AOK

Teamed up with Pete for todays 10 kilometers and stretched it out to 12 wohoo! All seems cool, still noticable sensations but today I stood in the pedals for the small hills up to the gravel section of Round Mountain Road. All good. It was nice to break into a sweat for the first time in 5 weeks....

Double Cudgera without pain

This arvo, Peter and Rick wanted to ride up Cudgera Creek Road. But they decided to drive to the Reserve Creek Intersection so they could get in a Norm watching the footy on TV after. I rode down Kanes against the moderate SE and arrived at the spot but no-one was there. So I rode off slowly towards Wabba on my own. As it turned out made it to the top and did a U-Turn and enjoted the descent. As i hit the bitumen the other two turned up riding their bikes. Still feeling fresh I choose to ride back up. They raced and I cruised no worries again. The fish oil and glucosamine seem to be doing the job, to the point of feeling more pains in my good knee than the bad one.

Any way turned again at the top and raced down meeting a car near the bottom and just avoiding the ditch on the side of the road. Still feeling pretty good I decided to say no thanks to the the ride in the combi home and chose to instead to take advantage of the Sou'Easterly and do a push along the freeway to Clothiers Creek, not droping below 30kms/hr on the Cypress hybrid. But the turn down Watty Bishop put an end to the speed. So decided to enjoy a dawdle home to finish with a 20km/hr average over the ride. Not bad when you include the 5 km of climbing on gravel and the Kanes Road undulations.

Anyway 40kms all up and one of the longest rides I have been able to go on without pain for a very long time.

Nightcap National Park

Public Holiday Trip to Minyon Falls with Mark in preparation for the Freedom Ride. A bush ride on the Youcan.

We got underway about 10:45am with mark picking me up in his work van (without me leaving anything behind this time) a journey through Brunswick, Mullumbimby, etc through to the Nightcap Nat. Park. We parked at Rummery Park Camping area and rode west onto Nightcap Range Road to the sign posted Telephone Road, on the maps it is Wirupa Break, but we made our planed turn too late to the left off Wirupa onto Telephone Road instead of the Minyon Fire Break. Dohh!

This led us on to Baldwins Road and a Southern exit to the park (although the proceeding ride was a nice descent along well maintained gravel road with heaps of small jumps, created from the cross road drains and a multitude of 50mm diameter strewn branches). We would need to retrace our tracks and try to get back to Minyon Falls.
So back up the short distance to the turn off (right) to Quirks Fire Track to the Quandong Fire Track and passing through Quandong Falls. Here we rested eating our lunch to the sound of small waterfalls and cool view in total quite (except for the forest sounds) and a great view then it was onto the Minyon Loop.

Clambering over fallen trees and as often as possible riding in granny gear along a rough walking track all the way to the intersection with the Miniyon Falls--Minyon Grass walking track. Here we started to see people again. We continued along pushing and riding where possible to the Minyon Falls Parking area until we were once again on course to ride along the single track to Rummery Park and Peates Mountain Road (freedom ride course)

We then, well me anyway, grovelled up to 615 meters elevation continuing past Perlite Road, past Watts Folly Road and turned around just before Tugan Road. Then the descent down Peates Mountain Road for a breezy 5 and a half minutes back to Marks van.

[caption id="attachment_380" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="Peats Road about to descend"][/caption]


No Photos, but here is a 5 minute video of the Descent of Peates Mountain Road from my new $120 - ALDI Oregon handlebar video camera (Warning: 7mb downloaded)...

Only 20 kilometres but a fun trip even getting lost was good!


[caption id="attachment_381" align="aligncenter" width="423" caption="nightcap route"][/caption]

Paddock Bash

Slow cruise on the old mtb with Mark today, starting at a mellow 9:00am. A paddock bash along cane roads, cattle tracks and old abandoned banana roads from Round Mountain Westwards to Reserve Creek then the same repeated through to Palm Vale. Returning via the road network. Of note was a couple of little creek crossings, climbing over an electric fence using the bike frames as ladders on either side and the discovery of another possible route into the Mooball forest! it took ~4hours to cover the ~22kms.

[caption id="attachment_353" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Paddock Bashing with Mark through private property"][/caption]

Again Maybe!

