The Birthday Bike Race was first held back in 1997, created by G’s little brother Will to celebrate his birthday. The race was held in a paddock at Queens Birthday Weekend, with helmet-less gumboot-clad competitors hooning around pigtails to see who would be crowned the champion and take home the trophey for the year.

In true big sister style, G stole the event (and brought it back to life!) when the bike park was being built, and it’s now an annual celebration of the Middle Hill MTB, which opened in October 2019.

Basically, families turn up with a plate of party food and whatever bikes they have. We give the kids a ride up the hill to the top of the purpose built Birthday Cake trail, get some parents set up with radios and stop watches as the official timers, and take it from there.

Like most things at Middle Hill, the event is evolving in to a bigger, better, funner version of the original. The 2023 edition is set to be epic, watch this space for more details and to sign up. Get practicing and we’ll see you then!