As Yet Unnamed Horse (AYUH) wanted to try out for Team Iron Horse. I explained that tryouts were not necessary, that Team Iron Horse was a social, loose-knit, gaggle of cyclists; more intent on finishing rides than overtly challenging their individual physical limits. In some cases, just turning up was a pretty impressive feat. In essence, we're more about guts than glory. Taking leave from our families just for a training ride is often a perilous exercise in itself.
Nonetheless, AYUH suggested a ride one Sunday morning from his stable in Wentworth Falls, up through Leura, out along Cliff Drive to Katoomba and then back down to Wenty. Why not? A Sunday morning ride. Lovely.
Within one kilometre, no, within 200 metres, my brain echoed with thoughts of proper hydration, syncopated with recognition that proper nutrition was equally important. For a while there I was simply trying not to lose my guts. (Too much information? I think not dear reader. It paints the appropriate picture, however unfortunately.)
Here's what not to do the evening before a ride:
1. Eat a packet, largish, of salt and vinegar chips
2. Wash it down with a beer
3. Follow with a simple meal with plenty of protein and carbohydrates (Actually, this part's fine.)
4. Eat a dessert consisting of custard and a slice of the cake you seem to have had 3 or 4 slices of already that day. Ensure it's that cake with delicious icing. The cake might be a bit stale, but the icing is delicious.
5. Have a second helping.
Back to the ride.
Within 200 metres of starting, we were climbing a moderate grade and my system was telling me that:
a/ I was in pain
b/ My legs were about to cramp, and
c/ Breathing seems quite difficult today.
I'm sure the AIS witness cases like this, amongst elite athletes, all the time ... What to do?
Firstly, do yourself a favour and re-read 'what not to do' and never repeat. A lesson hard learnt that you can avoid.
Anyway, I loosened my helmet strap (my gorge really was rising), caught my breath and pedalled on. AYUH had plotted a course that was scenic and not so much undulating as uphill. A percentile breakdown would look something like this:
60% uuphill
15% very uphill
5% use ropes for this bit
20% screaming downhill
There’s a steep pinch along Blaxland Rd, near the corner of Cook Rd, so steep that the local water reservoir sits atop it. It had to be crested, so we did it. After regaining my composure we crossed the highway onto Scott Avenue. Deceptively, Scott Ave starts with a long downhill that, as is the way of downhills, ends, then turns uphill, to climb up to the train line into Leura and Station St. There’s a particular bend after Gladstone Rd that I know only too well. Somewhat miraculously I stayed seated on my bike and managed to, slowly, creep uphill. AYUH was waiting patiently further ahead. One of many patient waits I suspect he encountered on this ride.
Hard for me to tell. Most of the time I was considering whether it would be bad form to call OOO for urgent resuscitation. (Granted, that would have been overkill in the circumstances.)
Once inbound to Leura, it’s easy to avoid the top part of the Mall where the shopping strip buzzes with the activities of day-trippers, retailers and café goers. Grose St to Megalong, then onto the lower roundabout and don the Mall to Cliff Drive is where we went. At quite a pace. This part I could contend with easily. My stomach had settled down, breathing was registering as more measured, less wheezy and the bike was fairly coasting along. All good.
As the name Cliff Drive suggests, this is a winding road that dips down to the valleys that ultimately form waterfalls that cascade and leap over various cliff’s edges. The dipping down can be quite extended, meaning the uphills, similarly are often less than gradual.
The ride down the Mall and Cliff Drive down to the Leura Cascades had reinstated my faith in both of my legs, at least half of my lung capacity and a majority of other vital organs. So onward and upward we cycled. As I recall AYUH attempted a conversation with me for most of this climb. Unsure whether any of my grunted straining was misinterpreted or heard at all. All I know is that when we rounded the bend below Solitary Kiosk, there was more uphill but it was at least more of the gradual variety than steep.
We pressed on. Great view from opposite The Rooster as we pedalled off towards Echo Point. A few bends, dips and gradual winding climbs and we’d made it.
I made a quick pit stop to check that everything was intact. Still all good.
