Tinderry Range

If the Cotter circuit is the favourite ride of the road warriors then the Tinderry Range ride would be one of the favourites of the local adventure/dirt bike crowd.  The Tinderry Nature Reserve is located 60km south of Canberra. 
 

Tinderry Range from east of Michelago

The village of Michelago is at the foot of the Tinderry Range and was the destination for lunch on this ride.  The General Store provides the usual range of take-away. 

Michelago General Store

If you have a bit of time it is worth a quick look around the village.  The train station is still in reasonable repair and the main station building is used for functions.  The remaining rail infrastructure suggests that Michelago was once a reasonably important station.

Michelago Train Station

Just to the east of Michelago you get a fine view of the Tinderry Range.

East of Michelago

A couple of kilometres to the east of Michelago is the turnoff to Captains Flat/Tinderry Road and the dirt road starts here. 

Start of the dirt section  

Initially the dirt road is in good condition and should not present any challenges.  

Rolling through the foothills of the Tinderry Ranges

Road conditions change once you start ascending.  The surface is hard and the suspension takes a bit of a beating.  Standing on the footpegs makes life easier for the rider and fortunately these conditions abate once the highpoint of the ride is reached.

The surface on the ascent is harsh on the bike 

but nothing to be concerned about

Typical conditions, once the highpoint is reached

Eventually Tinderry Road intersects with Captains Flat Road.  A turn to the right will take you to Bredbo and to the left, Captains Flat.  A regular ride is the Captain Flat-Bredbo run and return to Canberra via the Cooma Road.

On this occasion I turned for Captains Flat and then Canberra.  The turn-around was four and a half hours.  So a nice afternoon out.