The HuRT

That part of the Watagans is special.

Yes, you will see my name on the results page for the 324k HuRT. You will also note that I have by far the slowest time for the race. If you are looking for tips on how to do this event at speed, you clearly should not be seeking my advice on race strategies.

I can tell you however, that - 1) There is nothing “Mini” about the 324k HuRT. 2) You should get to know the functionality of your GPS device. Learning how to use the device during the event is not advised. 3) The condensation inside of a Cocoon bivvy is terrible. 4) You should think carefully about what gear to leave behind. Be ruthless. 5) Awesome bacon and egg rolls at Millfield and the burgers at Freemans hit the spot. 6) Keep peddling and enjoy the awesome trails.

Do they provide a list of B&B's on the route for those that want to take a more liesurely approach? If not, I might have been interested about 30 years gao. Only problem was they hadn't really invented mtb's then.....

Hmmmm... can anyone see any money to be made ferrying MTB riders gear between accommodation stops (which will obviously cater for a tired rider's needs) as they ride themselves?

Where's that Levy bloke?

@chrischris:

I'm going to the HuRT as an ITT in the first half of next year, prob in Mar.

Regarding your training question there is a book by Eric Schmitz and Ken Doyle, Weight Training for Cyclists, that's worth having a look at: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3249280-weigh...

That's what I have been intending to do EMPY, break it into smaller chunks to do overtime.

I call it the Soft HuRT.

I think I need to learn how to use my GPS and give route 2 a crack. That looks pretty sweet.

Tomorrow morning, I'm off. I think I'm going to give Gaz a decent run at the 'slowest time'.

Steve is out there right now doing the Big HuRT, just the mini for me.

http://www.trackleaders.com/hurt

(smart phones use this link)---> http://app.bluedot.mobi/

I cleared most of the spider webs between Freemans and Wallsend for you.

Glass Half Full

This entry will be slightly more in depth than other write-ups. Hopefully some of the info will prove helpful to any other novices who wish to undertake this adventure.

My background.
• MTBing for about 4 years now. Much more serious in the last 2 years.
• I once came 5th racing C Grade at an Awaba local race.
• Longest MTB ride was an 85km HuRT explore. Centuries only on the road bike. They don’t count.
• Usually ride between 1-5hrs a week.
• I prefer my MTB, but if the trails are sodden, I’ll road cycle.
• A lot of my riding is at night when my kids are asleep.

I became interested in the HuRT around Easter 2012 & set off to find the trail armed with my iPhone & an app called MotionX GPS. Although this does work, it is nowhere near as user friendly while riding on a bike and you’ll need a good signal strength, which lots of the Hunter does not have. (Hint: Get an Etrex)

I found Keiths an absolute muddy mess ruined by motos. I have since found out that trails ebb & flow over the seasons. A tiny bit of magic by one trail fairy along with a dry spell can turn any bog back into the best trail ever.

Although this short section of mud should have turned me off the HuRT entirely, it didn’t. Fast forward a year. As of last week I’d ridden around half the trail over many different days.

Story
I decided to take off on Thursday as Good Friday would have most resupply points closed. Mark & Mik were meant to join me for an extra long 3 day social ride… but Mark did something to his knee & Mik had some excuse too. So, I was off solo.

About 15 seconds from arriving at the Adamstown train station, the driver announced that I had exit via the last 4 carriages only. Damn. So, once I got off at Broadmeadow, I cycled back to Adamstown. Thank you for the extra hurt CityRail!

Riding in the dark is the best. I should have started earlier to beat the heat. Riding up over that hill behind Warners Bay is magic over daybreak. Heading out through Seahampton I stopped and had a chat to some locals who happily refilled my water supply. (no shops there)

The HAB that followed was not fun. At the very top I realized that my glasses had fallen out of my helmet. I slowly plodded back down the avalanche to find them about 20m from the top. Smiles!

After this, I finally found a way for my glasses to stay put in my helmet. Pro.

The rail corridor pump track & the Pointless Loop were highlights! So were the tire tracks left behind by a fellow rider just a few hours in front of me. It was strangely reassuring that someone else was just in front doing it a lot tougher than I. (He was doing to the Big HuRT) I could see his tire tracks most places.

Rolling into Abermaine I stopped at the Lawn Bowls Club and sat in the shade. The locals quickly invited me inside into the air con. I sat down for ½ hr & ate some food. I refilled some water & set off to Kearsley. Some of the shiv trees through here weren’t kind. To keep up any speed, you need to plow through them.

At Kearsley, I assumed it was only 1hr to Cessnock, so I filled up 1L and rode off. Mistake. It was hot, I was tired, and my strength was waning. I was hoping to find the Black Creek waterhole that Steve had posted on FB about, but never found it. Finally I rolled into Kitchener and made a beeline for the pub where I refilled.

The next section following into Cessnock has some brilliant trail, spoiled by tire swallowing sand. To be there on fresh legs would be great. I was not. My front tire washed out & I fell into a shiv bush. Next time I’ll pack tweezers.

