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Off to Dalby tomorrow and keen to try to get a good time on the Red Route, which appears to be anything below two hours. But my question is, does ‘this’ include the bit of black at the north end? I’ve not been there much and don’t know whether the accepted definition of the red includes the black sections or not.
I have a horrible suspicion I’m going to get horribly flamed here for various transgressions of the code.
There are lots of black sections around the red, you can use them and join up again easily.
I would suggest the standard time doesn't include the black bits.
On another note, we dragged a guy around there on Tuesday to qualify some leaders. Took over 4 hours including 20 minutes or so on the jump park.
find an old map which shows the old black section (I assume that's what you're looking for?), maybe google images 'dalby map', might be one on singletraction website. only thing is, some of it was boardwalk, that might have been pulled out now, I don't know. certainly, the best circuit IMO used to be cutting out a whole red section of forest road by using the black.
Red doesn't include any black, apart from couple of alternative lines, if all you are doing is chasing a time then just follow the red. However if want to do more it is worth adding the black in including the World Cup sections.
I use it for flat out training but need to remind myself that's it's not a race circuit.. Sub 2hrs is a respectable time
As B.A.Nana says, try and find the old maps. The black I remember not actually being too technical at all though so its probably just worth doing the 'new' red with the black options around the World Cup course.
The 'old' red in places is still reasonably well used from what I see when I go and is great. Provides old school/natural type riding - no trail armouring, just proper forest singletrack. You can pick up a fair chunk of it between the VC and the jumps.
If I were going for a fastest lap I'd leave the Black sections well alone, one in particular leads you back up to near Dixons Hollow and the one up the slab from the fire road after DH could add a good few minuits so I'd just stick to the signed red route.
Its a great loop to hammer out the miles as nearly all of it has to be pedalled, there's not a great amount of reward for the amount of effort but for fitness its spot on.
Was up there early this morning, riding well at the moment - nice and dry.
Sub 2 hours is very respectable, the entire red route is fairly long and the vast majority seems to be spent pedalling!
No notable fast downhill sections that will knock your time down either.
The black runs aren't so bad, but can mess up the loop a bit- best just sticking to the red. All the guides say allow 4-5hrs (managed 3.5 today)
As a previous poster said, it's great for fitness but that's about it