200km Australian Alps Ride

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.

ItemWeightEnergy per serve
Serves consumed
Total energy
GU energy gel
32g
418kJ31254kJ
Winners energy bar
55g
850kJ21700kJ
Yoghurt Peach & Mango Oat Slice
100g
1819kJ11819kJ
Musashi Growling Dog Energy Bar Apricot Flavour
65g
954kJ0.5475kJ
Trail mix with cranberries and macadamia nuts
100g
1500kJ11500kJ
Gu Chomps
30g
378kJ1.5567kJ
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

ItemWeight
Wind vest
100g
Goretex jacket
320g
Silk inner gloves
20g
Beannie
32g
Neck warmer
48g

Tech

ItemWeight
Light battery
145g
Headlamp
96g
USB charger
25g
Garmin eTrex HCx GPS
163g

Spares/Tools

ItemWeight
Continental light tube
140g
Continental supersonic tube100g
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

ItemWeight
Personal Life Beacon163g
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


Snowy River at Tom Groggin

Fern covered gullies at around 1200m elevation:


Fern covered gullies in Australian Alps

Viaduct B at Geehi Dam


Viaduct B at Geehi Dam

Geehi River


Geehi River

Road up to Schlink Pass


Road to Schlink Pass (1804m)

Schlink Hilton with sunset coming:


Schlink Hilton just before sunset

View back down Schlink Pass:


View back down Schlink Pass towards the Schlink Hilton

Schlink Pass (1804m above sea level):


Schlink Pass sign

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