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Some days you shouldnt ride
I had 5 hours from 10am to 3pm to get to Emu Heights (from Frenchs Forest), ride Nepean River to Yellowmundee, do a lap and get back to pick up my kid from Preschool. I figured 1hr our, 3hrs to do the trails and a lap and 1 hr back.
I lost 20 minutes in a M7 smash where traffic was stopped and only 1 lane open. Thus would have to cut back the Yellowmundee lap.
I found a spot to park at beginning of Nepean ride amongst 20 odd bong bottles, Maccas rubbish. It was 33 degrees and 11:30am.
The first hill was huge. I was a bit worried about how much hike a bike might be involved. I went down around the first causeway and pulled up on a little black snake. I stopped on him and he darted off under my tire or foot quick as. I couldnt see him and now I was worried I would get bitten. I continued on. I like my down hills and usually go very quick. These hills have all baby head rocks and end in 90 degree corners with sand drifts. Not ideal for going fast, as I found out on the 3rd causeway corner. I lost the front end and end pancacking off into rocks and grass at side of track. Now my arm and back were not the best. I continued on for endless ups (walking/carrying bike) and downs under heavy brakes.
After 35 minutes I had only completed around 4.5 kms. There were around 3 trees down on the track at points requiring lift bike over one of them. I decided to turn back as it was hot. I couldnt get a signal on GPS so had no idea how close I was to Yellowmundee. The hills back were excruciating, especially the last one to the 2 gates. I got back to the car just after 1pm expecting all my windows to be smashed in, but it was okay.
Back down M2 to 40km road works and back in the door at 2:30pm. 4.5 hours return. 8.5 kms of dirt. Sore arm and back.
In my head I thought Nepean would be like Cascades. No way - you cant go fast, you cant get flow. Its just hard slog. You cant ride up and you have to brake all down into the 90 degree causeway turns.
Some days you just shouldnt bother. I should have turned around on the M7 when the accident happened. Never got to see Yellowmundee.
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Never spend more time in the car than the ride time at your destination.
( unless it's a race )
yeah I have ridden that trail too,I didn't enjoy it either you are better off going straight to yellomundie and doing 3 laps, heaps more fun
Good to see that it hasn't changed in the seven years since I last rode it. I ended up with skin off all down one side and having to walk about 4-5km back to the car with a broken bike after landing in an erosion rut after jumping a waterbar. Glad I lived in Glenmore park at the time.
Have done the trip the other way from the bottom of the bridle track off yellow rock to the ascent back up to Mt Riverview. Not a great deal of fun.
Similar experience riding from Island Bend to Jindabyne along the Snowy River. Looks like a nice downstream ride on the maps unless you look real close at the topo's. Those buggers that built some of these electricity service trails have no respect for contours. It's just straight up and straight down, repeat indefinitley....
Shoulda gone straight to Yellomundee... great little track. Sounds like an excuse dor an excursion in a gew weeks,jaco
It would be good to get an updated Trail Status on Yellomundee. After all last week's rain, it should not be too bad after a few good days - except if there are any trees down etc.
Next race out there will be Round 2 of the WSMTB Summer 4 Hours Series on Sunday 15 Jan 2012 (8am to 12). Entries will open soon.
BTW - best route from Lindfield to Yellomundee I find is M2, M7, Richmond Rd, Blacktown Rd, The Driftway, then onto Springwood Rd.
When I saw you had posted a trail status update I thought better you than me. The ride is a shocker!!
I have wanted to do this ride for years. It looks quite simple on google maps. I checked last night and it looks like I was less than 1 km from Yellowmundee when I gave up - figures. I have wanted to do this as I lived in the area for 30 years and went to Yarramundi in the 70s with my family - it used to be a picnic ground with bbqs and shelters. Then I camped there in the 80s. Since I have been on north side I always wanted to go back and do this ride. I originally thought I could match this with a Oaks ride and do all on one day and maybe throw in Knapsack as well.
I have to admit I wont go back and try this again. Would prefer to goto Yellowmundee for 3 laps or do Oaks and Knapsack (apologies to anyone who does this Nepean ride regularly, if anyone, it really is a nice area).