Happy New Year! What better time of year is there to plan some new adventures? Along with everyone else setting those new years’ resolutions (that will be wistfully abandoned by 1st Feb), it’s time to for me to get real about training as well. I’ve already got some exciting adventures in the works for the next 12 months, but there is one specific trip which I will need to work towards.
This year will be the 5th year which I have been camping and mountain biking in the Snowy Mountains during the summer, when there is in fact no snow at all. Over the past 4 trips I have explored some vast areas of the Kosciuszko National Park, including some quite remote sections, and gathered a lot information, maps and first-hand experience about what to expect out there.
One of my aims during these trips was to visit as many of the historic huts as possible, but alas I have now visited most of those which are short walks or mountain biking day trips to get to. In order to reach the next hut I will need to camp overnight and I’ve decided to do this in the most epic way possible…
Tour de Snowy Mountains: A solo 7 day mountain bike hike covering 320km and 7200m climb, starting from the northern boundary of Kosciuszko National Park in Brindabella, and finishing at the southern boundary near Pinch River.
Now let’s not sugar coat this, this plan is bat-shit crazy. BUT it will also be:
Ok, so I didn't really manage to do the last ride, but it was enough to test the gear on the bike and I've done enough training this week. Bring on Kosciuszko!
This year will be the 5th year which I have been camping and mountain biking in the Snowy Mountains during the summer, when there is in fact no snow at all. Over the past 4 trips I have explored some vast areas of the Kosciuszko National Park, including some quite remote sections, and gathered a lot information, maps and first-hand experience about what to expect out there.
One of my aims during these trips was to visit as many of the historic huts as possible, but alas I have now visited most of those which are short walks or mountain biking day trips to get to. In order to reach the next hut I will need to camp overnight and I’ve decided to do this in the most epic way possible…
Tour de Snowy Mountains: A solo 7 day mountain bike hike covering 320km and 7200m climb, starting from the northern boundary of Kosciuszko National Park in Brindabella, and finishing at the southern boundary near Pinch River.
Now let’s not sugar coat this, this plan is bat-shit crazy. BUT it will also be:
- an incredible adventure,
- tick up to 25 new huts off my list,
- give me a goal worth working towards,
and be a hell load of fun along the way!
In order to be able to ride a fully-laden MTB the distances and climbs required, I will need to start training immediately and ramp up as it gets closer to the planned dates in April. I have written a training plan (below) which I will keep updating as I go.| Month | Training | Goal | Actual | |
| December | ☑ | MTB singletrack | Moving speed > 10km/h | 10.5km/h |
| ☑ | MTB singletrack | Moving speed > 12km/h | 16.6km/h | |
| ☑ | MTB singletrack | Moving speed > 14km/h | 14.7km/h | |
| ☑ | Road bike | Distance > 60km | 88.6km | |
| ☑ | MTB fire trail loop | Clockwise, time < 1.5hrs | 1:02:17 | |
| ☑ | MTB fire trail loop | Anticlockwise, time < 1.5hrs | 1:07:38 | |
| January | ☑ | Stationary cycle | 1/week, 30min/session | 2 x 31min |
| ☑ | Road bike | Distance > 40km | 52.7km | |
| ☑ | MTB in Tasmania | Total distance > 100km | 183.3km | |
| February | ☑ | Stationary cycle | 2/week, 30min/session | 4 x 30min |
| ☑ | MTB fire trail | Distance > 60km | 61.3km | |
| March | ☑ | Stationary cycle | 3/week, 30min/session | 11 x 30min |
| ☑ | Centennial Park laps | Distance > 15km | 15.7km | |
| ☑ | Centennial Park laps | Distance > 30km | 34.2km | |
| ☑ | Centennial Park laps | Distance > 45km | 48.8km | |
| ☑ | Centennial Park laps | Distance > 60km | 61.8km | |
| ☑ | Road bike | Climb > 1200m | 605m | |
| April | ☑ | Stationary cycle | 3/week, 30min/session | 2 x 30min |
| ☑ | Centennial Park laps | Distance > 70km | 72.2km | |
| ☑ | Centennial Park laps | Distance > 80km | 87.4km | |
| ☑ | MTB road / fire trail | Gear on bike, distance > 30km | 18.1km | |
| ☑ | MTB fire trail / single track | Gear on bike, distance > 60km | 0.7km | |
| Tour de Snowy Mountains | Longest day: 60km/1000m Steepest day: 50km/1200m |
Ok, so I didn't really manage to do the last ride, but it was enough to test the gear on the bike and I've done enough training this week. Bring on Kosciuszko!
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