Rydal 22 Feb with DSMRA

Here is a ride report I done for the DSMRA web site. Have been going to post it here but just to lazy I guess.

Murph the surf and Dude came up on Saturday for an arvo ride. We did a nice tight techincal single track that filled the afternoon in.

Me showing Dude the way

Me with Murph

Here is the DSMRA report. Not many photos sorry.

The day started with cool overcast weather. A small shower of rain ensured dust would be at a minimum. Thirteen riders turned up for a day of fun. We had four members from Sydney, two non members from Newcastle, five new potential members from Bathurst and two Bathurst members. A good mix of riders with well prepared bikes.

With the rider briefing done, we headed off about 9:30am warming up on an open fire trail with some table drains and shallow ruts. Then we hit the single track. Some was nice flowing tracks and some tighter and technical. After the first two sections, I stopped for a regroup and rider happiness check. Thumbs up and smiles all round was the general consensus. The group’s riding abilities were well matched with the leader not waiting more than a couple of minutes when regrouping or waiting for a corner man.

Two more single track sections and we’re out onto another fire trail. Up and around the corner to pick up another single track and just as we started there’s a call on the radio saying the sweep’s (Brad) bike, a KTM, had decided not to start from the last regroup. I ask the obvious question of “is it turned on”. A long pause follows and then the message relayed by Rolf (Berg 570) is a stern “yes it is f#@&ing turned on”. By this time I have stopped all the riders on the track for a breather and a gas bag. Five minutes later the call comes through that the bike has started and they’re on the way. Turned out to be some crap in the carbi bowl. There was a comment made that it might have mould in the carbi due to lack of use. The bird was shown to the commenter and with that, helmets were on and off we went.
On to finish another three sections of single track and then some nice flowing fire trails down to the Cox’s river that feeds Lyell dam. A short bit of sand riding to cross the river onto more fire trails. Then across the river again and up a challenging hill. Here I wait for a corner man to show up and when he does he tells me that Rob on the WR250 has decided to wash his bike in the river. When I get to the river crossing, there is a WR250 standing upright with water running out of the pipe. In typical Yamaha style the seat and tank have to be removed to access the plug. With the bike de-watered and parts been refitted, Matt (WR450) is giving everyone a lesson on working on Yamahas when Nick (also on a WR450) states to the ride group that Matt is commonly known as ‘The Yamaha Whisperer’ in their riding group.

So off we go up the tricky hill where everyone gets up with no troubles. Nice flowing fire trails and a couple of hills and we start the last two sections of single track for the morning. There is a couple of dry creek bed crossings. One in particular is steep into with a rock step up out of it and a pine tree branch at head height. So you only see the step at the last second and have to commit and trust the suspension. I stopped the other side to watch everyone come through. All riders tackled the step with ease. Out of this track and into the pine forest for a section of angled slippery trees roots and erosion ruts.

After this it was fire trail back to the cars for lunch. One track thrown in for a bit of fun was an old unused fire trail with a deep rut down the middle and pine tree branches sticking out at head height all the way. Basically you pick a side of the rut, keep your head down and try not to fall in the rut.

Back at the cars Wayne (Husky510) finds a length of barbed wire wrapped around his back wheel. So up on the stand and out with the pliers to cut it out. Luckily there was no damage to the rear end of the bike and he was able to ride the afternoon loop.
Kev, our area coordinator is on the way with the BBQ to have lunch and we get busy preparing food and checking bikes. Thank you Brad (sweep) for cooking the BBQ.

With bellies full of snags we set off on the afternoon loop. We start by riding the morning loop in reverse until we get to the WR drowning creek crossing. From there I basically wing it with tracks. Not riding the area very often but having a general idea of where to head, I pick a dead end track. The first of many I might add. I take a track up a hill that I’d seen not far back and this turns out to be a nice single track. At the end of this track we come onto a wide fire trail that snakes it way down to the Cox’s river. We head to a sandy area where we stop for a breather and swim if anyone is keen. Roy (KTM525) takes a dip to cool off and we head off on a sandy track that follows the river to the back waters of Lyell dam.

Leaving the dam and finding tracks that lead up to the Rydal Road, Roy gets a flat front tyre. There is a comment from some riders that it was the first time the front wheel touched the ground all day as Roy likes to practice wheelies , anywhere. With a new tube installed we head straight to Rydal Road as a few riders were getting tired and cramping up. We’re on the tar for about 500m and then back onto fire trails that skirt around Rydal showground. I stop at a turn off that leads to a single track and ask Wayne if we should do one more single track for the day. He nodded his head as though he didn’t hear word I said. I took this as a yes and blasted off in search of the last single track for the day. Powering through track, I stopped at a fire trail crossing to see how everyone was going, two guys turned up right behind me and I could hear the others not far away.

Obviously the tiredness and cramps had subsided and the fun factor had taken over. At the end of the track it was a wide open fire trail back to the cars.

A good day was had by all. Weather was perfect and a great bunch of riders. Thanks to all the riders that turned up. Thanks to Brad and Rolf for sweeping.

We had five potential new members from Bathurst at the start of the ride and I believe they are going to become members and join more rides. Thanks to Kev for making the drive to have lunch with us.