You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / By Location / Australia / NSW / Central Coast / Great Northern Road - How does it hold up in rain?
Great Northern Road - How does it hold up in rain?
Hi,
I'm thinking of riding the 75km loop of Great Northern Road tomorrow. Does anyone know how it holds up under rain? Are there any creek crossing that might be high?
On that note, anyone have an update on the creek crossing heights on Andersons?
Cheers,
Kym
- Login to post comments
- Bookmark & share
Tags
http://nobmob.com/node/20709
You will need a new drivetrain after the rain we have had up there....
The GNR handles the rain ok however if its raining you will chew through pads inside of 75k. Also the hawkesbury river is in flood at the moment and that may close the roads and/or ferrys. You will need to check the relevant websites before you head up there to see if its open.
Although the level trails will be okay, you have to ride down some long and steep hills there. And there is no alternative but to be on the brakes. You will wear your pads out in an hour with all the sand you have to ride through (GNR has lots of sandstone, and therefore sand). I would look further inland if I was you.
Yeah that will be significant, I went through front and back pads on my Yeti within 25km when I last was up there in the rain...nightmare.
Thanks for all the feedback.
Just desperate to get some long distance practice in before capital punishment in a couple of weeks. Can you anyone recommend something similar that might be a better option? I'm expecting some rain, but maybe smoother fire trail that drains better?
Cheers,
Kym
I did two laps of Duckholes/Centre today and although it was quite wet in places, there are no massive hills to ride down that will constantly chew at your brake pads. It was all rideable, but a bit muddy. Don't bother with the long trail, it will be unrideable at the moment.
Its not the hills that wear out pads in the really wet conditions. Its the sand and grit that gets thrown up from a wet surface so I doubt there will be any difference in pad wear on a flat vs hilly course. I hate the grinding noise you get after a big puddle so usually drag the brakes for a while when they are grinding to clean them up and stop the noise.
Its just when its constantly wet that there is nothing you can do. When its like that your pads will wear out without touching the brake.
The GNR is closed due to the flooding in low lying areas. Compounding that the Wisesmans ferry is closed and so are the other 2 ferries due to the amount of rubbish from the flooding rivers. The ferries according to the locals will be closed for the next 4 days. Something I discovered on my motorbike today.. More rain won't be making things any better.