simply reapply - and that is that.

Please use only what you need to ensure there is enough to go around!

The Aquamann Bike Wash Station

There’s better things to do at the end of an MTB Marathon than washing your bike. But for those who want it we’ll have the Aquamann Bike Wash Station set up this year at the Event Centre.

Kids MTB Skills Course

Saturday 10th November, 1.30pm to 3.00pm, Bundanoon YHA

On Saturday, in conjunction with The Ben Mikic Foundation, we’re running a MTB Skills Course for 5-12 year olds. Instructors will teach the kids safe cycling skills and skills for handling a mountain bike on the trails. Entry is FREE. Numbers are limited and all participants (through their parent/legal guardian) must be pre-registered..

Participants must have a properly fitting helmet and a bike in good working order.

Kids Skills Course now fully booked.

Todds Real Estate Kid's Fling

Sunday 11th November, 8am Registration, 8.40am Race, Bundanoon Pony Club

On Sunday morning we’ll be running a fun little race for children of primary school age (5 to 12). Sponsored by Todds Real Estate, a local Bundanoon business, the kids will enjoy some fun at the Pony Club Event Centre. Registration for The Kids Fling is free and opens at 8.00am with the race starting at 8-40am. Each entrant will receive a showbag and everyone goes into a draw to win a bike! We have 2 bikes from the Kids Bike Company to give away. The business that actually thinks about what is required in a bike for kids!

Participants must have a properly fitting helmet and a bike in good working order.

Marathon-Photos

Marathon-Photos will be on the course snapping away and will have a selection of photos of each rider available for sale after the event

Body Mechanic Massage/Physiotherapy

Blair Martin, The Body Mechanic, and his team will be on hand at the event to provide physiotherapy and massage service to competitors (and weary supporters!). Also, Blair has a special bike fitting offer for the entrants of the Briars Highland Fling prior to the event - so if you're Sydney-based (or visiting), make sure you take advantage of this service!

Tel: 02 9955 5842    
Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web: www.thebodymechanic.com.au

Bundy On Tap

Bundanoon, the home of The Briars Highland Fling, was the first town in the world to go Bottled Water Free thus taking a stand in 2009 against the environmental effects of putting water into plastic bottles and trucking it around the country.

The Briars Highland Fling is a bottled water free event.

Read more about this initiative on www.bundyontap.com.au

Fundraising at the Briars Highland Fling

The Ben Mikic Foundation

In April 2007, Ben Mikic, a talented 15 year old cyclist from the Southern Highlands of NSW, was tragically killed in a collision with a car during a training ride. Ben had proved himself a gifted athlete in Road, Track and Mountain Bike Racing. Ben was so keen that he pulled the wool over our eyes and raced underage in the 2006 Highland Fling, an event his mother recounted as being one of the best experiences of his short life.

Ben’s death galvanized the local cycle community, schools and those closest to him to do something to prevent such accidents befalling young people on bikes. Out of this came the Ben Mikic Foundation. The Foundation aims to:

• Educate young cyclists and schoolchildren to adopt safe riding practices
• Encourage and support promising young cyclists with the potential to make a career in the sport or become lifetime cyclists
• Work with governments, motoring organisations, the police and cycling organisations to ensure that cyclists are able to safely share the roads with truck and car users
• Promote safe car driving practice in relation to cyclists and other road users
• Promote safe road cycling practice and encourage cycling organisations and associated stakeholders to act in concert to ensure that individual cyclists act to share the roads safely with other users.

The Foundation is actively achieving these aims, including running cycling programmes for schools and young people and the intent is to expand on these activities as funds become available.

Through the Briars Highland Fling we aim to assist the Ben Mikic Foundation in their work by increasing the profile of the Foundation.

For further details on the Foundation check out the website www.benmikicfoundation.org.au

The Battle of The Businesses

As part of the Bundanoon Dash we have a bit of extra fun to raise some more $ for charity. The Battle of the Businesses is for all businesses in the Exeter/Bundanoon/Penrose/Wingello area including home based businesses.

More information HERE

Click HERE and follow the instructions to Enter.

Local Community Groups

A number of local community groups and organisations will be raising funds at the event through camping fees, catering and drinks. Other local organisations playing a role in the event receive donations from the organisers. In both 2010 over $40,000 was raised for these groups.

Community groups involved in the Fling include:

• Bundanoon, Wingello, Exeter & Penrose Rural Fire Service Brigade
• Bundanoon Rebels Soccer Club
• Bundanoon School P&C
• Exeter School P&C
• Wingello School P&C
• Bundanoon Pony Club

Additionally The Bundanoon Dash race on Saturday evening is purely a Fundraiser for all local groups involved

Join the Dark Side - Marshals and Volunteers

We would love to have you help out at the Briars Highland Fling! Volunteers receive food and drink throughout the event and an event T-Shirt. They also have as much fun as the competitors!

To sign up head on over to our Event Management System with your username and password and fill out the details. If you don't have a username and password just follow the links to register for an account.

Registration Process

You must have your own unique email address to register, therefore no two volunteers can use the same email address. If you do not have an email address, please visit a webmail provider, e.g. Hotmail or Gmail to sign up for a free email address.

Join the Dark Side via our Event Management System, where you will first register for an account. You will then be able to login and enter the event. Once you have completed your details, you can login again at any time to edit or cancel your availability.