29 November 2014
Set out from Jindabyne just before 6am for Crackenback Resort where we did the single track to Thredbo - what an excellent track. From Thredbo up and over Deadhorse Gap (1582m) then down, down, down to Tom Groggin (~500m) then up to Schlink Pass via Olsens Road / Geehi (1804m) then down to what we though might be a nice offroad way back to Jindabyne along the Snowy River (1100m) but ended up being a closed / overgrown track, so back up and over Rennix Gap (1600m) and then on to Jindabyne.
Total distance was just on 200km with a total elevation gain of a bit more than 4800m. Moving average 17km/h.
Food
Consumed the following on the trail:
- GU Brew Tri-Berry electrolyte drink tablets in each biddon (1 per 750ml), total number of bidons drank 7 x 750ml;
- 3 x GU energy gels (1 of which was caffeinated);
- 2 x Winners energy bars;
- 1 x large yoghurt coated muesli bar for lunch;
- 6 x GU chomps;
- 1 x large apple;
- 2 x bananas;
Also had a breakfast of 3 buttermilk pancakes with syrup and a coffee at Thredbo about 2 hours into the ride. Maybe another 2500-3000kJ.
| Item | Weight | Energy per serve | Serves consumed | Total energy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GU energy gel | 32g | 418kJ | 3 | 1254kJ |
| Winners energy bar | 55g | 850kJ | 2 | 1700kJ |
| Yoghurt Peach & Mango Oat Slice | 100g | 1819kJ | 1 | 1819kJ |
| Musashi Growling Dog Energy Bar Apricot Flavour | 65g | 954kJ | 0.5 | 475kJ |
| Trail mix with cranberries and macadamia nuts | 100g | 1500kJ | 1 | 1500kJ |
| Gu Chomps | 30g | 378kJ | 1.5 | 567kJ |
| Bananas | 175g | 660kJ | 2 | 1320kJ |
| Large apple | 200g | 380kJ | 1 | 380kJ |
| Totals | 9015kJ |
Energy requirements
A regular person on a regular day needs around 8700kJ. The Garmin estimated that total energy consumption for the ride was about 8000kJ, but the extra weight of food, water and gear required on an unsupported ride like this means that more like 9000kJ+ was required.
Trailside repair
As we rode into Tom Groggin I noticed that my crank arms were making a funny noise and on closer inspection the bolt that holds the crank axle together was coming loose. The bolt requires a T45 torx driver on an extra long shaft to get in there and its the one thing that I don't carry. As luck would have it, there were some 4wd'ers at Tom Groggin and I was able to borrow a flat bladed screwdriver that worked to tighten the crank bolt. Much to my great relief, the bolt stayed tight for the rest of the ride.
Gear list
Clothes
| Item | Weight |
|---|---|
| Wind vest | 100g |
| Goretex jacket | 320g |
| Silk inner gloves | 20g |
| Beannie | 32g |
| Neck warmer | 48g |
Tech
| Item | Weight |
|---|---|
| Light battery | 145g |
| Headlamp | 96g |
| USB charger | 25g |
| Garmin eTrex HCx GPS | 163g |
Spares/Tools
| Item | Weight |
|---|---|
| Continental light tube | 140g |
| Continental supersonic tube | 100g |
| Lezyne multitool | 96g |
| Tyre patch kit with two tubes of glue | 60g |
| Spoke key | 15g |
| Gear cable | 30g |
| Derailleur hanger | 20g |
| Zip ties | 10g |
Emergency gear
| Item | Weight |
|---|---|
| Personal Life Beacon | 163g |
| Small medical kit (incl. snake bandage) | 63g |
| Space blanket | 50g |
| Water purification tablets | 10g |
| Cigarette lighter | 30g |
Things for next time
- UHF radios: sometimes the group was quite spread out, so radios at front and back would be a good idea.
Some pics
Geehi River
Fern covered gullies at around 1200m elevation:
Viaduct B at Geehi Dam
Geehi River
Road up to Schlink Pass
Schlink Hilton with sunset coming:
View back down Schlink Pass:
Schlink Pass (1804m above sea level):
