Mountain Biking - Johns Web Site

Mountain Biking - Six Foot Track I did this ride on the Sunday of the Australia Day day long weekend 2007. I have ridden this once before in 2002. On that occasion I rode from Megalong to Jenolan caves road. I found it a very tiring ride because of the climb out of the Megalong Valley (280metres elevation) up to Jenolan Caves Road (1200 metres elevation) plus some additional vertical climb with other smaller hills between Coxs River and Alum Creek. On the most recent ride I started at Jenolan Caves Road (33 45' 10" ; 150 02' 30") and rode to Megalong Valley Road (33 45' 50" ; 150 14' 10") - journey of approximately 25Kms. Even though the ride is predominantly down hill it is still quite challenging both from the point of view of not having a fall and the physical exertion. It took me 6 hours to complete the ride. I had some problems with tyres that you can read about below Read about Problems with tyres

Anyway.... here a some of photos of the recent trip:

This is me and my bike at the start of the ride

From Jenolan Caves road the ride starts along a ridge and then plunges into a valley. The ride along the ridge is relatively easy and becomes quite good fun as the trail goes into the valley. It is quite a challenge to keep on the bike over the rough, rocky surface while careering down the hill. Here is photo of a corner that I nearly couldn't take because I was going too fast.

Eventually I got to the Cox's River Camping area where I saw a very large goanna. The photograph is below:

I crossed the Cox's River using the suspension bridge. I could have easily crossed at the camping area or underneath the bridge as there was very little water flowing in the river. It was a cumbersome to get the bike across the bridge because it is very narrow and not only sways but bounces as well. The photo below shows the bridge

This photo is a looking down from the bridge as I'm crossing it. On this photo you can see the shadow of the bridge and my shadow on the rocks below as I cross.

Punctures and Tyres

On the 2002 trip I damaged a tyre firewall and suffered several flat tyres and on the most recent ride I had similar experience. It started with what sounded like a blow out about 10Km into the ride. I was going pretty hard over the rough surface and the bike was suffering a punishing, so I was not surprised that I may have split a tube. I quickly repaired the back tyre and rode about 20 metres when the same occurred. I pulled out the tube and inspected it to find that the puncture was on the inside! I checked the rubber band over the spokes and appeared to be in good order so I put another tube in and got back on the bike. I repaired both tubes. I took it easy and rode about 2kms before it happened again. I pulled the tube out and observed that it was holed in exactly the same way. I could not understand what was happening because the rubber band over the spokes ends was in good condition and in place. I deduced that some how the rubber band must have been moving as I was riding. I took the newly punctured tube out and cut it so that I could lay it flat over the spoke ends to provide extra protection. While I was doing this another rider came along the track and I shared my story. He worked in a bike shop and explained that sometimes the rubber bands move, exposing the spoke ends causing flats. He said that the stick-on cloth tape was better. He agreed with my strategy of using the old tube to provide extra protection from the spoke ends. He assisted in positioning the additional rubber over the spoke ends while putting the tyre back on. I took it pretty easy after that, because the prospect of walking 15Kms was not that appealing - especially pushing an un-rideable bicycle!

I got to Alum Creek without any problems and then I noticed a bulge in the rear tyre. During all the tyre changes I had put the back wheel on slightly miss-aligned and brakes had rubbed on the side of the tyre, just above the wheel rim, making the tyre rubber a little too thin, causing the tube to budge. I removed the back brakes to prevent any further damage, as the budge now meant that the tyre was rubbing on the brakes, even with the wheel properly aligned. I rode for several Kms but the bulge got worse and the tube was in danger of becoming exposed. I stopped and deflated the tyre, took the offending side of the tyre off and packed two $50 notes behind the tyre to prevent the tube from bulging out. I took it very easy for the rest of the ride and got back to Megalong Valley Road without any more problems. When I got onto the bitumen of Megalong Valley Road, I suffered my final flat. As I was being picked up at Old Ford Reserve, a mere 300m down the hill, I just continued on regardless - not wanting to fix another tyre that day. I was well prepared on both occasions for tyre problems. I would not do this ride without a spare tyre, several tubes, a puncture repair kit and a good quality pump.

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