Pea Gravel – Hell’s Tarmac

My final preparatory ride for the Karri Cup saw me take on the Munda Biddi track from Mundaring out to Carinyah, a distance (on map) of 80km return. Left from the trail head at 6.30am.

Decided to bypass a pinch-climb along the “Pipeline track” in favour of some very nice single-track around Mt Gungin. Re-established contact with the Munda Biddi at the Perth Observatory, then managed to take a wrong turn onto some very sweet flowing single track, which suddenly turned into some very steep and rocky trail. I passed some guys coming up this section, and I was glad I was not turning their pedals. Me thinks I might have stumbled onto the very secretive track called the WHORE (I now know why it is called that).

After getting back onto the Munda Biddi again, I arrived at the Carinyah campsite after about 2.5 hours riding. I was still feeling good, but I was a bit concerned by the amount of fluid I had left in my pack. In total I took about 5 litres (3 litres water, 2 litres Gatorade), and I was already half way through the water and about 1/3 through the Gatorade, and it was getting hotter (the prediction was for 37 degrees). Also from past experience I know the profile is more uphill on the way back, which means more fluid is needed.

I started heading back about 9.30am, and immediately found SHIT LOADS of pea gravel. This stuff is horrendous to ride through, especially if riding uphill (downhill you can’t steer, uphill you can’t pedal). I then decided to take a few shortcuts on the way back, and bypassed some really sweet single track in favour of getting back to the car before my water ran out.

As it was, I ran out of fluid about 5 km’s from the car, and limped into base with my tongue feeling like the bottom of a budgie cage. I was also so hungry I could have eaten my front tyre. All up about 6 hours in the saddle, and about 72km's on the speedo, which I think just about readies me for the Karri Cup in 2 weeks time – can’t wait. I’ve never been this cycle-fit before, and I’m really looking forward to putting it to good use in a 100km race.