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Mount Stromlo had been a plantation pine forest for most of the 20^th century, and the Australian National University has an astronomical observatory on the summit. Mountain bike riding and races have been held at Mount Stromlo for more than 20 years.

Stromlo Forest Park was created after the Canberra bushfires of 2003 destroyed the pine forests on the mountain.

An event centre, road criterium circuit and cross country running track were built, in addition to mountain bike and equestrian trails.   There is over 60 Km of mountain bike track on the mountain, and you can ride from the city to Stromlo on bike-paths.

Stromlo Forest Park has hosted the 2007-2009 Australian MTB Championships, the Scott Australian 24 Hour MTB Championships for 2007-2012, a round of the UCI MTB World Cup in 2008, the UCI MTB and Trials World Championships in 2009, the 24 Hours of Adrenalin World Solo 24 Hour MTB Championships in 2010 and the Australian MTB Marathon Championships in 2012.

You can use Google Earth to locate Stromlo. Type in Stromlo Forest Park, ACT into the location search.

The rectangular car park (the big group of white tents in the first photo) is where the 16,000 square metre World Solo Pit Row will be located and the Team Transition Area is the grey square about 100 metres to the east of the World Solo Pit Row. The Google Earth imagery of the mountain is of sufficient quality to show all the mountain bike single tracks.

The Weather
Canberra in October should have a daily maximum of 20 and a minimum of 6, with 40% humidity.    There would be a 20% chance of rain on one of the race days.   OK - that is the averages.   Since 1999 when the first 24 hour race started, the highest temperature has been 33 and the lowest -4.   There have been 3 races out of 13 where it rained heavily.