Organised with Mark during the week to try (sic) to climb to the top of Cudgera Creek Road. Just to test the knee, as all I have managed to put together are flat, intermittent, rides with varying degrees of success. But I had to bite the bullet and attempt a hill whatever the consequences or think about seeing an Orthopedic Surgeon.

Well I set of about 8:15am thinking I would catch Mark near Wattie Bishop Road before heading off toward Cudgera Creek. The arrangements were for Mark to get to my place at 8:30am but I set off anyway... As it turned out I needed to ride the 7km's to Mark's and wait for him to finish getting ready, (late night as a designated driver).

We pushed off at the planned SLOWWWW pace south toward Cudgera along the gravel of Round Mountain Road. Of note the surface was noticeably good clear of major potholes and braking corrugations, a very different condition to what we would find on Cudgera Creek Road.

No problems spinning up the King's hill or past Quinns or James'. So on to Cudgera Creek Road. By now it was warming up out of the light Southerly breeze under the clear sunny winter sky. On the first flat corner I decided to stop and remove my jacket. Unclipped both peddles and put my foot straight into a dip in the road at the same time accidentally re-clipping my other foot. What transpired was a very slow fall to the surface of the roadway, clipped in! No damage just a few profanities....

Now a decision push on or turn for home. The knees had not suffered from the fall so onward and upward... We continued to spin upwards. At one point coming upon a couple of very young BMX kids trying to develop their skills at jumps against the side of the road embankments. As we approached we watched as one of them didn't quite lift the front wheel enough to take the jump . Causing he and the bike to come to an abrupt halt. No damage or tears so we continued on.

Just chatting away we reached the turn off to Wabba Road. Here we encountered the owner of the property we sometimes use to access the Mooball Forrest. Gave our thanks for past access and we were told about a group of not so considerate riders passing through her property, to her aggravation, close by her house... not a happy camper!

Well everything was to turn out good. So we re-mounted for the downhill travel. The surface of the road has actually been washed clear of road base in many many places and all that is left is the bull dozed bed rock. Very rough on the bike but also local cars and trucks.

At the top of Kanes Road we parted ways and I made it home at 11:15am.

The only thing I might need to remember to take on the next outing is sunscreen!

Thanks for the good company Mark.

Kud-da

Well managed to get to the top of Cudgera Creek Road Hill during the 30c+ heat this afternoon and I did it so slowly... nothing to do with the loose swails on every corner and the deep corrigations just the concern for the knee... also went for a quick paddle on the south side early this morning before the wind and heat with an old mate Wee Wee from WA good to see you again mate...

When I was cruising up Hastings Point "Hill" at the beginning of the ride dodging the tourists I also had to slow for a crossing 4 foot brown snake... ah there is yet hope for all the campers on the headland shame it was heading away from the main area... the New Years eve drinkers might need to take a bit of care where they fall in a heap later tonight...

 

The ride was 43.3 kilometers 

Happy New Year!

A Bit of Everything

Thought about a ride today, even though I was feeling buggered and pulled a slow 45km which took 3 hours. Rode off toward Cabba, might as well get Cabarita Cycles to check the tyre pressure... My god it was humid with a brisk North Easterly blowing... Well even though it was expected to change to the South later in the afternoon I might as well ride North and look at climbing Duranbah and Farrants Hills. When I got to the top of Duranbah, I changed my mind and thought why not try to get through Forest Hill Road to Clothiers Creek.... it was not to be.

I rode round Duranbah Road to where I worked in 1987, memories.... and then back to Forest Hill Road.   After trying the center route and finding it ends in the swamp at the North West Corner of Cudgen Lake I climbed the return circle, coming off numerous times. At the top I noticed a fairly well marked track to the east, maybe this would make it around the Northern edge of the Lake... After rolling to the small creek at the bottom of this track I noticed a new fence line climbing straight back up the side of the spur on the otherside.... Nearly vertical! Ah well around here there are lots of old fire trails and I wrongly assumed there would be one along the ridge somewhere.... Dragging slipping and sliding my way up the very steep slope with the peddly over fallen logs and loose rocks slipping backwards occasionally. Finally after about 30 mins I made the 300 meters to the top and looked out through the trees toward another valley with another ridge beyond that.

