The Skyline Loop

So with one third of the Sat morning crew away at the snow it was just Nat and I out on Saturday morning. It started out extremely cold but after half an hour with the sun coming up it started to warm up and ended up being great weather for a ride.






It was a clear day and we had a great view from the top of skyline road down to the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong ranges.

Some people were out early like we were but doing a little bit less exercise, would have been a great day to be up floating around instead of sucking on the handlebars chasing Nat around.

We also found a few pieces of single track of the main road, with Nat pointing them out!!

Skyline it just keeps going up and down and up and down until you have had enough and then it throws in a few more ups and downs.

Sugarloaf Dam at the end of the winter, not really looking that full.

So after just under 3 and a half hours in the saddle, I was heading to the shops for some bread and food for brekky when up the road were 4 road riders, who I naturally chased down and went past just before the top of the climb. It has to be one of my favourite pastimes.

So this weekend we head off into the Ranges to do the Walk into History, and camp overnight, so no Sat ride this weekend, just alot of walking, should be a lot lower intensity which will be nice for a change.

Early Morning, Wombats and Kangaroo's

5.45 am and we were out on the roadies. Jas, Nat and I. It was the usual start with Jas and Nat the pace was on from the get go. I really struggled on the first few climbs on the road out to St Andrews. So I got used to following the red flashing light.




The sunrise was spectacular and it was quite a warm morning, but there was a bit of wind around.


As we approached the base of the Kinglake climb this little fellow casually wandered across the road. We stopped and took a few photos of him and he just stayed outside his hole looking at us.


As we started the climb I started to feel a bit better and was able to stay with the boys for the first couple of kilometers, the wind on the climb was brutal. You would come around a corner and almost come to a dead stop. It was definitely one of the toughest climbs I have endured due to wind. As the trees have no leaves on them there was no protection from the wind. As you came through the protected areas of the climb the noise of the wind across the top was so loud.

The area is still getting greener but not as much as I thought it would have. It is still very eerie riding through the area knowing what has happened and the visual reminders.


After getting to the top of climb a bit of food and then the descent, which was interesting to say the least, there is nothing like coming around a corner at 50kmh and hitting a head wind and wiping off 30kmh.

As we were rolling into St Andrews there were a couple of riders who were slowing rolling along the other way and then as we were about 20 meters apart these 2 Kangaroos decided they wanted to cross the road, one taking a major tumble as it sprinted across the road.

This continues the near misses with Kangaroos that we have been having, and it does not seem to matter if we are on the road or MTB bikes.

So as we rolled turns back from St Andrews I started to find my groove after struggling for 2 hours I was feeling really strong.

So with another busy week at work with a couple of nights away it will be hard to do much riding mid week so it willo be back for another long ride on Sat morning.

Teva Melbourne

Well we had a good race at the Teva Melbourne.

I was very rusty on the nav with lots of little mistakes, no big ones, we really struggled on one of the challengers and cost us 16mins to the winners.

We had a great last 15 minutes and raced along with two other teams and managed to just be a bit surer with our nav and faster by foot to get across the line in 3rd place.

Whilst we were 25 mins behind the winners it was a good hitout and good practice for the 24hr race in September.

Team HTFU check out our results here

Just Exploring

So on Sunday last weekend the 19th I headed out for a ride around the extended local trails. I found a whole bunch of new cut track that the locals have been busy building. One of my favorite things is to head and just ride exploring new track and potential areas where you could find track. No real time limits just exploring.




A nice view from the top of Warrandyte down to the Dandenongs. With roadside single track for good measure.

These tracks were new last year and are now well bedded in and awesome for some fast riding.

This is some new to me "old" trail that I had never found before. It ended to early with a private property sign.

So with a few more adventurous days like this one, I will eventually be able to ride from home in North Ringwood to Kinglake without any bitumen. So as the tour comes to an end and I can actually get out on the bike a bit more I will have a few more regular posts.

My first Adventure Race is coming up in 2 weeks, so will be good to get back into the multi sport scene again.

Forrest 6 Hour Wrap Up

So winter has set in the rides are getting fewer and the nights sleep shorter thanks to le tour.

