This time we decided to skip riding back to the top of the Clyde and instead, roll onto Nelligen. The point to point format made possible by the offer of a lift by a matey, what a guy! This route meant more downhill and less uphill, plus we got to pass through more varied terrain and see some places we hadn't before.
It was pissing down all day Saturday (the planned day for the ride), so we postponed to Sunday, in the hope it would clear. To our amazement, it did! Blue skies greeted us as we drove to the top of the Clyde to meet John, who I had only met online and on the phone, so we were hoping the meeting would work out. He arrrived before us and was waiting at the Corn Trail trail head. Introductions and banter ensued before we decided to head off, and get into the thick of it...
Dropping off the side of the Clyde is 10kms of pure bliss, lots of tight slipperry corners and rear wheel steering was on the menu, and we lapped it up like kittens :) Before we knew it we were at the bottom, the end of the descending, which is followed by a couple of the hardest damned kilometers around... while the descent part of the Corn Trail is well maintained, open and all rideable, the bottom flat section from the creek out to the fire road, is tight and loaded with dozens of downed trees and weeds that remind me of Cairn's famous "wait a while", as they grab you, your handlbar or pedal and hold you there until you untangle yourself. You're constantly getting off and lifting you bike over logs, then getting back on for what feels like 2 pedals, then back off and lifting over... some times I just gave up pedalling and walked for while, as I couldn't be stuffed getting on and off anymore! For a while it was fun, but it didn't take long before I was exhausted and tired of it.
Eventually it does end though and you break out onto No Name Mtn Rd. It's a breath of fresh air, as you are pedalling along with no need to stop! :) Here we got alittle confused with the route, we turned right out of the Corn Trail and followed No Name Mtn Rd, it goes across a creek (wet feet!), then through a creek (you turn into the creek, then ride along it for a while, then turn out of the creek and back onto dry land). Here it looks like the trail stops.
It doesn't though, it runs down to the creek again and you have to cross it, it looks like there is no trail on the other side to ride to, but it's there, you just have to look hard (or trust the GPS and ride through the creek (wetter feet) and see for your self. Bull dozers have dug up dirt mounds to stop 4WD's I assume, but mountain bikes can easily over come these obstacles, we usually call them "jumps" :)
Once the tricky crossing was navigated, we refuelled with food and were off, cruising through the Monga National Park and taking in the scenery. One valley we came to had been cleared and was growing the most bizarre long grass (see photos), it looks quite Asian, far from where we were on the South Coast of NSW!
A pretty easy ride from here to Bolaro Mtn, where we had bypassed the summit and ridden around the thing. We just had to climb upto Bolaro Mtn Rd at a low spot on the range, which made life much easier. Granny gear engaged we motored to the top, and stopped for refreshments and contemplation, before barrelling down the mountain for Nelligen.
The run down Bolaro Mtn Rd was fast and fun, but had a few undulations and little climbs that take it out of you. Worth it though, as most of the time you're motoring along at a great pace.
A nice ride, pretty much went to plan and we had no mechanicals (even me, Mr Mechanical!). I put it down to a great crew and the gorgeous weather, a top day out!
The crew:
| Jason | Giant Trance |
| Simon | Giant VT2 |
| Neil | Cdale Scapel |
| John | Spesh Stumpy |
The Stats:
| Distance | 42km |
| Time | 5:30 |
| Climb | 910vm |
| Date | 10/06/07 |