Here’s how the “Pedal Til You Puke” ride looked from the bike, courtesy of Darb Ryan’s helmet cam. This might give you an idea of how much fun it is to zip through the forests of Clear Mountain on a Mountain Bike.
Another great video, Darb!
Category: South East Qld
Pedal Til You Puke
About 15 of us got together yesterday to ride some steep hills at Clear Mountain. The idea was to have fun, see who could ride up (and down) the most hills without getting off the bike, and to raise money for a friend of ours.
Graeme Ardern is fighting Hodgkin’s Disease. He needs some money in the next few weeks for neurosurgery that isn’t covered by his health fund or Medicare, so thought we’d all chip in a bit of cash to help out, and have a whale of at time in the process.
Here’s a link to their fundraising site if you’d like to help.
Thanks to Chantelle, Steve and Graeme for some great photos.
The course started out along some narrow trails winding thorugh the forest, across some steep creek crossings, then up onto the main fire trails. I’ve done this loop dozens of times before – I ride it at least once per week, but these guys rode it really quickly, and after 5 minutes I really started to feel puffed out.
We agreed to stop at the top of each hill to let everyone catch up. Towards the end, I was the one crawling to the top puffing and panting.
I was impressed with the skill of some of these riders. I was riding behind Mat (from For the Riders) and was amazed at how high he got into the air over some of the jumps, and how quickly some of these riders could get up the hills.
The last couple of hills were stupidly steep. Some of the guys put in a huge effort to make it part way up the hill. It was nearly impossible to even walk up the slope…
![](http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/Mad-Aussie/Misc/ga-pedal-puke_IMG_0212.jpg")
…so I just watched in awe as Graham “Wingadelic” Menizes smashed the last hill – riding straight up it, while singing at the same time. It was a sight to behold.
If you’re interested, Leanne has done a video of the event, including the last huge climb at the end:
I rode with a few friends afterwards to “warm” down, so the total distance for us was 20km (the course was 11km) with total vertical ascent of about 700m, and 1,400kcal. Considering most of that effort was in the first 11km, I’m giving this one 10 out of 10 on the tough-o-meter. I didn’t puke, but I came pretty close.
Total distance: 20.78 km
Total climbing: 752 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:15:05
Download file: activity_118195835.gpxTotal climbing: 752 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:15:05
More data
Wall Of Dirt – More Pics
Here’s some more photos that my friend, Andrew Macdonald, took of our ride to Walloon yesterday. Thanks for letting me share your pics, Andrew 🙂 You can see his entire album here.
The Wall of Dirt
Today I rode to Walloon (west of Ipswich) via D’Aguilar National Park with some friends from MTBDirt.com.au.
One of the highlights of the ride was the “King of the Hill” contest to see who could ride furthest up a terrible hill we’ve dubbed “The Wall of Dirt”. Tony (“Darb”) won the contest narrowly but he only managed to get part way up the start of this hill, and everyone else didn’t even make that.
After that, we all had to scramble up the Wall, pushing our bikes.
After finally getting out of the mountains, the trail dropped us out in the middle of Banks Creek – a farming area nestled in among the hills, with miles of dirt roads.
There were 15 of us in all. With a large group it was difficult to keep everyone together. If you look carefully, you can see the “Pack” of riders off in the distance with a couple of the other riders chasing them.
Parking space for the bikes was limited once we got to the Fernvale Bakery.
The food and drinks hardly touched the sides on the way down.
Thanks everyone for a great ride. I really enjoyed spending the day with you.
I’m grateful to live in such a beautiful place.
All up, almost 90km with about 1,750m of vertical ascent, and about 4,750 kcal burned.
It was a hot day, and the Wall of Dirt was really tough, so I’m giving this one 9 out of 10 on the tough-o-meter.
Total distance: 89.64 km
Total climbing: 1828 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 08:13:46
Download file: activity_116562872.gpxTotal climbing: 1828 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 08:13:46
More data
The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Go
I took the family for a hike at Mt Mee today, along the Somerset Track. It’s a 13km walk to a sheer drop that looks westward over the valley to Somerset Dam.
Harrison’s shirt says it all: “The mountains are calling and I must go”. The only problem was, in my enthusiasm to “go”, I didn’t take into account that 13 km is a long way for some people, especially 9 year old girls with short legs:
I can’t think of any other kids of her age who would walk so far. Fantastic effort, Lilly, you’re amazing!
A goanna tries to be inconspicuous as we walk by.
I think the rangers must have been burning back recently – either that or there has been a fire because the greenery of the forest suddenly gave way to burnt undergrowth with green shoots poking through. Much native Australian flora, including these Grass Trees, regenerates after fire.
Sam and Harrison on a huge rock we passed.
The panorama from the lookout.
