Heroes?

It is far too common for people to be called heroes these days.

The MEN don't accept the term. 

It is known that they get pulled out of their inner-city lives to live for a weekend in the wilderness.  Sure, they conquer the harshest terrain, cross rivers, climb mountains, and fry up a mean lamb chop.

But, heroes should be kept for people who have made personal sacrifices of themselves.

So admire what these MEN can do.  But don't call them heroes.

Photos

The stats are in

The stats are in and this was definitely the hardest one ever. 

More than 14 hours of riding over 100km of road, fire trail and single track. We climbed more than 2500 metres (higher than Kosciusko). 

We burnt over 2700 calories on Friday, and 1500 on Saturday, which equates to 4 T-bones and a piece of Wagyu.

53,500 heartbeats and 27,500 turns of the pedals on the first day's ride alone.  Which added together exactly matches the amount of rocks we rode over. 

Only those there will know how difficult the terrain was.

The lumber supplier had the fires burning and the catering subcommittee ensured we hit record protein consumption levels.

The A team

The consensus is formed. No one takes the easy way.

The path has been examined. The gradients multiplied.

However inspiration is drawn from the convict teams that forged the route. We will follow in their path.

Long way to the top

The Western Commission Road provides an alternative to the more "technical" Old Great North Road for the commencement of the ride.

However, this road at its steepest rises over 100m per kilometre run.  Over 300m of climbing within the first 3km.

Training Videos

The organising committee has put together a series of training videos to assist in preparation for the ride.  This first one covers pedalling from a standing start.

Making the Grade

Devines Hill may sound like a pleasant way to start a trip, but for the Men on the trip, it could mean heartbreak.  Can they, and their equipment, make the grade?

In order to determine if they will make the grade, it is first necessary to determine what the grade is.  Fortunately, we have a fleet of civil engineers ready for the calculating activities.  Does it comply with the necessary council regulations for access?  Is it graded sufficiently for wheelchair access unassisted?  Did the chain-ganged convicts building the road allow sufficiently for the water erosion caused by the velocity of run-off down this slope?

Devines Hill Grade

    At its steepest, the Devines Hill track climbs 80m over 1km.