nathanstott
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 1125
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« on: February 19, 2012, 12,38:55 AM » |
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10 intrepid riders turned up to join me on a ride of some of the Black Range State Forrests most technical and character building tracks, some had an idea of what they were in for and others were without a clue!
We set off from the car park right on 9am, with no time for a warm up we were straight into the thick of it, i got to the end of the first track to find another group of riders changing a flat after only about 5km's of their ride.
We kept going and left a corner man at the start of the second track, waiting at the end of the track it wasn't long before a few boys turned up, then Doug arrived with news that the Black Range had reached up and bitten its first victim, it turns out the hose from his camel back was hanging down and the bite valve had been ripped of by some bushes causing doug to loose all his water, i didn't quite believe him at first as he looked like he'd tipped the contents of his camel back over his head he was sweating that much!!
Then news came through of the first mechanical problem of the day, the battery cable on Paul's husky had pulled out of the crimp lug stopping his bike, it was an easy fix and everyone was soon all together.
Trev B and Doug headed back to the cars to fill up and repair Dougs camel back so he could continue. The boys were gone for about thirty minutes before they returned, and then the group was on the move again.
After about 8k's of technical riding, i stopped on a hill to let the group catch up, soon people started to turn up with red faces and breathing farily hard.
Sitting on top of the hill for quite some time with 3 guys still missing, Dave headed back down to see what was going on and to help out.
Aj had come off over a log and rolled a fair way down an embankment and the boys were getting him and his bike back up onto the track, Victim number 2 had just been bitten by the tracks!
the boys got AJ back up the the rest of the group where he was looking a little worse for wear, AJ decided to pull out of the ride and as soon as we got to a road he was on his way back to the cars at about the 14k mark.
While all that was going on with AJ, Seano discovered his bike was leaking oil, we checked it out, cleaned up the area and couldn't pin point the source of the leak but we would check it out up on the road to see if it was still leaking.
Up on the road Seanos bike had oil on it again so he pulled the pin and headed back to the cars with AJ except Seano couldn't go home as he'd got a lift with Dave.
With time getting away from us we pushed on through Stanley Homestead and up a nice little rocky climb, where the Black Range would bite it's next victim.
Doug came to grief somewhere along the track and was stuck under his bike, Doug was rescued and he decided this ride wasn't for him and he asked Al for directions back to the cars and he was off.
The 8 of us continued on up a nice little rocky, rut and tree root infested hill climb, where the next victim was nearly bitten, Con boiled his bike on the hill and nearly boiled himself too, he got to the end where we had a regroup and he was talking about heading back to the cars, To Cons credit he decided to continue on.
To give the boys a rest and get some fresh air, i took them on a 2wd road for about 500 meters then it was back into the good stuff, the boys were moving along nicely then we hit the track that the level 2's took last weekend that they weren't supposed too.
I got to the top and waited a while and could not hear any bikes coming up the hill.
I sat and had some lunch then slowly one by one they all turned up red faced, puffing and sweating and three guys had emptied their camel backs and were out of water.
It was here we had a rest for lunch, we had a good chat and a laugh over lunch.
Given that 3 guys had run out of water we decided to head back to the cars as time was getting on a bit.
Just because three had run out of water and we were heading back to the cars that didn't mean i was going to go easy on them.
We set off and rode some nice tracks then hit a long rocky up hill which everyone made it up no worries at all, we were out on the SEC road for about 10 seconds then we were back into the good stuff, and i was heading for one of the most technical tracks in the forrest!!
this track is non stop ruts, roots, logs to go both under and over and it's very physically demanding, I set off up the track and left the boys to fight it out with the track for themselves! getting to the end with the heart rate up a fair bit i waited for the others, Paul and Lance turned up looking like they'd gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson!! i was at this point i was called a sadist!! which brought a smile to my face, but they enjoyed the challenge and the track.
A few minutes later Trev and Dave turned up and we waited for a bit with no bike noise to be heard, i gave Trev directions on how to get back to the cars and he took the boys back, while i headed back down to see what was going on, i found Clarky and Al clearing a handle bar height tree branch and they told me Con didn't have the energy to make up the track, and he was waiting at the bottom, the same directions to the cars were given to Al and Clarky and i went to get Con and take him back to the cars.
Back at the cars a relaxed Seano was packed up and ready to go, and he'd also found the source of the oil leak, turns out Sean had dropped his bike on his Rawson ride and had ever so slightly cracked the clutch cover.
It was 3pm and everyone decided they had had enough so we didn't head out for any more. i finished the day with 70k's on the clock and what a 70k's it was!
Thanks to everyone who turned up and gave it a go, i had a top day with great company and great riding,
thanks to Al for tailman all day, untill the next one.
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AL
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 830
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« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2012, 04,55:16 AM » |
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You bet me to it for the ride report Nath. Good report though.
