OK, it’s a late start to Team Iron Horse cycling blogs for 2011, but it’s a start.
While aiming for a bit more consistency, detail and timeliness in blog posts; I’ll be happy just to get one posted per quarter … OK, looks like I missed the last quarter entirely. Perhaps a bit more blogger ambition required. I'll try to dial it up.
You might think that the lapse in blogging over the past couple of months is due to a lack of cycling. Not so.
In fact, Highland Horse, a newcomer to Team Iron Horse, has shown cycling dedication through mist, rain and occasional howling wind, with Thunder Horse in tow, at least twice a week on average since late January. I suspect it’s his Scottish heritage that has caused a post-cycle caffeine fix to be increasingly replaced by a post-cycle cleansing ale: in moderation, naturally.
Perhaps ensorcelled by the strength and fitness that this arithmetic progression of pedal-powered proclivity had thrust upon us, we deemed the 40km return trip out to McMahon's Lookout a worthy outing on Friday, 25th March.
It was a spectacular afternoon and Crazy Horse had joined the quest for this particular vision splendid with box trailer in tow. (This vehicular miracle made managing the logistics of cycle and rider retrieval later in the evening, by our better halves and young'uns, all the more possible—particularly after saluting our fine achievement with a couple of cleansing ales. There’s definitely something to be said for cycling in the afternoon.)
Crazy Horse hadn’t been on his bicycle since the Trial Bay Triathlon over a month earlier, so he was probably not going to fare as well as Highland Horse and I after our grueling training regimen … hmmm, ok, a triathlon may trump a morning ride and coffee, even if you do it three times a week. Point taken.
So, it was a beautiful afternoon. A light breeze nudged autumn leaves from their perches, the temperature rested pleasantly in the low 20s a well maintained dirt road lay before us.
One error of judgement was the lack of sunblock, but hey, we had finally managed to get 3 cyclists to the start of a ‘distance’ ride, we had to pedal on.
I’m delighted to report that according to this entry, what we had achieved is considered a long day’s ride!
Mountain biking (medium difficulty)
General information
This is a long day's ride across the heath and forests of Kings Tableland. The route travels along an unpaved road, running south from Wentworth Falls along the clifftops above Kedumba Walls. The road ends at McMahons Lookout, where you can stand some 500 m above Lake Burragorang and survey the huge reservoir which supplies most of Sydney with water. Access past the lookouts is restricted, as it is within the 3-km stored-water zone of the the Sydney Catchment Authority. Do not venture past the fenced lookouts.
Turn off the Great Western Highway at Kings Tableland Road, just east of Wentworth Falls Township. The road is sealed to the old Queen Victoria Hospital then unsealed to the end.
In the interests of fairness, we did start at the Queen Vic Hospital, about 5km from Anderson’s Firetrail so total return distance was a little over 40 km, instead of a possible 60+].
There were quite a few highlights. Number one, it was a beautiful afternoon. Here are a few random shots of magic cycling conditions.
The lookout itself was pretty impressive.
As per Highland Horse: ‘twas a top day out, Grommit. While Highland Horse pulled up the next morning better than he’d feared it was a real eye-opener how much water and food you need for these rides.
While the ride out was generally dowhill, with a few kicks up, the return was generally uphill, with occasional descents. This was not a descent on the return leg ...
([In fact, shortly thereafter it would be fair to say that cramps took Thunder Horse with a vengeance.)
So, this year’s lesson number 2: Remember food and water.
Did you miss lesson number 1? Remember sunblock.
Special thanks to Crazy Horse's better half for hosting a post-cycle dinner for the families of us rusty Iron Horses.
(Since writing this update another epic Blue Mountains adventure has occurred. Word has it that experimentation with handheld video while cycling has taken place, with some arresting results. So stay tuned for more heroic adventures of Team Iron Horse.)
Pedal on!
Thunder Horse.
