Below is a listing of various maps, magazines, e-magazines and books which may be of use in your MTB pursuits. A number of these are free or quite cheap so check them out. I have no commercial affiliations with these government departments and businesses but have used the services of most of them to some degree.
If you have any other publications that you are aware of, email me and I will post them up for others to reference.
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Strava is an app which can be used to track your activities and comes in a free format (which basically has everything you really need and a premiuim paid for package with a few additional features. The segment explore section is useful to find trails in areas you may not have thought about. |
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I have included this second Strava link which links to the Strava Global heat map showing who is riding where. It is particularly useful in forest areas in identifying off road trails such as motorbike trails which have been ridden. The heat map is updated monthly so revisit it and see if people are picking up new trails. |
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The DEPI website has a useful tool called Mapshare Forest Explorer which has free maps for all of Victoria. The tool has a number of overlays which can be turned on to show contours, features, etc. Click on the Forest Explorer icon to get going. |
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Meridian Maps produce an excellent topographical map of the Blackwood - Wombat Forest area which is clear to read and has most of the trails and walking tracks in the area which makes it especially useful for mountain biking. Scale is 1:35000 and contour intervals are at 20 metre intervals. Area covered reaches from Barrys Reef (just NW of Blackwood) to Bacchus Marsh in the south east corner of the map. It also has a detailed insets of the Werribee Gorge State Park and Blackwood township area. |
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Vicmap provide topographical maps for the whole of Victoria. These provide excellent value as they come in pdf format and can be reprinted if you destroy a copy on a ride so can basically be reprinted over and over. The pdf files cost $2.50 each and are delivered electronically so you get them immediately. They are in colour and extremely detailed so are really good for the more experienced mountain bikers that want to head off road in remote areas such as Mt Buller, Howqua, etc. Adobe Reader can be used to print, enlarge, etc sections of the map as required. Note there are some issues with which Adobe Acrobat version is used - refer notes on the website. If you have issues, I find Acrobat 9 works fine. I have included Vicmap references for rides where I consider it is appropriate to have maps (ie remote unsigned rides). |
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Map Works can help out with a wide range of topographical maps and orders can be placed online. Mapworks is located at 184 Keilor Road, Essendon North. |
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Melbourne Map Centre can help out with a wide range of topographical maps and orders can be placed online. Melbourne Map Centre is located at 738-740 Waverley Rd, Malvern East. |
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Australian MTB magazine has a good variety of articles including bike reviews, trail reviews, tourism options, servicing tips and the like. AMB is oriented more towards the XC rider but has some downhill content. |
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IMB is a free online magazine with a good spread of articles. IMB also has a comprehensive skills section. |
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You probably can't get to this library to join up but this web page highlights a service offered by quite a few libraries now where you can get access to e-magazines by being a library member. |
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Zinio has a range of Australian and international MTB magazines to choose from. |