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Munda Biddi advice please...
I've been invited to join a group doing section 1 of the Munda Biddi over Easter. I've done quite a bit of road touring in the past but none off-road, so would like a bit of advice from those of you who've done the Munda Biddi.
In particular, I'm wondering...
- hardtail or full suspension bike?
- trailer or rack & panniers? (I'd have to hire either)
- sleeping - just a sleeping bag, or also foam mat/airbed & mozzie net?
- food - try and exist off meusli bars and bananas for three days?
- water - do I need to carry three days worth, or will there be rainwater still in the tanks at the huts this time of year, and is it drinkable?
Thanks, any other advice welcome...
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Hi Mamil.
I have done 3 x 7 day rides using a hard tail with a trailer so I like the trailer but pannier are fine.I think a hard tail is more than sufficient. You can use a bob trailer on a dually but not with a 12mm rear axle. I would suggest that having back and front panniers helps to balance the bike but rear only works fine, for 3 days you don't need much gear. The Munda Biddi Trail Foundation hire out panniers. You can hire trailers from About bike hire.
Not sure about the water but I always take tablets to sterilize it. You can get from a camping store. There is normally plenty of water,even at this time of the year.
I have a light weight mattress (30mm)which helps but I sleep pretty well any way.
I have oats for breakfast. Dried fruit and nuts for snacks. Tuna and wholegrain bread for lunch. Yes I take a loaf of bread. I have taken premixed meals, like tuna mornay. Premixed all the ingredients in a plastic bag. Boiled it up then added tuna.
I have a recipe book somewhere, I will have a look for it and pm you. You can also drop food near a camp site. If you are staying at a town you can leave food there. I have left food at the dwellingup Caravan Park and Logue Brook Dam Caravan Park if you are going that way.
Mossie net is advisable, We use a small tent without the fly over it and a tent is handy if the hut is full.
You need 2 sets of clothes 1 set for riding and 1 set for the evening. You can wash your riding clothes, using environmentaly safe soaps, available from camping stores. It gets cold at night, thermals, fleece, use layers and if your still cold jump in your sleeping bag. Aim for 20 kilos max. it can be hard to achieve some times.
Good Luck.
What part of the trail are you doing?
There has been fog in the mornings around Pemberton and Northcliffe.
I can't comment on the gear as never done an overnighter, but I rode the section from Mundaring town to the Dell last week for the first time and was a bit shocked at how unkempt it was. Specifically the single track sections along the North side of Helena river were overgrown and rutted, and the climb out of the valley was on poorly constructed track that was very rutted and steep, so parts of it were unrideable for this old body. Once out of the valley its fine.
Have fun
Good advice - I was going to pm you about this! Some friends want to do the Munda Biddi for about 4 days in May - I am going along for ride also. Have done all sections between here and Jarrahdale - day trips only. Where do you think is best for scenic riding etc - prepared to drive to wherever ?
Hi guys, thanks for the great advice...
Murray, I realised neither of my MTBs has rack mounts, and I don't like the idea of using 'P' brackets to grip the stays, so it looks like a trailer is the way to go. In fact, just rang About Bike Hire and reserved one of their Bob Yaks for the trip.
The plan is to do the first section, Mundaring to Jarrahdale, over three days, so doesn't sound like it'll be too hard a pace, tho' don't like the sound of those rutted out bits Dunc!
Tent without the fly sounds like a great solution - mozzie nets are such a pain!
I'm not much of a cook, so maybe a few pot noodles would be light to carry but fill me up in the evening, and munch my way thru meusli bars and fruit&nut mix during the day.
Glad to hear it'll be a bit cool at night - I hate to drink my campside beer warm!
Keep the advice coming...
My advice would be to start at the Camelfarm rather than Mundaring. The drop from Mundaring town down to Mundaring Weir is fun, but is is also shared by the Mundaring Loop (closed but signs still up) and the Kep Track. Once near the Mundaring Pub you go along the pipeline below the dam and then start up the steepest, nastiest most rutted bit of track with a fully laden bike and bob.
Doesn't sound like much fun. Gotta agree with Dunc on the state of the track (but it is fun in an old skool way to bomb down).
A better option is to skip that section and ride the road up and rejoin it when it crosses at the corner of Mundaring Road and Paulls valley road (so basically right next to the Camelfarm). Climb up past all the singletrack you love and keep on going. You'll come across some sections of track you haven't seen before.
If you are stubborn about starting at Mundaring on a normal weekend on your regular ride after bombing down Camakaze turn left and link onto the Munda Biddi and follow it all the way to the valley and Mundaring Weir. Sections would be IMBA Blue with the rutting, rock gardens and off camber tracks (with the fall line pulling your into ruts). Several (3) of out party crashed on sections down there, some more than once. That way you know what you are going to be pushing your bikes up (because you won't be riding up).
Good to see you mixing it up Mamil!
Thanks Scatchy. I gather the plan is to start at the Dell, and now I know why! Seems like someone in the group has done the route before and come to the same conclusion about the stretch from Mundaring to the Camel Farm!
We rode about 20klm north of Turners Hill last Thursday night,very boggy gravel.Will be tough work with a trailer or panniers.We ride XC all the time and did the karri cup 100klms.We had to walk sections as it was to boggy with the gravel.
I rode with 3 other people the whole Mundabiddi 2 years ago.We discussed the panniers/trailer option and decided on B&B's and accomodation instead.We road the 6 days from Mundaring to Nanup.My wife roadied for us and met us at each end of the day at accomodation we had booked with fresh clothes and a nice bed to sleep on.Some of the sections through collie are awesome and it would not be as much fun with a heap of luggage and crap on the bike.Anyway thats my thoughts.
If you want the camping expierience more than the riding go the trailer and panniers,if you want the ride expierience I would go the accomodation and plan your days to stay in the towns in between.
Either way good luck.
The rain water tanks at the camps have not for drinking labeled accross them,You will need disifectant type tablets which you can get from camping shops so you can then drink the water safely.On the food,as much as you can carry,we had sandwiches ,muesli bars fruit and lollies.
Best of luck,as I said the best sections were Collie and Nanup.Hardest was Jarrahdale to dwelingup.
Hi Mamil,
I rode the Munda Biddi from Kalamunda to Donnybrook a couple of months ago. My 2 cents:
Bike: Either hardtail or full suspension would be fine - the trail is relatively smooth and non-technical. I took the fully.
Trailer or panniers? If you need to take lots of gear, would recommend lightly loaded trailer. My own setup was just a backpack, bar-bag and saddle bag which worked well. Some of the climbs are very boggy so less weight the better IMO.
Sleeping: take a sleeping mat. As it was summer I was warm enough with just a sleeping bag liner. Also took a mozzie net but never needed to use it.
Food: freeze dried food is good, rolled oats, coffee, beer also good.
Water: all of the water tanks at the huts were full when I went through. I never treated or boiled any of the water and had no problems. Tasty rain water.
If I did it again would probably ride the Jarrahdale to Pile Road section which was the most enjoyable bit.
Cheers
Fisher
Looking forward to trying it at Easter, then maybe some longer trips during the winter.
Spring is awesome with all the flowers out. Just be aware that there is some re-alignment south of Dwellingup for a couple of ks.