May 23rd, 2010
A rainy week, other rides and pure laziness reduced the May ride to a field of 20. Departing the Station at 8 AM we were missing our fearless leader, Billy was travelling by car. There was no real excuse other than his usual myriad of medical moans and mumblings but the rest of us rode happily into the bush for the first 6 ks. Marty Henry was along for his first ride with the Mongrels, showing off his clean new Merida. It was pretty chatty until we hit the tar for a 15 k slog to the top of the gap.
By this stage Dave Jessop and the Dog had turned up, Dave enjoying a last fag before we went bush again. Billy was threatening to ride from this point but thought better of it.
This is where things got interesting, the mud, clay and slop made one of the Hunter’s better downhills a slippery test of riding skills. Many hit the ground, most just laughing that once you started to go there was no saving it.
By far the most spectacular spill was Deon, not for the complexity of the dismount but because he finished in the bush with a stick stuck in his ear. Dr Phil to the rescue, the opportunity he has waited so long for, a medical emergency. Soothing Deon with his “I could have been a Doctor” story he put one foot on his head and pulled the stick out. Deon’s ear drum was perforated and he kept everyone entertained holding his nose and whistling out of his ear.
The rest of the ride was interesting. John old track to Dora Creek had had a mining haul road built over it and we were lost several times. We struck a big mob of orienteering enthusiasts and Deon’s wheezing through his ear sounded like bagpipes in the background.
6 ks from town we struck tar and Billy had overcome his medical problems and was on the bike for the last run to his Dora Creek house. Everyone relaxed, ate and enjoyed a beer.
Good luck to Mark and Lozza at Canberra “Capital Punishment” this weekend.
Upcoming rides include Wollombi Wild Ride on September 4th and Walcha on October 31st. Enter via their websites.
Check out www.kurrimongrelbastards.vox.com for updates and photos of past and future rides.
Next ride, June 27, an out and back adventure in Werekata.
Then July 25, maybe a lakeside loop from Pippy’s Hotel.
PS You might remember Chappo had a bike for sale recently. Well his new Trek Fuel, top of the range ended up in small pieces after he picked it up from the shop and drove home and straight into his garage with it still on the roof of the car, nice work.
Hello from the Canberra outpost of the Mongrel Bastards. Just letting
you know that some Canberra Bastards and some north coast Bastards will
be going to the Tour Down Under in 2011. We'll be doing the community
challenge event and have registered the team "Mongrel Bastards MTB
Club". It will be printed on the supplied jerseys. So if you know of
any other Bastards who are planning to participate then you can also
say you are members of this team. No additional cost, no extra
organisation, you just have to put the wording exactly as above on the
registration form and it will all happen.
Let me know... we should meet up in Adelaide for a refreshing carbonated beverage!
Patrick
Posted by: Patrick Keogh | 06/12/2010 at 01:56 PM
P.S. My contact number is 04 14253644
Posted by: Patrick Keogh | 06/12/2010 at 02:23 PM
what time Sun 27th? and from the pink pub(Railway Hotel)
Posted by: RobbieO | 06/25/2010 at 09:26 PM
Great, we will see what the calender turns up.
Posted by: Mongrel Bastards | 07/01/2010 at 03:33 PM