The Kowen Forest Ride

[Dan BatemanMember]

Hi All,

Just finished washing the bike and gear from the weekends Kowen Forest ride in Canberra/Queanbeyan.
A big well done and thanks to the organisers DSMRA for a awesome two days of riding. :cheer:
The two loops (north and South) both graded 2-3 had a great mix of open trails, tight (sometimes very tight) single track through the forest, some rocky hillclimbs and downhills and great weather to boot.
i’m pleased to say i spent more of my time on the bike and did find myself pushing a little harder than usual while “in the zone” only to be deflated by my performance when the good guys go whizzing past making my “zone” look like a parking zone 😆
It was good to catch up with some Old Bulls; Well done CathiM on your first ride back after a broken rib and riggs you missed some great riding but a dads gotta do what a dads gottta do, thanks both of you for a nice dinner and evening out on the town…
GOCMAN thanks for a great days riding on saturday (i can feel those two loops now) and for those times when i had no idea where the arrows were :unsure:
I will definately be marking this one on the calendar for next year.

wazzup

[mikeMember]

G’day Wazzup.

I had a couple of mates do it this year but I could’nt make it. Ive heard it’s pretty good though. Glad you enjoyed it.:laugh: :laugh:

[Greg O’ConnorMember]

Hey Wazzup,
Thanks for being my riding buddy. I think everyone that went up would off had at great day, the weather was perfect when I first showed up it was 5 degrees but you soon warmed up when the ride began. Looking foward to next years ride, I will stay the night and ride both days too much to do in the one day.

[Dwayne OMember]

Yep,,
From all reports of the Kowen each year, it seems to be one of the better ones to attend (even with the crowds)

Jeffro had a good time last year as well,, so I reckon it needs to be on the calendar for next year for sure!!

C`mon, Lets get a convoy happening for 2012 :woohoo:

“OLD BULLS do KOWEN”

[anthony tramontanoMember]

any pics

[Dan BatemanMember]

Got some video (more than just my front Guard this time!!!) you’ll have to show me what to do with it.

[PeterMember]

Im sure Cathi will post up her thoughts on the Kowen ride too, but I’ll put some pics up in the mean time.
From what I saw as a spectator, the ride was very well organised by the Canberra DSMRA. They seem to have things under control and everything runs pretty smooth. The Vietnam Vets did a good job on the catering too. Saw the guys from Trailzone mag there … Clubby, Phil, and Lance.
The weather was fantastic, sunny skies, about 23deg C, and not a cloud in the sky, tracks a bit dusty, but pretty good, altho some sections had lots of ruts and exposed tree roots, to keep you on your toes.

I’m not sure 30 kms of tight single track, is exactly the type of riding I like.
I think Cathi found it a bit tiring too. Turn after turn after turn, … clutch-brake, clutch excelerate, clutch-brake, clutch excelerate ….. our bodies are getting too old to handle it, lol.

Nice to catch up with Wazzup and Linda, Grant and Alison, and the VanBrookys ( Happy Bday Vanbrooky )

Some pics

The camping grounds



Headquarters

Vietnam Vets Kitchen

The Husky at Scrutineering

Riding Buddy, Alison



Alisons’ other half Grant getting ready

Riding

As far as Cathi got on the Northern Loop, section F.

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

Definately hard work thats for sure. I was exhausted last year after doing both loops on the Saturday with only a 20 minute break for lunch between the 2, I got really good at riding with my butt glued to the seat and my feet glued to the pegs because I didn’t have the energy to lift either
I think it improves your riding though with all that brake and clutch work.

[Dan BatemanMember]

Here are some short vids of the ride,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4_tOGSAoUQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1T-jGkW7qk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEltSXZ6XlM

[Tim JorgensenMember]

Another great weekend. This is my fourth year and I look forward to it every year. There was some new single on the southern loop that was prime on Sunday after it had some traffic to define it. There was a few less riders this year. Great effort by Peter and the boys from the DSMRA.

[Cathi MeredithMember]

Sorry I haven’t had a chance to post yet. Been flat out at work – and that’s where we all do or forum reading and posting isn’t it??:huh:

Kowen was my first ride back after a broken rib so I took it very easy on the Saturday, just doing the beginner’s loop to see if everything still worked, how the bumps would feel etc.

All was good so my brave riding buddies Alison and Grant decided that I was up to the North loop for Sunday :ohmy:

Rigg’s pretty much summed it up for me, tight …. tight …. tight. By the time I got to “F” I was F’d so we short-cut back to base. Alison’s forks were leaking but I’d be kidding myself if I said that was why we headed back. Some days I feel way too old for this :unsure:

But on the positives ….. it was awesome weather; it was an extremely well organised event; all the other riders were brilliant – no ego’s, nothing to prove, just there for the fun of it; and a great chance to catch up with Wazzup and Linda, Gocman, Alison and Grant, and for Riggs to take the kids to Questacon.

Great vid, Wazzup. Was that the South loop?

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