[caption id="attachment_316" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="That Steep Bit"][/caption]

The push up the hill had left me disorientated and the sky was closing in so I was not sensing where I was I decided to follow the ridge upwards. I came to a fence line of a property follwed it and it happened to be on Duranbah Road thus I had completed a Circle... the hard way... By now I was fairly exhausted, not to speak of wet from the rain that had started to fall and decided to take the Cudgen Quarry track down to the coast road via Kings Forest...

Here I missed a turn and when I lazily did a U-Turn over the edge of the track to rectify this I managed to pick up a large thorn in the rear tyre and the rain was getting heavier. I pushed the bike to an area of clay fill near a cattle grid with a gate? in amongst all the sand tracks covered with pine cones. All thumbs I swapped the tube for a new one taking out the thorn and refitted the wheel.... By now the rain had decided to really come down and with it the wind was picking up from the South....

I cruised slowly back along the track towards the coast road, where all the cars had their lights blazing in the rain. Thinking of the waiting beer in the fridge at home didn't get me riding any faster!

Hells Hole Continued and some...

Getting there

OK let's see... After cruising up Cudgera Creek hitting the summit at 180 meters we coasted down to the Burringbar Service Station, I was cautious after having taken a corner very wide on a small descent on Kanes Road and nearly losing it before the ride had even gone 5 kms.  We then rode on to Mooball, ChrisL taking a comfort stop and me continuing, both of us knowing full well he would catch me on the next big rise, which he did and passed me to wait at the bottom. A repeat we would see throughout the ride, sorry Chris...

We took the stock road via the tunnel under the freeway bypassing Billinudgel proper, the second stretch of gravel and a new road for me. We were then on the Pocket Road a few kms of comparative flat before the climb and following decent into Main Arm, where ChrisL was once again waiting... Here I needed to get off the bike and de-numbing? my feet getting the circulation back. So sat by the side of the road and got some stretching in, for 10mins. Now across the undulations gradually climbing the last of the sealed road before the climb ChrisL had warned me about ok he said to ride like a slug just hang on and suck.

It was heavy going but I still felt good being out of the North Easterly, and managed to grind up towards the Manns Road intersection. Here google lets you down completely. Main Arm Road shows no sign of changing or you needing to turn off onto the Skyline Ridge Firetrail, Main Arm Road at street level just continues on until you reach the "T" intersection of Main Arm Road, Manns Road and Middle Ridge Road. I didn't make it! My forward speed dropped to 3 kms/hr and I basically stopped any forward movement!  I got off and began walking, after 100 meters the steep pinch reduced and I again managed to climb back into the saddle and get going again at 6 kms/hr.

At the top ChrisL was once again patiently waiting at the intersection only this time he had some company. A four day mountain bike riding Gold Coast High School excursion was congregating at the intersection. They were at the middle point of their third day between the Gold Coast and Lennox Head and were heading toward Mullum', with two four wheel drive support vehicles and trailers stacked with camping etc equipment.

Now ChrisL informed me that the next climb was to be incredibly steep, he had warned me previously! Little was I too realise just how steep. He had climbed it with a full touring load only weeks before so I was going to give it a go even though my weight equalled his combined with his touring load! the very first stage is a little cruel, it's mildly downhill for a short distance then bang! it just starts climbing. Being in the dense forest you have no way of seeing the summit but these same trees gave great cover from the strong Spring sunshine! This was to be a very short ride! I only made it about 200 meters into the climb and my legs gave out, and had to push the bike the rest of the way to the very summit! The gradient of Middle Ridge Road was way, way, way steeper than the previous climbing section on Main Arm Road, to the point where my feet were slipping slightly on the loose gravel as I walked and pushed the kilometer up the hill! ChrisL said later that he made it with surprising ease. I jokingly suggested it might of been because of all the enforced rest stops he had been having!

ChrisL was waiting at the next intersection, (this time I think the waiting was not so patiently, too much stand around time previously and our destination was so close, maybe?). OK here I definitely needed a rest, even though ChrisL was very eager to be off with me having finally arrived. I crouched with my head between my knees for a bit to try and get rid of my dizziness and had a nut and fruit energy bar. After about 5 minutes we were able to get back on the bikes and begin the short descent along the now named road/fire trail Middle Ridge Fire Trail, which was according to Google just the continuation of Middle Ridge Road, so a new mystery arises where does the, not recognised by Google, rest of Middle Ridge Road go?

