'The Grand Bocle', (which is Australian for 'La Grande Boucle', which is French for 'The Big Loop') is the term JP coined for the ride we undertook today.

We decided to undertake a loop of Canberra via softroads; so, mounting our fast dirt steeds, we headed out from Gunghalin and through Forde to the conservation area at Mulligan's Flat. Great quality road and no cars but a bit of water...

It was a short spell on the Federal Highway before we reached the base of Mount Majura and the fire roads surrounding it. Great views were plentiful and flowing trails, with the occasional climb, lead us past Mount Ainslie, Campbell and into Russell. Following the path around the Eastern side of Lake Burley Griffin we decided to lunch at VeloRepublic, how appropriate.

Before we cooled off too much we jumped back on the bikes and navigated our way back onto the dirt along the side of Red Hill, through Yaralumla and almost to Deaks Forrest before we followed the fire trails through the Arboretum (I don't know what that means either...). Soon enough we reached Black Mountain, and the hardest climbs of the day; the steep undulating firetrails lead us through Bruce Ridge and back onto Gunghalin Drive where we had to endure a few kilometres of bike path to get back to my place.

The ride ended up at 70km long and we considered it the basis for many future variations; for instance we think it'd be possible to design a ride in excess of 150km if we wanted, or even bias one toward a series of painful climbs. We do know that it was a great way to spend four hours on a crisp 12 degree Canberra day!

And there's more to come on the latest incarnation of the Slingshot!! Drop-bar MTB AIR!!!!