Getting back on the bike in Australia did not go as planned. It arrived from London at the beginning of December. I had expected that I would be able to collect it straight away. That was not to be. The quarantine inspectors found some dirt on the mudguard. As it had been in areas where there is foot and mouth disease, it had to be thoroughly cleaned ( at considerable cost to me) before it could be released. This did not happen until the second week of January.
Heading to Canberra
I had decided to head to Canberra. I had ridden from Sydney to Canberra before. That time my route was down the coast and then inland via Nerriga and Braidwood.
This time I decided to travel by train to Moss Vale and start my ride from there. Sydney is not the easiest place to get out of by bicycle. Also, the day I left was ridiculously hot.
The Trains
I caught a Sydney suburban train from Central to Campbelltown. There I changed to a diesel train to Moss Vale.
When I arrived in Moss Vale it was hotter than it had been in Sydney. There was also a very strong wind.
As I was leaving the station a woman told me that tree had just fallen on the road leading to the station.
This caused a bit of drama. People who were arriving at the station to catch the train back to Sydney were having the climb over the tree. I had to unpack the bike and carry it and the panniers over the tree. As I was doing that NSW Trains staff arrived. One of them was on the phone to someone trying to determine it NSW Trains, or the Local Council were responsible for clearing the road. It was a bit of a circus.
Lunch
I had lunch in the bistro of the local pub. It was actually quite good.
Short ride to Bundanoon
I was finally back on the bike. It is only a short distance, 16 klms, to Bundanoon. However, in the heat, it seemed a lot further.
Guest House
I had booked into a Guest House that operates under a YHA franchise. It is very good. The woman that runs the place is very friendly.
I noticed that there were a number of poster on the walls featuring the Highland Fling and the Three Ring Circus. These are mountain bike races that take place in the forests and farms that surround the town.
I became aware of these races when I was working for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on the APEC Taskforce. A couple for blokes in the Security Section were mountain bike riders and competed in the races. They encouraged me to have a go.
Remembering Mountain Bike Races
My first race was the Highland Fling. There are two options – a 55 kilometre race and longer 105 kilometre version. I took the shorter option.
The races are open to all comers, however there is a category for professional and semi-professional (elite) riders who compete for prize money and points on the professional racing circuit.
The elite riders naturally ride the 105-kilometer course. This course is divided into three parts. The first (at the beginning) and third (at the end) parts are shared with 55 kilometre option.
The elite riders start at the front of the pack.
Being my first race, I decided to start towards the back of the pack of the ‘ordinary’ riders. Some of the ‘ordinary’ riders were very quick. A lot seemed to be about my speed and others slower.
Course is a mixture of the fire trails, purpose built single tracks, farm tracks and some riding across open fields.
I had one big fall when I hit a pothole on a fire trail leading into the half way point just short of the little town of Wingallo. I recall that it shook me up a bit.
When I got to Wingallo I asked a mechanic, who was provided by the race organisers to check the bike. After a drink and a bit to eat I headed off.
From Wingallo the riders doing the 105 kilometre course, do a 50 kilometre loop before joining the trail back to Bundanoon.
As was approaching Bundanoon near end my 55 kilometre ride, I was overtaken, by the first of the ‘elite’ riders. Albeit that they had started about 20 minutes before, they had cover that extra 50 kilometres and were still going to beat me back to Bundaboon. The section where they passed me was quite ‘technical’ and riders like myself were often put their feet down on the ground. The elite riders made it look easy, and just flew over the bumps and channels on the track.
The pub and Basil Faulty
I also asked that woman at the Guesthouse if the Bundanoon Hotel was still being run by the same bloke who was running it in 2010? I asked this question because he was a real ‘character’. She told me that he still owned the Pub.
Before my first visit to Bundanoon for the MTB races, a bloke for APEC had warned me a about the publican – “he is real Basil Faulty, he does like quests or customers”.
I recall on one visit, the publican was working behind the bar. The place was packed with cyclists and was doing a roaring trade. At one point I heard the publican say, “these bloody cyclist are going to drink all my Coopers Ale, they seem to love the stuff”. Given that he was charging $8 a bottle you would have thought that he would have been pleased.
NSW Premier Resigns
After settling into the Guesthouse I walked into the town and headed for the pub. The publican wasn’t to be seen and complain about a cyclist ordering two pints of Guinness.
News had just come in that the NSW Premier had just resigned. Some of the locals were discussing the news. One of the said, “I don’t care who takes over as long as it isn’t that wog Shelia”. I assume he was referring to the Treasurer.
Quiet Day in Bundanoon
I spent the next day in Bundanoon. The temperature barely rose above 16 c, a real contrast to the 36 c of the day before.
Ride to Goulburn
The day was my ride to Goulburn. I had to delay the my start because of extremely heavy rain.
The first part ride along the Highlands Highway, through Wingalo and Penrose to Marulan was a quite pleasant, albeit I was riding into a headwind.
However, from Marulan, I was forced to ride on the Hume Highway – Motorway 31. I was awful with hundreds of semi-trailers and a howling headwind. It was very hard going. I consumed over 5,000 calories on the ride.
Staying in the pub
I checked into the Empire Hotel. It is basic but comfortable. I like country hotels.
A sign in the window promises: “Sex Bomb Waitress on Wednesday from 5.30 to 8.30”. I guess I have arrived to early and will be leaving too soon.
Dinner at the Goulburn Workers
I ate at the local club. I must have been the thinnest person in the restaurant.
Flickr Link
Garmin Links
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1530783252
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1534760540
Highland Fling
http://www.wildhorizons.com.au/events-and-tours/events/highland-fling/
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