ChrisL stopped us at an intersection and asked me where now? as there was no street signs of any sort! He said he had ridden down to the left and it was a dead end! Straight on was a creek but no falls at either end. I had left my map at home, error #1, I thought I would ring home and ask them to read it to me, error #2 even though there was mobile phone reception. Error #3 was not realising that all the roads had been given new names and Google didn't know much about anything here but still bullshited something close!

Anyway I managed to waste a good 30 minutes trying to solve the mystery. In the end ChrisL and myself felt it would be best to cover some ground he had not ridden previously to see if we could get through to our final destination.

As luck would have it, just as we mounted our bikes, along came a couple of bush walkers from Mullumbimby. I asked if they knew the way to Hells Hole and guess what?, that's were they were going!!!! Anyway it was to the left off the Middle Ridge Firetrail. So ride the descent along the gravel through the lush rain-forest of palms, vines, old trees covered by moss and lichens and the superb quiet!

We arrived at the bridge at the bottom and my memories flooded back. We had made it! Now it was a short walk to the right along the slowly flowing creek bed to the falls. The only change in 34 years was that the jumping tree spanning the pools was now collapsed into the creek with the roots end still high up the valley side. At least it might save someone having an accident jumping into the water filled pool below it. I did it when I was young but now that I am old and stupid I have different ideas!. The quite sounds of the small flow of water falling over the first stage of the falls was what entertained us while I soaked my feet and eat my sandwiches. The View out over the falls was stunning with the steep sides of the valley framing it on both sides! 

The return Trip

OK at 1:30pm we thought we should begin the return journey, back through UKI via Manns Road. The start was to be a walk/push on again off again ride back to the Middle Ridge Fire Trail, for me mostly walk and Push, for ChrisL mostly ride but still some walk/push. Along the Middle Ridge Fire Trail it was all ride, albeit slowly at times to the end of the trail and then the screaming descent down the loose gravel of Middle Ridge Road. Thank goodness for dry working brakes!

At Manns Road ChrisL gave me a precis of the road ahead, which I managed to ride all but for about 100 meters, my legs were sapped of all but the basic energy needs! Then it was the next fast descent over the gravel toward Uki and back onto sealed Roads. At Uki we were to part company. Again we had some luck the Uki Cafe was still just open, moments after we ordered they took the sign down! I said to ChrisL I was going to have a very sweet coffee for the sugar hit, I thought I was going to need it for the yet to come 35kms with 400 meters of climbing I still needed to do to get home.  We sat together having our drinks.

My three hills combined were about the same height as the single hill ChrisL was yet to climb on his way home through Mur'bah to the Gold Coast.

I made it to the base of the Smiths Road hill and only managed to get about 1/3 the way before the legs gave out. Not a good sign for the two hills to come. Anyway the walk was pleasant to the summit. The good news after that walk is that there was only slow riding to come. Making my way over the small Stokers Road hill to the Tweed Valley Way, climbed to the top of the Burringbah Range screamed down the descent into Burringbah, turned onto Cudgera Creek Road and the now seemingly very long grind up to Wabba Road and then down again toward the turn off to Kanes Road and home along very familiar roads. 

At the start of the descent into Cudgera Creek Valley it started to spit with rain and the sun was starting to set. So on came the lights but the rain was soothing to the skin rather than any form of annoyance.

All up for me it was a journey to be sure, but a very invigorating and personal limit stretching experience. I hope that my inabilities did not detract from the overall experience for ChrisL and that he made it home easily without the burden to slow his journey further.

Bring on the next one I say, but maybe ChrisL might just have second thoughts taking on the roll of riding partner in the future!

 

Ride length: 100kms (including walking and pushing)

Elevation Climbed: 1500 meters  (including walking and pushing)

Duration: 11 hours  (including rest stops, lunch and coffee breaks)

Da'Yabby

On todays ride, the first on my main bike in 2 weeks, I went for a contrast journey. Started along the bike path then over to the freeway via Clothiers Creek Road. South to Cudgera Creek Road over the winding gravel over to the sealed section then return over the gravel to Reserve Creek Road. On the return right on top of the hill I nearly ran, slowly, over a v'large yabby a tail thicker than a broom handle and front nippers reared in anger the size of 50c pieces. I thought it strange to see one so high up, even though there has been a lot of rain of late. It may have been washed out of its' home or just looking for a mate and taking the oportunity of the weather to get moving.

