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Route and Maps

Event Centre Map

bundanoon-map-09

Outline Route Map

Outline Route Map

Route Description

The Full Fling will follow a unique route that will take riders out from Bundanoon on great tracks and eventually into and around Penrose State Forest and out via farmland to Wingello to complete Stage 1 - The Ground Effect Stage. From here riders will enter the beautiful forest and gully country of Wingello State Forest. They will loop back to Wingello village to complete Stage 2 - The Forests NSW Stage. They then follow a different route back into Penrose State Forest and eventually back to Bundanoon to complete Stage 3 - The GU Stage. All but 2km of the route will be on dirt – singletrack, open paddock, rough tracks, dirt roads. The profile shows a total of some 2350metres of enjoyable climbing and given you finish back where you started that means there’s 2300metres of sweet downhill! It will test all who take on the challenge. The Half Fling completes The Ground Effect Stage and The GU Stage.

Track Breakdown

One riders (or event organizers!) singletrack is another riders (or event organizers!) 4WD track. There is no Australian Standard! The breakdown of the 2009 Highland Fling is something like:

  • Full Fling - 26% Singletrack & No Track, 58% Rough/4WD track, 14% Dirt Road, 2% Sealed Road
  • Half Fling - 14% Singletrack & No Track, 68% Rough/4WD track, 15% Dirt Road, 3% Sealed Road

Please do not attempt to ride the private property sections of the course at any time, as to do so will jeopardize the event.

Ground Effect Stage (34km): Full Flingers, Flinging Threesomes, Half a Fling, 100mile Flingers

On leaving Ferndale Oval you will cover a brief section of blacktop before hitting the dirt. You will enter Private Property after 3km and the follow a looping combination of cow tracks, open paddock and singletrack for some 12km. This section is expanded from previous years and should allow the field to spread out a lot more before hitting the Roller Coaster scenic trail alongside the river which provides some short but steep climbs. Some new singletrack leads you out to Penrose SF and your first opportunity to clean the bike(!) at the Free Bike Wash. You'll then follow forest trails before wading across the Early Bath into private property and a great section through paddocks and open forest known as Boags Draft and Pigs Fly.

Then onto the Transition Zone at Bill O'Reilly Oval in Wingello village. Here you will pass through a timing station.

Wingello Oval Transition Area: Full Flingers, Flinging Threesomes, Half a Fling, 100mile Flingers [Transition Area Map]

After passing through the timing station, Half Fling riders will proceed directly to the GU Stage (see below). They can choose to stop here but their time will continue throughout the transition stop.

The race times of Full Flingers, Flinging Threesomes and 100mile Flingers will be paused for a period of up to 5 minutes. The reason for this is the level crossing in Wingello. In order for riders to get to the start of the Forests NSW Stage safely and without being disadvantaged by having to wait at the level crossing in the unlikelihood of a train passing, we will allow a maximum of 5 minutes before your time automatically begins again. If you choose to proceed through the next timing station within 5 minutes, then your time starts again as soon as you pass through the timing station. If you have not passed through the timing station when the five minutes is up, then your time will start again automatically. The distance between the two timing stations is 1km, which should take approximately 3 minutes to complete at non race pace.

You are not Racing between the Oval Timing Station and the Camden Street Timing Station.

So, whether you linger for just a couple of minutes or take your time to get a bite to eat or drink, is up to you. At the Oval you’ll find a water station, and food and drinks will be available to purchase (all proceeds to Wingello School and Rural Fire Service). There is also a shop on the south side of the railway crossing.

Mechanical support will also be available at Bill O’Reilly Oval. There will be mechanical expertise and a range of spare parts for sale to help keep riders in the race! The Rock & Roll Lube Station will be here too for you to lube up that chain if required.

Camden Street Timing Station: Full Flingers, Flinging Threesomes, 100mile Flingers

This is the start and finish point for the Forests NSW Stage.

Forests NSW Stage (54km): Full Flingers, Flinging Threesomes, 100mile Flingers (twice)

After a couple of kilometres of dirt road the Fling takes you around the perimeter of Wingello State Forest. The route keeps primarily to native forest sections which offer both scenic and challenging riding. This includes the superb network of singletrack. Rough forest trails interspersed with faster tracks provide plenty of variety. You will descend into numerous gullies and will surely be feeling the climbs back out by the time you reach Halfway Hill (which is actually at about 62km – well over halfway – it’s a historical thing!) Some say Halfway Hill is the big down to the lowest point on the course. Others claim it to be the climb out. Let it be where you want it to be..... Down and up you go and do the same again on The Kick. Once out of the basin the forest tracks allow for some fast progress, with occasional views across to the depths of the Shoalhaven Gorge in the Wild West, and on to the Outer Limits. The tracks roughen up a touch for the climb up to Bumballas Road. Then a chance to rest the legs on a steady spin along the well graded dirt back to Wingello.

You will again pass through Camden Street timing station, at which point your time will pause for a period of up to 5 minutes. You should make your way safely back to Bill O’Reilly Oval and to the next timing station. Again, the distance between the two is 1km, approximately 3 minutes’ ride at non race pace. Many will appreciate the break and take longer to refuel for the final push on the GU Stage to the finish line.

Note that the two timing pauses are completely independent of each other, i.e. you can take a maximum of one 5 minute timing pause at each occasion rather than one 10 minute total pause over the two occasions. Therefore, taking 7 minutes at the second stop will still mean that your time starts automatically after 5 minutes, even if you only took 3 minutes at the first stop.

GU Stage (25km): Full Flingers, Flinging Threesomes, Half a Fling, 100mile Flingers

A couple of kilometres of dirt road take you back into Private Property for a paddock run down to Paddys River and a short climb back into Penrose Forest. Undulating tracks through the pines lead to a descent through the Little Sandy Desert with less than 10km to go. You then ride close by a cool waterhole (tempting on a hot day!) before commencing a steady middle ring climb through the Great Sandy Desert to Your Call. Go left and you’ll find a short climb over 550metres, a bit loose and rocky. Go right and the climb is steadier but longer over 950 metres. Whichever way you go The End is Nigh with 3km to go, most of which heads in a down type direction.

Then it's over and you can say you've had your Fling!

Wingello Oval Transition Area Map

Wingello Oval Transition Area Map

2009 Route Profile

Ground Effect Stage 1 Profile
Forests NSW Stage 2 Profile
GU Stage 3 Profile

The 100mile Fling

As in 2008 the 100Mile Flingers will do the Ground Effect Stage followed by 2 loops of the Forests NSW Stage before completing the final GU Stage (to huge applause and respect!). The race is aimed at Endurance riders with a proven ability to complete such a challenge within approximately 9.5 hours. There will be cut off times at 88km (end of first Forests NSW loop) and 142km (end of second Forests NSW loop). Any rider arriving after these times will not be allowed to continue to the finish. 100Milers who transfer to the Full Fling part way through the race will receive a time but will not receive a category place.

Support for 100Mile Flingers

100Mile Flingers will pass through the Wingello Transition Zone after completing the Ground Effect Stage (after 34km). Here there is water/drinks/toilets/food etc. They will also come through here after their second loop of the Forests NSW Stage (after 142km).

At the end of their first loop of the Forests NSW Stage they will stay on the south side of the railway line, passing through the Camden Street Timing Station again before heading off on their second loop. At Camden Street a dedicated area for 100Mile Flingers (the Mile High Lounge) will be set up which will feature water, GU20 sportsdrink and GU Gels. 100Mile Flingers can also have their support team (if any) here or pre-arrange with the organizers for a pack of food/spares etc to be left at this spot. A volunteer will be stationed here to assist if required.