I also had a great day, even as tail man. Apart from helping Dave retreive AJ and one or two lifts of a bike, my day as tailman was fairly easy and quite entertaining at times. With really only moral support given to the group a couple of times. (bad sense of humor all the time) Did ride back down two hills for the day to check on the boys, and saw a couple KTM cupachino machines as you do. To everyone on the days credit, either my words of support (some may argue) or the fact they thought i wasnt coming back down to help? They all got over their own issuses and beat what ever challedge they faced. I think everyone went home knowing they be out on the trail for the day, and afew probly wont forget Nath's idea of a good "physical day on the bike" means? I really liked heading into the last challedge hill and track to see all the smiles as the troops thought their day was nearly done. "Hey Al, you know what this tracks like?", "It looks fairly nasty to start with?". I said, "You'll love it!" and "Its a little technical, in places" (slight under statement) Local knowledge, got to love it! Cheers Nath for the day and everyone who attended and made it a great (but a little short) day. Till the next one, Al
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Trevor b
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 77
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« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2012, 02,40:11 AM » |
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Very good report there Nath, ya must've been tapping away on the keyboard for a while on that one. Top ride, had a ball, worked up a bit of sweat a few times on some of the tighter track (not as much as Dougy tho'  ). Good bunch of guys to ride with too, not sure about Al's idea of moral support though.... I think we've got unfinished business here, we need to go back and do the full ride as you originally planned, maybe when its a bit cooler tho'.... Thanks for putting it on and see you on the next one. |
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« Last Edit: February 20, 2012, 03,02:41 AM by Mat R »
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nathanstott
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 1125
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« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2012, 07,11:36 AM » |
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Al, glad you had a good day and didn't have to work to hard as Tailman, I thought the Tailman would be fairly busy on this ride but credit to those who attended, they faced the challenges head on and over came most of them on their own. ( until I broke them!! ) Trev, you looked like you had a great time and nothing stopped you! We definitely have unfinished business out there, I've got about another 40k of tough and technical riding to add to that ride and I want to do the whole loop soon, if there's enough interest from people wanting to challenge themselves I will put it on again after the 12 hr |
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AL
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 830
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« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2012, 07,43:47 AM » |
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Stop talking about it, post it! Make part of the requirement to attend the ride you bring your own map to get home if you fall short? And those without a working head light, should have thought about it before they signed up! If its done as Experienced ride, then you can expect anything?
Al
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seano
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 1388
BERGALICIOUS
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« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2012, 10,20:13 AM » |
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It is nice to be important.
But it is more important to be nice.
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David Smith
President 2013/2014
Administrator
Posts: 1518
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« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2012, 10,30:25 AM » |
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They could just finish the ride and they wont need maps... |
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Clarky
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 124
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« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2012, 12,05:45 AM » |
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Top day Nathan. The ride was exactly as you posted. I have rideen theat last track down a few times and didn't think I would make it up. I just tackled each obstacle (which was heaps) and kept on going. I really didn't like getting my bike under that tree with one handle bar nearly on the ground and going upo hill. Any way got through. I heard Al so thought I would watch him struggle with it too. Can you imagine how happy I was when he got to it and said hey pull the saw out of my backpack and lets cut it down. GREAT !! Just what I was wishing for. So we cut it down and he just roe through - easy. I get to the car park and said to Trev I was sorta following you up that hill but you must have got under that low tree quickly - how did you do that ? He pointed to his bike that had ferns hanging off it everywhere and sad that getting under that looked too hard so he went bush and rode around it somehow. GREAT !! Any way I made it up that track and I was damned pleased I did. Love these rides and the chalklenges they poresent. The more I ride em the better I am getting at em. Thanks heaps for a top day and having the confidence in me for me to join the ride and that I could get through - I was a bit uncertain about myself. Can't wait for the next one.
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nathanstott
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 1125
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« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2012, 07,36:39 AM » |
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I will put this ride on again after the 12hr and anyone wanting to get out of their comfort zone and push themselves and improve their riding should give this ride a go, the only thing that stopped people on this ride was fitness, not ability.
I agree with Dave about finishing the ride and not needing their own maps or copies of maps as there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had from stepping out of the norm and facing some challenges head on!!
Clarky, you underestimate your skill level on the bike. I confidently know that i can take you on any track and one way or another you will get to the end of it under your own steam.
It was also great to meet a new amtra member who goes by the name of Gator on here and his mate, who were both great guys and very good riders
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Lefty
Full Member 2012/2013
Posts: 248
Keep it in the family !!!
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« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2012, 11,39:31 AM » |
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I'd love to have a crack Nath. Just dont want to hold u up though champ !!! Wadda ya think ?
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nathanstott
Full Member 2013/2014
Posts: 1125
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« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2012, 07,37:32 AM » |
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I'd love to have a crack Nath. Just dont want to hold u up though champ !!! Wadda ya think ?
You wouldn't hold the ride up mate, it's not about speed, it's about riding at a consistent level all day and dealing with the terrain and the challenges that it presents to each rider, but most of all it's about having a go, and if your really struggling with something (which you won't) someone will help you through. So i expect to see you on the next ride!! |
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