Mt Buller
This tour is a little different from our others. It starts at Merrijig at a great ski lodge that we use as a base, which is closer to Melbourne than the other tour starting points. The terrain is varied, ranging from loamy low altitude forest tracks, to some granatic sand and then the famous high country rock infested tracks. Our last trip suffered 11 flat tyres, due to riders ignoring the request for ultra heavy duty tubes. Their use is now mandatory. A fair bit of time is usually spent up in the snow gums and the riding up there can be inspiring but challenging. This is not a ride for absolute beginners. If it’s wet, even harder, so make sure you turn up with fresh tyres. Though it is challenging, rewards are high and past trips have been memorable. The views are sensational from places like atop Mt Stirling. This year may be very different after the fires that devastated the area. Expect views you’ve never seen. The caterers’ favourite trip, they really excel here.

Benambra
This is an ‘A to B’ ride where we transport your overnight gear to the Benambra hotel from our starting point at Eskdale. Eskdale is about fifty minutes from Wodonga. Benambra is in the middle of nowhere. To get there we visit the far side of Pluto. Tracks vary and include some snow gums up high and loamy valley tracks covered in piles of brumby poo. We visit some real out of the way places on this trip on the far side of lake Dartmouth. Ever heard of Zulu, Wild Boar or Piss and Kick Hill? Expect to see emus and perhaps a wild dog or a brumby. We’ve moved the date to the start of May to try to miss the foul weather that nearly froze and drowned us to death a few Augusts ago. A real adventure. Monty likes this trip.

Yackandandah to Eskdale
Another ‘A to B’, which starts five minutes from Yackandandah, which is only 20 minutes from Albury/Wodonga. Much of the trip is run in my backyard and our intimate knowledge of the area has unearthed an awesome collection of fantastic tracks. We utilise four or five private properties to allow access to tracks off limits to others. Every type of track is represented with plenty of leaf littered loamy numbers. All except snow gums and this tour has less rocks than most. One track we call the Kokoda trail is perhaps without peer. Overnight venue is the rider friendly Eskdale Hotel. We ride a different route home and we can shorten or lengthen the entire trip to suit each tour. Rods’ favourite trip.

Yackandandah Charity Bash
This is a one day charity ride that we run on a local mountain. This place suffers little vehicle pressure and the tracks are as good as they get. $80 covers the ride and lunch. We provide sweep riders and back up vehicles. Proceeds go to the Yackandandah primary school. In 2006, our first year saw us limit numbers to about 50. It was an incredible day that everyone loved. Many of the riders had never ridden tracks so good. This year we plan to allow 100 riders to start. Get in early to secure a spot for you and your mates. Bookings are essential with Don McInnes at donm@jimstestandtag.com.au.

Eskdale
We use the Eskdale hotel as a base. We start via private property only a few hundred metres from the pub, launching into great tracks immediately. There is some single trail on private property, linking ‘seldom used track’ to ‘never used track’. We lunch by the picturesque Snowy Creek. There may be access to snow. A few parts are short gnarly rocky sections. This is a fabulous place to ride, locally famous for its’ great riding.

Tom Groggin
This tour is legendary. We start at Corryong, which is around an hour and 20 minutes from Wodonga. This is Rowan and Harros’ backyard and they use their intimate knowledge of the tracks to have you all grinning in no time. All types of tracks appear including some special ones, such as the climb up and down Mt Pinnibar. We actually stay overnight at the station which in itself makes this tour special. On the second day, you can take in some more riding, perhaps do a spot of fishing, maybe some four wheel driving or just rest. Also setting this tour apart from the others is the catering. Chef Cheryl and her gang transport all your gear and all the foodstuffs to Groggin, then put together some mouth watering meals at the station. You will overeat. The third day sees us riding fresh and exciting tracks back to Corryong. Rowan and Harro can alter this route to suit any requirement. Rowans’ favourite trip.