So I thought I should finally take the time to write a report of my latest race, the Forrest 6 Hour. After asking Jas if he was interested in doing a race and after his initial 10 seconds of no I am retired we chose the Forrest 6 hour and what a great choice that turned out to be.

We dragged the families down to Apollo Bay on Friday night and had a few too many sherbets on Friday night, which knocked me about on Saturday but funnily the ladies were as bright as buttons, something to be said for constant training!

Jas was meticulous in his preparation (which I will pay more attention to next time) and had one of everything for the race, I had a few Recovery Bars, a couple bananas, a honey sandwich and my bike. He even said to me on Saturday night do you need to do anything to your bike, I just said no the best thing I can do is rest.

So as we drove into the race headquarters we headed down what was already a boggy slippery road. Now I thought that a car that had drive to all wheels such our Toyota Kluger was a four wheel drive apparently this is not the case, as Jas mentioned he wished we had a four wheel drive. I was assured that if we did get bogged that Tessa would winch us out when she got there, in the Landcruiser.




I secretly think he was hoping we or someone would so he could get his winch out.

So after setting up it was off to do a practice lap. It was then up to Jas to do the le mans start. He was away in third or fourth after spotting me holding his bike above my head. (Jas’s idea not mine) My concern was that after Jas’s first lap I would take over in 3rd and hand back in 10th or something.

This was not to be the case and I actually on my first lap got past one of the Specialized riders. We both continued to lap consistenly and held 5th place for the majority of the race until we moved to 4th with a few laps to go and managed to hold onto it.

I had a few issues as mentioned previously left my helmet behind, rode a lap with no gloves and also dropped a bolt from the front chain ring and had to ride the last 3 laps in the big ring. But all in all it was great race which was awesome fun and the course was brilliant. I’ll be back next year for sure.

So this was my second attempt at a pairs race at an enduro and so far I have enjoyed both and will be back for more.

Forrest 6 Hour

Results are up here


The course was awesome, great atmosphere and great fun was had.

And apart from a forgotton helmet, forgotton gloves and a missing chainring bolt the race went off without a hitch for me.

The Werac Warriors managed to come in 4th in the male pairs, which was a great result for us.

A Full report will be up when I finish cleaning the Forrest mud off my bike.

Officer XC Race

So it was time to strap on a number plate again, the first time since the 3rd May. I rolled up to do the A grade race as I wanted to do 5 laps. Perhaps I should have started with B grade and just rolled around an extra lap. As within the first 100 meters I was hanging on as last wheel. I know with the quality of riders in the field that the pace would have been on at the front.

So once the pace settled I was 17th of 17 about 10 frustrating meters of the wheel in front of me. However I managed to finish the 1st lap 30 secs in front of James Williamson, ok so he had to stop to take half a metre of chicken wire from his rear wheel and cluster, but I will take it anyway I can. As you can see from the results the advantage did not last long.

These events are such a great way to get the race legs back. They are run well and if you like riding a MTB then you should get down and do one.




Lap 1 still feeling good even after being turned inside out by the "real" A graders.


Enjoying the support of the whole family


Finishing Lap 3, ok now its more than half over


Lap 4 and the kids are excited when I come through. Getting a big cheer each lap


And rolling up to the finish.


Me getting the low down on Jason's trouble with the Fauna with my little buddy just hanging with dad.

So after a solid hour and a half it was all over and a great warm up for the 6 hour.

Two interesting quotes from the day

When I asked Ashlyn (4 y.o) if she enjoyed the day she said yes but dad but you took a loooooong time on your last lap were you weak?!

Then after asking William (3 y.o) if he enjoyed the day he said yes dad but next time I want to get my spiderman bike and ride the tracks with you!

photos of the day

Kinglake Climb

Whilst most people hooked one of these up for the public holiday and did some jobs around the house Jas and I headed out to Kinglake.


The last time I was out in this region was in April and then it was just black and it looked as though the Kinglake area would never be a green forest again. It is amazing what a "small" amount of rain and time can do. Mother Nature is a most powerful force and in many ways cannot be stopped.


The green is starting to come through




This tree was just as black as you could imagine yet its still alive and has started its recovery.


So much black, but also so much green starting to show its way through.