All the gullys I passed by were cascading falls and the flat cattle and cane fields were inundated. Turning off Reserve Creek Road onto Round Mountain Road was quietly pleasant. When I approached the freeway overpass up ahead was quite a large and deep expanse of water across the road. No worries, ride on. Getting half way was fine but the second part took the water over the main crank and I felt a bit like I was churning water getting nowhere with my shoes filled with cold water.

I felt like going a little further so turned down Kanes road back to Cudgera Creek and onto Pottsville to ride a further 18km. I left Pottsville just toward the end of twilight and arrived home happy a little after dark, back along the Coast Road and interchanging on occassion the bike path.

The water crossing seemed to affect the gear changes a little. After making the crossing the down-shifting seemed to become a little sticky but the upshift was unaffected. So it was where able, down 2 up 1 to get a clean change. Quite annoying!

Todays Trundle

Rode over Kanes road through to Cudgera Creek Road on to Burringbar-Mooball turning onto the Pottsville-Mooball Road and returned home via Kanes Road again.

 Just an enjoyable 42kms of sunny, although, cool ride over gravel and course aggregate bitumen.

There were a 'cupla' cars/4wd utes needing to get past but they were not aggressive nor did they seem to be in too much of a hurry for a Saturday afternoon. Just chugged up the 2.5k hill to the top of Cudgera Creek with ease. Later on the swift descent past the old Pottsville/Taggert quarry was fun and glanced at the speed on the descent and managed to see it hit 74km/hr for the short burst. fun! The ride returning over Kanes road was good, as I tried to not drop below 16k during the ascents and managed to pull it off. Felt very pleased with myself, even though I know it is really slow when compared to a serious and not so serious road riders pace. Oh well, each to their own goals!

Been Lazy Posting

Thought I should post a couple of entries as I have avoided doing it when there has been little difference in the day-to-day riding I've been doing of late. The trouble is that as time goes by things do seem to fade.....

Well as usual I have been riding after dark. But have also ventured out a few times on short outings during the day... An example of which was yesterday, down to Cabarita Cycles to get the treadly's collapsed crank bearings replaced, Jeff put in sealed ones which should see it last through any more rain the weather decides to throws at us! 

I've gone on a couple of rides with Mark over the last few weeks. One at night up to the top of Cudgera Creek Road Hill, which is where I first started to notice the collapsing crank bearing, though I had no Idea what it was. The bearing was just a little play on the cranks as the peddle went past the top dead center of a cycle, so I will recognise it next time! That ride we checked out Hstings headland and Marks new toy he got for his birthday (a bike computer with altimeter) but it was showing we were at 80 meters above sea level but it can't be more than 12. Needs setting. Anyway that was a quick ride up and back.

On Thursday I went for a ride back over to Bucks Lane in Palmvale to see what it was like riding up the hill at night.   Actually got to see a bit more than that as I met a nice chap who decided to drive swly behind me along the recently tarred section of Palm Vale Road to light my way, Thank-you David!   As it turned out I found out a bit of the history about Bucks Lane and that it is on private property but it would be cool to ride it when I liked. It seems that "Buck" was a local Indian immigrant banana farmer and etc

The ride was rounded off by riding towards Cudgera Creek via the gravel section of Reserve Creek Road. As I passed by the Merrama house I decided to speed down the hill towards the culvert/bridge at the bottom. To my shock I found out the road had become strewn with deep potholes with no route to avoid them, so it was ignore the brakes and just hang on and hope the treadly would find its own way through, over, in, etc Luckily it did, but it was a wake up call!

This sign has been placed on Marine Parade Kingscliff for a while now. It shows the true understanding of the local bicycle community needs by the local Tweed Council and it's staff. Gee it's great to see there is now a Dedicated Bike Path in Kingscliff!



Oh I see this must be another of those signs with a spelling mistake! make Dedicated into Designated and there might be some truth to the wording! There are no dedicated paths! There is only the shared on-road ones with cars etc or the off-road ones with pedestrians that I know about. Let me know if I am wrong!

Wet n' loopy Tuesday

Today was my first venture out into the daylight since the end of November last year. It seemed that I would not have to worry about any skin photo-sensitivity. A day with full cloud cover and rain easing to torrential down pours. It is still raining as I write this entry.