Echo Point was abuzz with busloads of tourists. I was aware of the climbs to come out past the Scenic Railway and up to Cyclorama Point before heading up Narrowneck Rd to the highway, but for a moment, it seemed like I was going to make it fully in saddle, despite a very shaky start.
Awesome downhill just past Lilianfels to Katoomba Falls. After passing the Scenic Railway, the uphill began in earnest. It was on a stretch up to Cyclorama Point that I decided I’d need ropes or my feet to make the hill, so walking won out. It was only for a short stretch until my breathing became inaudible and my heart’s hammering resumed a gentle tapping. It made all the difference and AYUH was waiting patiently again at the crest.
Crest is probably a misnomer. Top of this stretch, to be followed by some undulations and then more uphill. We followed Cliff Drive even when we could have continued along Narrowneck Rd, because, as I was discovering, AYUH had a set mileage in mind and today was no day for shortcuts.
By this stage I was game for extra distance. Essentially, the more miles between me and my shaky start to the ride, the better. The embarrassment factor would, I hoped, somehow diminish over distance.
Important note: When road signs suggest 25km/h due to hairpin bend – use your brakes. If you’re unsure just how tight a corner it is—use your brakes a lot! Both of us were nearly toppled by the bend just down from a lookout, but somehow held the road. The spin downhill was short-lived, as we still had to climb back up onto Narrowneck and then up Narrowneck to the highway. Hurrah!
I started saying all sorts of things to myself as we rejoined Narrowneck. AYUH took off and was faintly distant climbing through turn after turn. It wasn’t the steepest stretch of road for the most part; it just goes for quite a while. And guess what? Yes, there’s a steep pinch just before another water reservoir and the SES Emergency HQ.
(Comforting to know all of that rescue equipment was near at hand.)
Finally, we’d made it. The Great Western Highway lay below us and the ride home was surely downhill from here…
AYUH seemed to shy away from using anything other than the top cog on downhills. I could only surmise as much from the yawning gap between us on the Great Western Highway descent. I couldn’t say for sure because after the Leura Mall turnoff heading east, you need to keep your wits about you to find a rideable surface on the shoulder. In fact, you need a magnifying glass. (Next time we’ll take the Leura Mall turnoff and head back along Scott Ave.)
As we approached the Blaxland Rd turnoff on the outskirts of Wentworth Falls, AYUH signalled straight ahead. We hadn’t reached our target mileage and wouldn’t if we turned off now. It was agreed, seemingly in disbelief by AYUH that we should ride out to Wentworth Falls Lookout to ensure we topped 30km on this morning’s ride.
So we took the Valley Rd turnoff just past the Caltex and headed out to the lookout. AYUH was happy—we would cover ample road to meet the target distance. So much so that actually going to the lookout seemed unnecessary. I was adamant if we’d come this far, we had to take in the view as well. So we did.
This, naturally, meant there was a steep pinch waiting for us up to Falls Rd and then Falls Rd itself undulates in an upward fashion to the village. Well worth it for the view.
Quite a long wait at the light gave us time to contemplate un tasse de café from Il Postino. It was a scramble on green to keep us from the caffeine.
The caffeine helped me up the next hill, gradually, on to the Blaxland Rd circuit around the Wentworth Falls tableland and back to AYUH’s stable. The caffeine sent AYUH into a frenzy on the uphill and it was a very long wait for me at the top I’m sure. Fortunately, AYUH admitted to perhaps overdoing it a little on that last uphill.
I was just happy to still be alive.
I had the feeling that it was I that had been on trial and not AYUH. In that case, Team Iron Horse had not fared that well. Although, 32.5km added to the cumulative training distance before the Gong ride—not to be sneezed at…in my condition. Just remember to skip the cake, beer and snack food before the next ride.
Despite my performance, it seems that AYUH will be joining the team for our ride to the Gong. We’ve found our lead out man for sure!
Pedal On!
Thunder Horse.
[Editor's Note: As Yet Unnamed Horse now has a name ... Crazy Horse! ]
