UPCOMING: The Bendigo Golden Triangle Epic

With just a week to go until the 2016 Golden Triangle Epic kicks off, event entries are filling up fast as riders aim to secure their spot in one of the biggest races on the Victorian mountain bike race calendar. Scheduled for Saturday the 16th of April, the 11th edition of the Golden Triangle Epic will form Round #3 of the Australian National XCM Series, and will see some of the country’s fastest mountain bikers take to the brilliant singletrack trails around the southern forests of Bendigo. As the premier event for the Bendigo Mountain Bike Club, the Golden Triangle Epic is one of the largest club-run events in the country, with all profits raised from race entries going straight back into trail development and maintenance within the Bendigo region.

The City of Greater Bendigo has come on board as a supporter of the event in 2016, having recognised the growing popularity of mountain biking and cycling as a whole in the wider Bendigo community.

“Cycling is a great fit for this city”, says Kathryn Mackenzie of Bendigo Tourism. “It not only supports the local community, but it’s also important in bringing visitors to town to enjoy our cycling culture and the city itself.”

Located just 1.5 hours drive North of Melbourne (and 1 hour drive from the airport), Bendigo is the regional centre of the Goldfields region. Well known for its historical significance during the Goldrush era in the 1800’s, these days Bendigo is attracting visitors and their families for its burgeoning arts scene and foodie culture. Bendigo is also home to a thriving cycling community, a growing network of mountain bike trails, and a reputation for producing elite athletes across all disciplines of cycling. One of those athletes is Gravity Enduro specialist Dan MacMunn, who has risen to fame as one of Australia’s best mountain bikers.

“The riding in Bendigo is awesome”, says MacMunn, who cites the variety and technicality of the local trails as being a contributing factor to the quality of riders coming out of Bendigo. “You’ve got old-school tech trails that are super rowdy to blast down on, and then you’ve got the newer smooth stuff that’s fast and flowy, and that’s getting a lot of new riders into the sport too”.

After travelling the world and racing mountain bikes, MacMunn and his partner Jo Wall moved to Bendigo to build their own house and start a family. “Bendigo has an amazing cycling culture”, says Wall, who states the country town charm and the strong cycling scene as key factors in their decision to settle down in Bendigo. Wall is also on the committee for the Bendigo MTB Club, and has witnessed first-hand the significant growth of the sport, especially in youth and female participation.

“Our club membership base has more than doubled in the last 12 months”, exclaims Wall. “I think there are many factors that have contributed to this. We have a particularly active committee working hard to deliver quality local events, as well as women’s and junior’s skills sessions and organised social rides. There are more kids getting into cycling than ever before, which combined with the ongoing success of our major events – the Bendigo 6 Hour and the Golden Triangle Epic – I think the future is very bright for the sport of mountain biking in town.”

But coming to Bendigo isn’t just about riding awesome mountain bike trails. Outside of the racing, Golden Triangle Epic competitors and their families have so much more on offer to enjoy during their weekend stay in the beautiful regional centre of Bendigo. For those wanting a cultural tour, the magnificent Marilyn Monroe exhibition is on display at the award-winning Bendigo Art Gallery. Visitors can take a stroll through the stunning Botanical Gardens at Rosalind Park, or check out the Chinese Museum for a look into Bendigo’s intriguing Gold Rush history. For the families, the Science Discovery Centre is a must, and you can even take the kids for a ride on one of Bendigo’s historic trams before touring the Central Deborah Goldmine.

Of course Bendigo is also well known for its foodie culture, with a growing array of craft beer pubs, fine dining venues, and bustling cafes.

Combining exceptional pub food with craft beer is the Cambrian Hotel’s recipe for success, with eight individual taps showcasing delicious beers from the many microbreweries in the Goldfields region and beyond. The Goldmines Hotel is another craft beer-focussed venue, and is famous for being one of the oldest pubs in Bendigo with a beautiful beer garden that has been voted as one of the top-10 beer gardens in Australia.

For American-style cuisine, make sure you also check out the epic burgers at Boris Murgers, and the classic live music venue institution that is the Golden Vine.

Though if you and your partner are looking for more of a fine-dining experience, riders should definitely make a booking for Masons of Bendigo, which is one of the only hatted restaurants in Bendigo. Rocks on Rosalind and The Dispensary are two other must-visit for those who appreciate fine drinks and fine food.

Riders needing to sate their caffeine appetite must visit Get Naked Espresso for some of the best coffee in town. Likewise, the Old Green Bean Café roasts their own coffee onsite and have a busy kitchen pumping out an inventive menu for the breakfast and brunch aficionados. Known as one of the best bakeries in town, The Good Loaf bakes award-winning bread and delicious pastries for those looking for some picnic fodder.

For something a little closer to the trails, the recently renovated Spring Gully General Store offers superb food and coffee for the hundreds of road and mountain bikers that pass by everyday, while the One Tree Hill pub offers an outdoor beer garden within a stone’s throw of the Spring Gully trailhead.

There are plenty of late-night venues for visitors to explore over the weekend, including the newly established Handle Bar, which will serve as the official venue for the Golden Triangle Epic after-party. With an impressive selection of craft beer and a casual family-friendly beer garden, Handle Bar is the place to be for winding down after a long day in the saddle.

To find information on accommodation and what’s on offer in Bendigo during the weekend of the Golden Triangle Epic, head to the Bendigo Tourism website. And make sure you sign up to the Bendigo Mountain Bike Club Facebook page for regular news updates.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday 16th of April 2015

• Location: Spring Gully, Bendigo, Victoria

• Distances: 15km Pioneer, 30km Miner *NEW*, 50km Shorty, 100km Epic, 150km Ultimate Enduro

• Entries: www.mtbbendigo.com