trail trials

sunday 14 june marked the return to offroad status for the smokkelaars assembled in gold at prospect hill. the event attracted a different set on equipment and mind set. to engage this so called faux 25k walk in the park. once the peleton rolled amids retorts of 'hey, are they that team' to include junior slick shod, the Kidd bracing old treads, van dutch riding second set of maxis rims, skipper avec les saux rouge, the doctor prepped and smokkelette kathy running 28 inch hybrid. the downhill pavement to the forest turned offroad at the first of many stock path hurdles the tracks deteriorated from there to almost unridable. what transpired was an orienteering event of magnitude. a roullette of fire tracks, trails, downhills, marsh, creek crossings, small hurdles, wrong turns and treestumps. not in any particular order. the climbs were intense the forest floor paved with the recent rain made for the body bracing to every reaction on the breaking surfaces. the downhill disengagement of mind over matter was awesome, the doctor showing how to reinterpret physiology and apply it first hand. 60kph plus. nuts on that surface. but showed physics in action at the slowest point. those clips! the first loop closed in the return and expected climb to the start point and the second round. kpike earned serious points [brownie] for pushing on and completing a compelling first lap. nb the smallgoods remained unwrapped such was the intensity of the course. Whilst the smokkellars quatro navigated the second half of the second loop through treacherous single tracks and slaloms, kidd and kathy set up picnic and mused with the orgainisers over the validity of team entries and application of lycra golden. the tedious climb out of the forest was the last for the day, as the ragged rustlers unwound from their assault, bruised and battered by stumpbreaking and the relentless potholing en route. the lunch and 'MUD'cake were just rewards. the whether perfect. view gold. but the constabulary on point for bike racking infringements. cant spoil a bloody nice day. skip

Loop 1
27.25km travelled
52-60km top speed (depending if your Greg Pike or not)
16.3 km avg
1h 40m riding time

Loop 2
17.7km travelled
50km top speed
14.2km avg
1 h 15 min riding time