Lilly, darling, I promise I won’t make you walk so far again.
Total distance: 14.27 km
Total climbing: 1091 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:34:40
Download file: activity_115180065.gpxTotal climbing: 1091 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:34:40
More data
Tour de Glasshouse
Well it wasn’t a race, like other Tour de somethings, but it was a tour on a bike, and it was spectacular.
The Glasshouse Mountains looked stunning today in the early summer weather. Whatever happened to Spring? This is a really special place. It’s even more special when you think about the Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi legends of the place as you move around it. Basically they’re an ancient family, with a mum (Beerwah) a dad (Tibrogargan), lots of kids (the other mountains), a baby on the way (Beerwah is looking pretty big), and a long dramatic history. I won’t recount it here, but if you ever visit the place, it might be worthwhile reading up on the legends beforehand.
Here’s Mount Beerwah from a couple of different angles. There are some fun downhill tracks near Mount Beerwah. Like many of the dirt tracks in the area they have ruts from the many four wheel drives and motorbikes that use the area, which makes riding it on a mountain bike a bit of a challenge.
The downhill trails near Mount Coonowrin are really steep too. I was very thankful for good front shock-absorbers. If not for them I’m sure I would have gone over the bars in a couple of places.
I had to ride along the bitumen for about 4km to get to some more trails, and was delighted to come across Bankfoot House. It was built in the 1860’s, and was used as a stage post for the Cobb and Co service for people travelling to Gympie to “strike it rich” in the gold rush. This road is called “Old Gympie Road” and is part of an old road stretching from Brisbane to Gympie through places like Kedron, Petrie, Kallangur, Caboolture… At some places along the route it’s still called “Gympie Road” or “Old Gympie Road”, but you won’t see many stage coaches on it these days.
More info about Bankfoot House.
According to Gubbi Gubbi legend, Father Tibrogargan has many children, with one on the way. He reminds me of the cares, responsibilities, joys and sorrows of fatherhood.
With a hunched back like that, you’d think he had a lot of worries!
All up about 38km and 2,400 kcal in just under 3 hours. This one rates 8 out of 10 on the tough-o-meter because of one or two gnarly climbs, and one particularly knuckle-whitening descent near Mount Coonowrin.
10 out of 10 for views though 🙂
Total distance: 37.4 km
Total climbing: 835 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:47:19
Download file: activity_114871424.gpxTotal climbing: 835 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 03:47:19
More data
Pine Forest
Last week I complained about how monotonous Pine Plantation Forests can be to ride through. Today I thought I’d rectify that by exploring the Beerburrum Pine Plantation for a few hours to see if I could find some more interesting tracks.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that they all look like this, with long straight dirt roads and rows of pine trees, but that’s not the case.
Some of the land bordering creeks and swamps is unsuitable for plantation timber, so it usually is just left as is – an oasis of biodiversity within a larger monoculture of slash pine. Riding along the borders of these sections I often found twisty narrow little tracks which were much more fun to ride on. Because of the extra grass, the tracks were less muddy than the big wide dirt roads.
This was another section of pine forest bordering a creek. While trying to avoid some puddles, I looked down at my feet and spotted this magnificent looking Lace Monitor, or Goanna. He didn’t move a muscle – just stared at me and hoped I’d eventually go away (which I did).
In between the large straight roads, there are myriads of smaller tracks like these. Some grassy, some just two lines of vehicle tracks. They’re all fun to ride – it just takes a bit of curiosity to find them.
Today I rode about 54km in almost 4 hours. I didn’t rush it – it was nice just to take it easy and see what I could discover. The tracks were mostly flat, and easy to ride. I hardly raised a sweat, so I’m giving this one 5 out of 10 on the tough-o-meter. But for enjoyment, I’d say it’s well worth the time.
Total distance: 54.67 km
Total climbing: 733 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 04:44:35
Download file: activity_113121594.gpxTotal climbing: 733 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 04:44:35
More data
Scrub Road
Liz asked me what I wanted for a Father’s Day present, and I said “A bush walk”. So today we hiked along Scrub Road. Basically it’s a big “vee” shaped road – steep down for 2km, then steep up the other side to the South Boundary Road Camp. Then turn around and repeat in the other direction.
At the bottom we had a great time hopping around the rocks in the creek looking for animals.
We stopped at the water tank / shelter on South Boundary Road for a bite to eat. Lilly thought she’d continue the camping theme by rubbing two sticks together. Thankfully no fire ensued.
About 8km in about 2 hours. A lovely walk with the family. Thanks for the wonderful present everyone 🙂
Total distance: 9.34 km
Total climbing: 476 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 02:35:05
Download file: activity_111650035.gpxTotal climbing: 476 m
Average temperature: NAN
Total time: 02:35:05
More data