AMTRA.com.au

The Black Range Ride
 4th August 07
by Alan Mason

Peters ride was a challenge for me on the sighting ride before his first AMTRA ride. But with plenty of rain on Saturday night I knew the appearance would be even greater? We grouped at Glenburn road house at 8 am, and were off to the start point by 8:30. The start point is a 10 minute drive into The Black Range down Murrindindi rd. (http://amtra.com.au/v1.2/forum/album_pic_310.jpg)

We geared up for the 100km ride in the misty rain and headed down ? Rd to the first goat track. With only 1km travel I have my first oops on a tricky hill from not paying attention. But no worries as Shane runs over my leg and the back of my bike, my attention is now back at the task at hand. This track climbs up and down a few gully’s and over every fallen tree for the last 100 years. With a few rocks and deep ruts, complete with flowing water to help assist you in not getting a chance to put your butt on the seat. This first track is about 4km long, but leaves you feeling like there should only be about 4km to go and your done?
   
Back out on to a Teflon coated open track which works its way around to letting feel like, what was I worried about, its not that hard? Then we turn into another great, but tricky goat track. With logs, rock, ruts, some very tight sections and gravity defying pincers?
   
This is the trend of the ride until lunch, then comes the first real hill climb? Reece ride I had nine attempts, with three head first rolls down the hill. Until Pete rode my bike up. Not this time I said, I am doing so well today? First attempt ½  way. Shane says cross over hear to left then up. Second attempt, ¾  the way up and stuck and stuffed. Shane says would you like me to ride it? Hear it is I say. Shane turns down hill and has a go, while I stubble up the hill kicking myself. Then I hear my bike just effortlessly climbing up the hill, just like the sales video? Shane stops near the top and says you’ll be right from hear Al? Then some advice given about how to tackle this steep and slippery start and we are at the top with ease.
   
Pete then take us along some long steep flowing tracks, to were the 2nd hill climb arrives. Reece ride 7 attempts, Pete rides bike up for me. This time straight to the top, even dodging the stuck Stuart on the way up.
   
Its then back into goat track central followed by goat track Grand Central, followed by what ever is bigger the Grand Central?

To brake up these great goat tracks were some very long, steep and slippery down hills, best handled very slowly, very gently, very carefully feeling the brakes whist thinking of a happy place?
   
More goat tracks brings us out to sec lines and some long open grassed hills heading for the cars.
   
Then it’s into some more challenging goat tracks to bring us home. Pete’s loop is one of the best I have ever ridden with at least 80% of it tricky goat tracks. Thanks to Pete for putting on his first AMTRA ride, the day flowed so well, that it was like his 100th. I would also like to thank the group who went on the ride, as I was at the end of my current skills, the thumbs up and the pats on the back by my peers was rewarding. And special thanks to Shane for the advice given that helped for the rest of the day, Al.

Ride List
Peter Lovell   WR450   Ride Leader (pictured)
Alan Mason    WR250   Novelist
Stewart Coulson   KLX400
Leo Giannini   CRF250  Tail man
James Brown   EXC450
Juan Roncallo    EXC250
Shane Roberts    EXC300