There was one part where I stood in front of a 2m wall. The track went straight up it, as motos previously had. I had no idea how to get up other than throw my bike up discus style. I could not see any of Steve’s tire or shoe marks here. I wondered how he got up… I eventually ran half way up with my bike above my head and threw it.

At Cessnock, the plan was to quickly eat & set off for Paxton where I’d stay the night. Upon eating, my fatigue set in and I realized than Paxton was not reasonable. My reflexes through Aberdare State Forest were shot & my body began to shut down. Food!

I stayed the night at Cessnock Australia Motel where I realized that my plan was ruined. Paxton overnight would have set me up for an epic 2nd day ride to the finish. (riding solo meant I could set my own agenda) It was now very obvious to me that that plan was very over ambitious. New goal, Day 2 would finish around the Awaba track somewhere.

The next morning I set off at 6.30am & instantly realized I’d left my water bottle in the fridge. I needed it, so I waited until 7am when reception opened & got let back into the room. (face palm)

So, off at 7am up & over that big hill behind Cessnock and down into Paxton where I refilled my 4.6L ready for the next long stretch. Debbie at the Paxton pub was really nice & helpful. Country folk are awesome.

I wasn’t looking forward to the Baraba Trig climb, but it was really quite nice except for the last 100m elevation. I had some Motorace for musical company during this HAB. I also had my first leech for company.

Once at the top I started rolling along the fire trail. Brad called to say hi & asked if I was okay – and if I needed anything. I said yes. A new ass.

My backside was sore by now but I could press on easily enough. By the time I got nearer to Heatons I stopped for some food, and also to lie down. From here on, I was either on the pedals powering, or walking my bike.

As I came up to the Pines, Brad drove up behind me. He must have seen me ‘powering’ out of the saddle and commented how great I was looking. I muttered something about not being able to sit down.

The next part is a real high/low point. Great to see Brad with his infectious enthusiasm, but quite sad as he was willing to lend me some of his equipment (bivy etc) so I could continue on and not stay at some dodgy place like Freemans. But I couldn’t.

My mind was willing.
My legs were tired, but still motoring.
My core strength was tired, but still motoring.
My body overall was ready, but not the backside.

I felt bad that Brad had driven all that way just to catch up with me, and lend me some equipment, but I had to call it. To push on would have been quite foolish.

I kept riding the single trail towards Cooranbong, but another 2km in and I was done. I just followed the trail past Muirs Lookout, down Prickly Ridge Rd, and down to Tobins Rd/Mandalong. That 20km back to my car at Morisset really hurt.

Now, as I sit hear typing, I know I made the right decision. But I’m still annoyed as I know I had the rest in me.

Lesson learnt for next time.

Highlights.
• Glasses in helmet. Pro.
• Only 1 mechanical.
• Everyone so friendly. Debbie at Paxton pub, GNW hiker, chef at Cessnock pub.
• Baraba Trig was really nice. Motorace for musical company.
• Encouragement from the HuRT community.
• Brad meeting me at the Pines with equipment.
• Bike James dot com. Core strength pays. Turkish get ups. Do them.
• Hunter Valley.

Lowlights
• Aberdare sand wash out into prickle bush of death.
• No tweezers.
• Not many animals.
• Not enough night riding.
• Poor preparation.
• Forgetting water bottle at Motel.
• Brad meeting me at the Pines with equip that I couldn’t use.
• Not riding the best track ever from the Pines down to Pringles road. That’s the best track closest to my house, and I never get tired of riding it.
• My saddle.

Now that I’ve ridden the entire trail (over many days) I now have HUGE respect for anyone who’s completed this challenge. Especially AK & Ross. Those times they set are simply extraordinary.

Advice for novices
• Shoes. Don’t wear new ones. Lots of HAB and rock scramble. Don’t wear carbon soled racing shoes. I wore Salomon trail running shoes as my left knee doesn’t like clipless.
• Know how to fix your bike.
• Know your limits & walk where you need to.
• Skills around Awaba are not enough.
• Study the map!
• Small exploring rides help enormously.
• Etrex. You’ll need one. Learn how to use it.
• Lights. Night riding. You may need to ride at night at least to get to a better camp site or water source.
• Be safe! You will not always have phone reception.

A few lessons learned along the way will see you more determined next time.

The rain started as I arrived at Cessnock but was very light. It didn't start raining heavily until after I went to bed around 9.30. As written above, I stayed in a Motel. This is not against the 'rules' at all, but it is slightly against the spirit of bikepacking. In any case, I packed light in preparation for an 'all or nothing' style ride. If I had of gone to Paxton on Day 1, it would have been an extra 20km over a large hill, and probably taken me 3hrs in the dark. I would have been ruined the next day.

In case anyone from Sydney is wondering, this track is not like Ando's or The Oaks at all. Well, parts are, but mostly not. I think my average speed of 11km/hr on day 1 tells a story.

I'm hoping that Steve does a write-up of his experience on the 'Big HuRT'. He put a stellar effort to set a new record.