And as we were on bikes I should show you a picture of what its like riding with Jas, that's him on the left of the road. We are teaming up on the 5th of July for the Forrest 6 hour, what have I got myself in for.

But first we are doing the Officer XC race on Sunday as a warm up, if you are at a loose end come along they are a great casual race to attend and get a bit of race tempo practice.

Epic Day in the Saddle Up Over Around and Home

Saturday saw another adventure with a long day in the saddle expected. I was planning on a 4 hour ride. So after meeting Rob at 6.30 we headed out along Dandy Creek trail to the base of the Dandenongs.

Its true the bike almost rides itself !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We climbed our way up the mountain on the single track and fire road until we hit Dodds track, where we proceeded to dismount and walk. This track is really really steep and the challenge is there for someone to ride it.


Its always a relief when you get to the top and can look back down the hill. And on Saturday the sun was just coming up and it was great to be out in the bush on the bike.


Posing at the top of Dodds, with slightly aching calves after the uphill walk.

So now with the majority of the climbing done we headed over to ferny Creek for a little hidden gem of a descent, that I had done once before. Unfortunetly this track had been altered and is now a great walking track, not so good for bikes anymore, so after that dissappointment we pushed on through Belgrave to Tecoma where we would pick up a link track to Lysterfield. All timings were working well.

It was a great morning, but I think I mentioned that already.

As we arrived at the picnic ground that is the start of the link track to Lysterfield we were told the area was closed as due to the Upwey fire in Feb they have closed the area to allow the wildlife some natural bush to make new homes. So we were sent on our way up a climb, that we were told would get us to Lysterfield. We were only about 1km away from Lysterfield when we got turned around so we figured it would not be too far.

So after climbing the hill, riding through what seemed like someones back yard thinking we had found the track again, going down the hill to the creek we were essentially lost, no track to be seen. We knew Lysterfield was south west of where we were so we pushed on up back up the hill out of the valley.

As we got to a road we stopped a car coming from the direction we were about to head and asked
if it was the way to Lysterfield, she said it was but it was "miles" away.

So as our 9.30am deadline passed and the 3 hour mark in the saddle arrived we finally hit Wellington road, but still had a bit of work before we got to the singletrack. As we finally arrived to a T junction I said to Rob 1 hour ago we were 2 kms to the right, we had just done one mighty loop around. Needless to say he was not that impressed

As we hit the lake track so Rob could catch up to his kids who he was meeting there we bumped into the ladies MTB skills session. After catching Rob's kids and JD I headed off for a lap of the park and home.

On the start of the Commonwealth Games Track I again met up with the 20 odd ladies doing the skills session, learning how to get over a log. 10 had completed and 10 were waiting to go, they waved me through and as I approached the log with 20 sets of eyes on me I made it with no issue, phew no pressure.


So at the top of the CGT is was almost 4 and half hours in the saddle.



The day was cool but clear, and now I was heading home, so things were looking good.

Dandenong doesn't look so bad from this distance.

So after another 20 mins on dirt to get out of the Park it was the long slog home up Stud road. The legs were feeling heavy but still ticking over. I got home after 5hrs50 mins, so it was a fair days work, and it was only 12.30.

So I will rest on Sunday and then will be back on the road bike on Monday.

Up and Over the Nongs

After another hectic week, I got on the bike at 4pm on Friday and did the commute home. I decided to take a shorter route this week and did not go via Templestowe but followed the single tracks that run next to the main Yarra trail next to the Freeway through Doncaster and Box Hill.

It was a good solid hitout and was a bout 2.5 hours on the MTB.

12 hours later I got out of bed and headed out on the road bike and hit the Dandenongs. Whilst it was really cold about 6deg and even colder at the top of the mountain.

No Views this week


There were heaps of riders out braving the early morning fog. I did a loop that took in the 1/20 climb, Perrins Creek road and the Wall, all the way to the top of Mount Dandenong.

The roads out the back were wet, but the descent down into Montrose was dry and fast.



So after a solid 3 and a half hours in the saddle and a bit under 2000mts of climbing it was off to Auskick.


Where Tahlia played her first game of AFL.

Here's hoping that next weekends weather will be as good as the weekend just past as I am hoping to get some long kms in over the long weekend.