The distance was a hard 48kms, for me anyway.  I started out and thought that today would be the day to attempt a bit of a bush bash. So off I go over Towners Road towards Clothiers Creek Road. At the end of the Road is some private property owned by a bloke I know by the name of Jim. So it was over the locked gate and an attempt at his hill/driveway. Well I only made it about 10 meters before the rear wheel  slipped losing traction and at the same time the front bumped a rock so off the bike I came. This was to be the start of the long push to the Summit of Round Mountain (the hill itself). After arriving at the top it was a little unclear as to which way to go as the whole area had been cleared. I selected a western track and finally got back into saddle. Came to a gate after some twists and turns and as it was scrub on the other-side lifted the bike and rode on onwards the North. This was to be a fairly short time in the saddle as the incline got so steep that the brakes no longe held the bike both the front and rear wheels slid over the leaf and sticks covering the running water covered clay. So it was off the saddle again. The descent was harder than the climb earlier. Just holding the bike by the brakes was difficult, it was sliding and so were both my feet for a meter at a time before I could get some purchase and take another step! This continued for about 200 meters until the track slowly started to level out a bit. So it was back in the saddle and on with the ride at last.

Leaving the forest behind I came out inside Tanglewood and decided to do a little look around as it turned out I was able to climb up to the top of Tanglewood Hill along Tanglewood Drive and through the next downpour down to Clothiers Creek Road. From here I decided to do a loop over Reserve Creek along Round Mountain Road via Watti Bishop Road etc This didn't seem long enough even with the heart pumping Maremma Race along Reserve Creek Road so I doubled back via Kanes Road and onto Bogangar along Clothiers Creek Road.

At Bogangar I went into



To ask Jeff about a 700c rear wheel as a spare  for the  Home-Grafton Trip and as a replacement for Humphery's warped one. While I was there I asked how he was getting on with his website, to cut a long story short nothing is in the works but the desire is there, so in the meantime I offered to promote his shop here (for free) and he agreed. It would be good if happy and not so happy clients were to add comments about the shop as It is good to have this shop locally and I think we need it to stay and will need to thrive to do this!

OK! back to the ride. After the rest stop I was now thinking of extending the ride by doing a standard Hastings Point, Pottsville, Cudgera Creek then Home loop and that is what i did.

But I was really starting to feel the last couple of little climbs, my legs were now spent, even though it was only just aproaching the 50k mark. I had not taken anything to replenish my depleted energy, especially after those couple of kilometers of pushing the bike which had taken a lot out of me...



All in all a thoroughly enjoyable Rainy Summer Ride!

A ride before the NSW Labor Day Weekend

Well I managed to get 1 1/2 hours sleep last night. As parents we had to get up at 3:00am to pt Kaydee on her bus to begin her trip to Japan with her school. That is another story, but we got back at 5:00am so I thought here is an opportunity to see what an early morning ride was like, I usually do not see the sun rise after I wake up but often see it rise on the way home from a job before I do go to bed!  

Okay so I thought as I am new to the traffic I would go the Kingscliff Bike Path to Chinderah and then would travel the freeway and Tweed Valley Way to Cudgera Creek Road up to Duranbah the opposite way the the traffic (I thought wrong).  It was all okay upto the Tweed Valley Way then the idiots arrived, two lanes available to south bound traffic but they couldn't be bothered using the inside lane so there was a lot of hairy moments with trucks and cars zipping past at 100kph just inches away. I gave a sigh of relief when I started on the hills. Passed a fellow morning rider going the other way as I neared Tropical Fruit World,  we passed again at the Condong Sugar Mill after descending Clothiers Creek Road through Nunderi on the way the Reserve Creek Road.

As I approached the crest of Reserve Creek Road there were 2 recently squashed Red Belly Black snakes (I estimate about 900mm long) about 500 meters apart. The only other signs of non-human life were the usual farm animals and birds. Also I eat the bran muffin I had been carrying, as I had not had breakfast yet and was starting to "feel a might peckish".

I decided that instead of heading straight home I would incorporate the Kanes Road circuit. So this rounded off a 80km ride (if you take all the bike path twists and turns into account)

The things that made up for the scary "Worker" traffic was the cool morning temperatures and light winds.