Part 2 of the Wonnangatta.

....... Taking the ‘high road’ along the valley, we poked our noses into many campsites, but had that feeling that we were just 30mins late, as everyone there had already snagged the good sites and was just setting up. Nevertheless, we got a great site right by the river and set ourselves up. Having a wash in the river was a pleasant relief, but as usual we were all toey to get out and do something so we set out for the Widowmaker.

This is a steep climb up the back of the homestead that is used for highmarking by motos and 4wd’s, and for good reason. Its bloody steep. Typically, the photos show nothing, but we bashed away at that to burn some energy, and I think that Benny may have been the winner overall.

We then rolled around the valley to stretch out our legs before heading back and prepping our bikes and bodies for the day ahead.

A good pasta feed up (thanks Tessa) around the fire hit the spot square on, and we collapse into our swags and bivvies not long after. Up nice and early to see the mist slowly rising from the plains, it was kinda chilly.

Still, with a million star view overnight, and not a cloud to be spotted, it was just perfect. Water dispensed, food packed, tools, radios and cameras all stowed and it was time to get out there and onto it! Jason and Nat both tipped a small amount of water from their water bladders, whilst Ben and I chuckled, only for them to realize where we were and what we were doing, and go and fill them to the top again. Silly boys! We were carrying some heavy bags, with about 4kgs of water alone before anything else, but its par for the course, and both my Camelbak Havoc and Jasons pack were excellent all day. The radios turned out the be almost the best bit of kit we had, after our trusty Felt Virtues, being able to communicate whilst out of sight made everything easier. Looking for trails, climbing big hills, waiting at photo calls, all were easier with handy radios. Except for the one we lost…

The route itself was a bit of a work in progress. We generally elect to have a rough plan in place for planning and safety, but then alter it as we go. This is due to changing circumstance, water consumption, fatigue etc, so it gives us scope to accommodate everyone. This was very much the case all day out here in the Wonnangatta.

Looking for a bit of singletrail marked as ‘excellent condition’, it took us the better part of half an hour to locate this suspension bridge. In the end, we asked some people, they jerked a thumb over their shoulder, and told us to watch out for the the ‘shooter boys’ that just went that way… Great…! The job wasn’t over yet though. Pushing through the thistles and blackberries, we found the bridge, and with Ben over it in a flash and searching for the trail, we all stopped and laughed on the smart side.

The trail was basically non-existant due to overgrowth, Ben tore himself up looking for it, but to no avail, so we had backtracked out to the ‘main’ trail. Trails out here, there isn’t much ‘main’ about them, other than the thickness of the line on a map. But we hit it, and went up.

And up.

Until I lost breakfast due to overheating from excess clothing. What a waste.

We’ve all learnt by now there is NO shame in banging it straight in the little cog, and I even heard the call for a 22 tooth, matched to a 34, something I’ll be doing for sure in the future! But water bar by water bar, we made it to the top of the first climb of the day, were I’m sure Ben wasn’t even sweating. That 24 hour prep is coming along pretty well if you ask me. Hooking down the back side of that ridge line, we went past where that walking trail was supposed to come out, and there was no sign of it so it looks like we made the right choice.

Up Humphry River track we went, and hooked around onto one of the bigger climbs for the day, and set about making it to the top. I think we basically wheelied our way up to the top, intermixed with stopping on water bars for some of us. Damn they make it steep out there!!
With a constant banter, and quotes from a wiiiide selection of movies over the radio for distraction, we made it to the top, and the Bicentennial Walking Trail. Covering some 600+km from memory, this trail runs all the way to Canberra (why would you bother…. Its Canberra.) And its great for mountain bikes, although the water situation takes some planning!

Lunch atop the trail, and we’re into the salad rolls, and damn they taste good.

Jason is into whatever vitamins he can find, from iron, to vitC to Enervit electrolytes; I think he rattled when we started again. Water was becoming an issue also, with temps heading well over 30, and no water within cooee on the maps. The call had to be made to modify the ride to head to water soonest, and that’s exactly what we did.

Descending the opposite ridgeline to the one we just climbed, it was awesome. Screaming brakes, screaming riders, waterbars to launch you into next week, boulders, scree, sticks, leaves, cliffs, this descent had it all!!

And best of all, we all regrouped at the bottom, and were nattering away, when someone said “is that water running?” Sure enough, we’d stopped perfectly at a little creek, and so it was break time!

Everyone had pretty much just taken the last sip of their 3L water vessels, and the timing couldn't have been better!!

Jase discovers a new way to subdue cramps. We all laugh. And then proceed to do exactly the same.

Ben still was yet to sweat.

But he does in the next installment. Big climbs and long descents made the last section of the ride the best bit. The video is on its way also, as the week progresses, so you all know the deal - check back and you'll see more new stuff! How many blogs have daily updates that you check?? A few perhaps, but not many. (alright, its not that regular, but we try!!)

The journey in... part 1

Welcome to the latest installment of Felt Epix. These adventures are the brainchild of 2 guys who simply love riding their bikes, enjoy a good challenge, and even better adventure. And for your viewing pleasure, we bring it all to you. So over the rest of the week, you'll be able to check back here to see photos, perhaps a video, and the story of the adventure that was Wonnangatta.

