Mountain Bike Nav > What is MTBNav?

What is Mountain Bike Navigation?
Using a supplied map with the course pre-marked, participants ride a mountain bike to navigate their way to checkpoints called “controls” which are placed at track junctions and other quite easy to find locations. Reading the map and deciding which is the best route to ride from one control to the next is the real test of mountain bike navigation.

Anyone capable of using a street directory is more than able to successfully complete an MTBNav event. While it is like orienteering, mountain bike navigation uses less detailed maps, and a compass is unnecessary. In bush MTBNav events, riding is only permitted on mapped tracks, paths and roads, and there is no bush bashing.

Most events require the rider to visit controls strictly in the order given by the course, but with some events a number of controls are spread across the course area and the participant devises their own route to ride to as many controls and gain as many points as they can within the time allotted. 

A bike is of course essential, one sturdy enough to be ridden off-road and having good brakes and gears. Suspension is optional, many participants riding bikes without suspension or with just front suspension. Wearing a helmet is compulsory. A road bike is unsuitable.

Events are held in forest such as near Ellendale in the south of Tasmania and at Four Springs Dam in the north, or around the suburbs such as on Hobart’s Eastern Shore. Most events are solo with riders starting at two minute intervals at their chosen time, usually between 10.30am and 12noon, while longer events are for Teams of two to five riders.