An unusual training ride
'Riding' the unrideable After the late cancellation of the STM Series race at Coondoo Road, Nowra, I was given the option to join an exploration ride for a future 'Big Hurt' mountain bike race. Basically, this is a race that covers 750 km of predominantly singletrail of which vast tracks are barely rideable. Allegedly, elite competitors are able to complete the route in around 54 hours with little or no sleep. The 'victim' is required to navigate using GPS and the ride is totally self-supported. This,therefore, means carrying everything and anything on the bike from tools, spare spokes, tent, clothes, food and drink and, much to our uninitiated amusement - needles - for sewing up torn tyres. All this extra equipment means a hell of a lot of extra weight.
Ross Cairns, the organizer of the race, had advertised for suitable nutters to come on a ride from Bulahdelah to Taree and he had 3 volunteers. Peter Selkrig and myself, both battle hardened from 24 hour racing and a young cross country mountain biker, Landon from the Gateshead Cycling Club. It was clear from the outset that Ross was prepared for every eventuality. He was carrying a hefty backpack and had an ingenious storage bag set between the triangle of his suspension-less frame; somewhere within all this equipment lay his needles and thread. In contrast, Pete and I were on 29er Anthem X Advanced 0 Racing Machines and we were carrying a camelbak and feeling unusually weighty compared to how we would be with our usual streamline racing gear.
And this is where I realised how 'The Big Hurt' really starts to live up to its name. There is no denying that riding 24 hour mountain bike races is tough. But every 10-20 km we come into a transition zone and can take on more food and water. We have teams of mechanics and helpers who provide assistance whenever it is required. A problem with a wheel means a replacement or we simply swap to a second bike. In the night, lights are exchanged, batteries recharged, hot food and coffee is only a request away. Not so when you ride 'The Big Hurt'. Nobody assists you, you cannot simply replace, you have to fix any problem all by yourself. A split tyre is not a inconvenience but a potentially hazardous situation which could leave the rider stranded in remote, isolated bushland. Indeed, it's not trite to say the needle and thread could save your life!
 River Crossing |  Toughen up Princess |
The 130 km trip took in a mixture of fireroad, singletrack and bitumen through varied terrain and, despite all the previous rain, the ground was mostly dry and the sun smiled from a clear blue sky. Most of the trails were rideable but at times we needed to walk through thick bush and once we were required to traverse a river that bit into my soft bare feet from the hidden depths below, making this quite the ordeal. My sophisticated nutrition consisted of 2 bacon and egg McMuffins and a third greasy cafe version which were all consumed before the start at Bulahdelah. As if this wasn't enough 'pig', I then happily shared a bacon and egg pizza with Pete while waiting 20 minutes for a ferry.
Wholesome bacon pizza and a manly mocha with pink marshmallows
With light fading, we decided to take the last 30 km along the Pacific Highway, which is where Ross finally decided enough was enough and he happily withdrew to a cafe to wait for the 'sag' wagon on its return to Bulahdelah. The three of us pushed on and worked together as a group to rapidly finish the final part of our adventure.
Just before we bid farewell to one another, Ross passed me his backpack and my knees buckled under its weight. What's more, Pete went to put his bike on the roof rack and, he too, felt the extreme mass of the bike Ross had been riding. Ross and his fellow 'Hurt' competitors certainly deserve a great deal of respect for participating in this crazy race; one which I'm sure is a life-changing experience - even if ultimately that is just learning how to backstitch and embroider.
For further information on 'The Big Hurt' and for a stimulating read check out Ross's blog: www.theunknownrider.com
Just before we bid farewell to one another, Ross passed me his backpack and my knees buckled under its weight. What's more, Pete went to put his bike on the roof rack and, he too, felt the extreme mass of the bike Ross had been riding. Ross and his fellow 'Hurt' competitors certainly deserve a great deal of respect for participating in this crazy race; one which I'm sure is a life-changing experience - even if ultimately that is just learning how to backstitch and embroider.
For further information on 'The Big Hurt' and for a stimulating read check out Ross's blog: www.theunknownrider.com
RSS Feed