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The Wonnangatta Valley is a pretty historic place, a site of much agriculture over the years, but the real joke is that for all the tough as nails reputation of Aussie farmers and bushies, the valley itself was settled by an American. Any you know what, he could have it, back then! It’s a hard place to get into via Dargo, and that’s in the comfort of a 4wd. On horseback it would take them a week, or a month if it was wet. Lucky its so beautiful!!

So the Valley was our goal, and departing Melbourne at 7pm on Friday, the month estimate was looking good. Smack into Long Weekend traffic, we snailed our way out of the city before getting a good head of clean air and smashing it down to the east.

With Ben’s hilux packed to the hilt, and the spare wheel needing a red spanner to remove it (fingers crossed!), and the ‘cruiser doing not a lot better, we weren’t setting any records. But the trend started for real when we were kicked out of Trafalgar takeaway (“get out, we’re closing”), followed by the supermarket at Traralgon (“get out, we’re closing”, and then chased around by the guy on the cleaner sweeper) so we went out to watch the fights at MacDonalds- all was not lost. For the record, the fat guy with the sore knuckles had it in the bag, but his girlfriend made him leave, which was a shame as it meant I lost $10 to Jason….

With supplies on board, we headed out yet again into the darkness, and it was destined to be a late night. We made it to Wonnangatta Trk and carried on up there a way before we finally called it a night at 1.20am, and had a beer to celebrate.

A 6 hour drive in completed, and the fun started in the morning. At least a sleep would let Nat and Ben get the dust out of their heads, ready to be filled up again in the morning! Sleeping where we fell was convenient, but some boys weren’t really into Sven’s work with the rocks on the back. We survived, and being so tired it wasn’t really an issue.

Up at ‘sparrows fart’, we got everything back together, made a brew and set to work stripping unnecessary parts from the ‘cruiser with the rattle gun. Good move too we discovered, as the sway bar we removed was really hindering its performance off road, so with that gone it was happy days!

Problem solved!! :)

Straight into low range after breakfast, there were some serious ridges to be climbed and up we went! About 10 mins in, Ben passed the comment that this was the most serious 4wding he’d done, so that was pretty cool. Up and up we climbed, and enjoyed the view of the high country at every peak, before screaming down the back side of the ridge line, tires aired down and scrabbling for traction. Low range was in use most of the time, dust flying everywhere, and we were loving it.

One of the great bits of kit we had along was the twin 50L water tanks, and camelbaks on the backs of our seats. Brilliant! We went through one complete tank, and had a good crack at the other, so thats a lot of water!!

Dusty, you bet, but you should have seen the inside of the hilux...!

Dropping down Hearne Spur track, we made it down to the Wonnangatta River for the first time, after being chopped up by some rude people in other trucks – we hoped we’d have the pleasure of seeing them in trouble later on and being able to cruise past and return the ‘favour’.

Ben here, pictured above at a very aptly named track, took a different approach to Hearne Spur trk. He tried the ol' esky lid approach... Then decided it was a crap idea, and hopped back in the truck.

Rant aside, without a problem we made it to the valley floor, through the numerous rivers that feed the Wonnangatta and along to the ruins of the homestead.

A very welcome way to end the day and to cool off.

Solving the problem of safe and secure bike storage. The bikes escaped some serious rockin and rollin with a lot of gear on board, without a scratch.

The view from the top was just magic, but you'll have to wait until the next installment to get some more pictures of it! You'll be sure to see plenty of photos of the riding we did also, this post seems a bit 4wd heavy doesn't it. With 430 photos and a healthy story, come back soon and there will be plenty to keep you entertained whilst you ride your desk with us.

Did I mention it was a hard day....?!

Wonnagatta - the water bar way...

We're back, after a memorable weekend. Its steep, its hot, its hard and it was a hell of a lot of fun!

Sorting through 439 photos at the moment, story to come...

Techno head!

Well its time to get ready for another Epix weekend. I have been away surfing in Byron Bay for two weeks so I thought that all my gadgets will need a good charge before the weekend.

As it turns out the necessary gadgets are starting to get a tad ridiculous. All we need to do now is go get lost in the bush!!!!!!

The two Virtues are ready for the job ahead. The extra attention given to the bikes when they were first assembled is definitely paying off. All that has been required is a wash and lube of the chain and its all go.

This Epix ride will unquestionably be one to remember, so stay tuned for all the photos and stories.

Jason

Getting closer now...

This weekend as you all know, we're on another fine Epix. This time the high country, and a logistically challenging trip is lined up. 4wd is required to get to 'base camp' and from there we ride. We'll touch a little of the Alpine Trail, some moto singletrack and some very very big hills. We've 4 riders in total, so its a small concise group, and we're looking foward to it.

I think someone is noticing how much we seem to have to walk on these trips. Put us in the big mountains, and well, sometimes they are bigger than we are! What do you think of these dawgs..?!


Something we may just see along the way?!


And as they say, the journey is just as good as the destination...

The Virtues are in fine form thus far, with a good look over having taken place and nothing amiss. The new bearings in my bottom bracket are going exceptionally. Combined with fresh grease in the wheel bearings, and the ceramic headset bearings from Stronglight, everything that is supposed to move is doing so with very little drag at all! Surely a good thing for big country!

So what tyres should we run??