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A day to learn and live!


pikey's picture

By pikey - Posted on 27 January 2009

Re: This ride meeting: 
Marramarra - Sat 24th Jan

After we said good bye to the rides stage one guys, and after bagging them for being woozy girls, I lived to regret that comment, we headed off in search of some nice downhill fun which we did eventually find.

After reaching about 80% into the trail it then became the most difficult hike a bike I have ever done, I’m talking clambering over and sliding down small boulders.

We finally reached the bottom, a small grass clearing with a freshly mowed 4wd track. There we rested for about 20 mins with all the comments about the heat, I glanced over to the temp on my bike computer, 40.2 deg C nobody could believe it, probably because our own body temps were so high. I then touched my bikes frame and thought that’s hot, I then took a sip of my emdura in my bottle, no bull shit it was as hot as a cup of tea. We then headed on only to find a creek was only 100 meters from where we dropped.

Liam took a bath and a few others dipped their heels, on we went.

I was not expecting what confronted us next, hills f#%king big long and seemingly never ending hills. Seamed like three time Bigger and uglier than the dirt works nasty.

I hung with the back of the pack (as usual) Liam, Craig, Lee & I. After the first four water bar climbs Lee really went downhill with heat stroke / stress I don’t know but he was wasted. I worked with him getting him towards the top of the valley. Lee was now out of water with temps passing 42 deg C I gave Lee half the water I had (about 200mls each)with Liam doing the same for Craig. I took Lees bike to the top and met Liam, Craig then stayed with Lee and Liam while I rode out for help. I was getting a tad worried by now as after passing the NPWS gate I headed left for about 400m to see the road head back into the bush, I thought this can’t be right so turned around and went back to the gate. I then took the right hand trail to see it disappear also down into the bush, confused and thinking better to join the group than die out on my own I headed back again to the gate. As I was phoning Liam Craig appeared over the rise, happy to see him I can tell you (hes was now also out of water).

After an attempt of finding a Google map by Craig we judged the left road to be the way out, by the way, as Liam was the strongest of the three he stayed with Lee.

After about 4 km of hoping this was the way to help our hero Andy Bloot in his shining commodore came over the horizon, Andy after realising that we were taking way too long to join the split group realised something must be wrong so he drove in looking for us, Craig and I sent him in to get Lee & Liam whilst we rode out with the intention of driving in to pick up bikes or add support, you think of odd things in these situations. Minutes after we got to the cars Andy turned up with Lee who was feeling much better by now. Liam soon joined us as we wondered what could have been and what we had learnt from this experience. That’s an answer for another time.

The fact is we kept a level head and didn’t end up needing the help of the 000 boys.

But it was in our minds!

Pikey

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The Liver is Evil and must be punished Sticking out tongue
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Alysum's picture

Painful story, I didn't realise it was worse for the 4 of you Sad I had just enough water (very conservative) but it didn't seem to be making any difference to the body at all, I was stopping at every bit of shade for rest then trying to catch up the ones ahead and screaming f$%@!.

The 8 of us need a special Nobmob Medal of Courage!

Tom

Andy Bloot's picture

That did add to the feeling of unease
Luckily Daniel had a GPS which showed the direction more to the left
And then Joe got a flat (poor bugger)
What an epic

I was leaving and had a look down the fire road on the way out
I was a bit concerned as it had been an hour or so and thought maybe I better give Ditty a call
Luckily I only put his number in my phone the night before in case I couldn't find the start
And fortunately he answered, and as the Commodore is built for a bush bash...

We should also mention the people who live in the house at the end of the road who filled up every water holding device we had, and also provided ice. All from their own rainwater tank and using wind power as well. They were very pro MTB and were glad we were riding the local trails.
We had almost finished all this water again by the time Pikey had dislodged a stone from his brakes by taking the wheel of the land cruiser, ably assisted by Lee. Just what he felt like I'm sure.

A very interesting day

Colt's picture

It's just damn good that there were no serious repercussions from it all.... it's these sort of scenarios that you read about in the media, and usually with a 'mates lost/died in bush' type headline attached. It's just damn good everyone kept their heads and there were no major physical problems as a result of all this!

Still, if nothing else, you have a great MTB story to tell everyone. Eye-wink

And three cheers to the pro-MTB house dwellers who gave you the water!!! That's legendary.

Colt.

craigs's picture

Was a tough day indeed. As the situation went on, I had acutally planned to find a nice shady spot and rest till dusk and then trek out. The creek wasnt too far back. I thought that was a good solution if worse got to worse. We had phone coverage so I could have alterted loved ones of the plan.
Frustratingly, we were only 4km from the cars, water/food could have been ferried in if necessary.

I seemed to have legs made of concrete heading up that evil fire trail. Lactic acid or what, but the legs really would not cooperate with the brain.
While I was with Lee, I muched a few "sour snakes" (thanks Lee) and took in a little water. That was sufficient to give me the drive to get to the summit, where I was pleased to see Greg.
To my surprise I rode back to the car relatively easily.

Everyone worked really well together to get through.
The lesson to be learned was to plan for the worst. We ran low on water because we had only planed for the ride to take the time we though barring any incidents...well the incidents happened. The forcast 40C should have alerted us to take more than usual. Its an oldie but rings true.
And...The bite end of my camelback got caught on something while hiking a bike and came off, thus losing about half a litre of precious water. Not happy bout that I can tell you.

Wish I had known about the water at the house, I took off quickly in search of fluids....

Glad to have had these guys as part of the ride!

Craig

Rob's picture

This is interesting... I looked at the GPS trail someone posted on a comment back on the ride meeting page. You did go the right way but I'm lost as to your description:

After reaching about 80% into the trail it then became the most difficult hike a bike I have ever done, I’m talking clambering over and sliding down small boulders.

Last time I was at Smugglers it was all rideable bar:

1. A steep, narrow gully. This is after the flat rock clearing right as things begin to get technical.

2. Another narrow gully round the back of a large rock. One has to ride round this rock turning right and going behind it. Very tricky.

3. Near the bottom it gets very steep, but only walked one section of this and it certainly wasn't over boulders and stuff.

I've seen people attempt all these sections with varying degrees of success so would not call them hike-a-bike.

Basically - the heat didn't help you at all and made everything seem a zillion times harder? This is not a summer ride, eh? Eye-wink

Little-Ditty's picture

You last point is correct. As Pikey said, there was no need to be a hero at that point by riding down something sketchy. When you are riding in 43 degrees and highly fatigued, there's no need to hurt yourself when you are a 3 hour walk out of that place.

Caro's picture

That sounds terrible! I am glad you are all back and in good health!! (apart from your now surely fried brains Laughing out loud )
Crazy men you are, riding during that heat but I guess that's the Aussie toughness!?!? Eye-wink

Bernd's picture

not sure if I would call it that!!!
but Caro you are right, "glad you are all back and in good health!!"
Bernd

Stuart M's picture

but maybe they could all qualify for one of these awards for heading out on an unknown trail in that heat Eye-wink

Let there be light

pikey's picture

.... to kill and eat Gilbo for dinner had we stayed the night Eye-wink

"As he was already basted and half cooked!!! "

Pikey

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The Liver is Evil and must be punished Sticking out tongue
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