Jarrahdale: 5 adults, 4 children and a study in permutations
Tim’s had this weekend in mind for a while, and wasn’t to be put off by rational observations that temperatures above 35 degrees celsius would risk over-testing the mettle of some small, off-road touring neophytes (not to mention some less ‘green’).
Tim and Greg unload the trailer. This cunning contraption has been fangled to carry a kiddie-seat (a verge collection) and a bicycle. The only source of tension – it was finished the day before and has yet to be tested….Megs seems less than sure that she should trust her bicycle to itWhile Molly has her doubts about a few things tooMeanwhile Sarah and Britta keep to the shade for as long as possible
Our mission – as presented to us by Tim – is to convey 4 adults, 4 children of various ages and cycling proficiency (and inclination) by as many cycling permutations and combinations possible from Jarrahdale General store along the Munda Biddi Trail to the Wungong hut about 25km away. To avoid too much stress, he’s come up with a support vehicle to meet us halfway at the old Balmoral POW camp.
The luxury side – all this will be moved by car to as near the hut as possible by Greg’s wife, Dimelza, after she’s picked up the less enthusiastic participants at the old Balmoral POW camp.Greg and his daughters take the lead – followed by Sarah on the look out for anything that might fall off or be discarded along the way (e.g. hats, helmets, socks, shoes and banana peel)It quickly becomes apparent that the BOB is much preferred to the twice-rejected car seat as Molly and Megs sample all the available options in quick succession.After a short solo ride there’s a pause while Meg’s bike is reattached to the trailer. The going proves a little too soft at this time of year – even on the flat bits. The pause is extended to allow a discussion about who gets the newly afixed bike and who gets the tandem-trailed BOB.Dimelza arrives, having ridden back along the track from Balmoral – and we all seek shade for the renegotiation of rides
During the 14km from Jarrahdale to Balmoral, it becomes obvious that the major sticking point is not going to be the understandable desire of the younger ones to experience all the available carrying options, but a succession of inexplicable tyre valve-base failures in my front wheel. Despite my best efforts, with a puncture every 3km, I quickly use up the group’s supply of spare inner tubes.
Tim’s planning for a full range of child and bike carrying options easily manages the ficklenesses present. My front rim’s sudden desire to slice every inner tube’s valve off at the base is much more frustratingAfter Balmoral the track moves onto fire-trails rather than the narrower rail-trail beforehand. It also gets lots softer, making for hard going on a couple of short(ish) hills for those who are more heavily loaded. Sarah waits for us to catch up.At about this point, I run out of spare inner tubes and patience. So the challenge now becomes how to transport the Big Dummy and its passenger. Not looking good this way up…Slightly better the other way up…Me – I get to ride stoker on the tandem. I’ve not tried this before – and the learning curve isn’t helped by a unalterably low saddle and more loose pea gravelImmediate point of note – it takes a lot of concentrated relaxation not to ‘steer’ on slippy-skiddy pea gravelGreg and his unplanned cargo.
Hut arrival is helped muchly when I borrow a front wheel from Dimelza’s bike – it does stay inflated for the kit-ferry from the car (and for the whole of the next day back to Jarrahdale). I’m so happy to steer for myself and not have too many knees hitting handlebars that a total lack of front brakes is a minor price to pay.
The hut’s empty when we arrive, and there’s water in the tanks. Somewhat unsurprisingly we’re all quite tired, so dinner quickly fades into bed-timeThe return trip goes much more smoothly – mostly as I’m still riding hemi-braked with a snaffled front wheel. Ben’s usurped Megs’s spot and chats to Molly while Greg and Tim make the most of firm goingAt the bottom of the softest hill, we shade-group (it’s 35 already). Barring a small knee-scraping spill, 11 year old Britta’s ridden the whole way on a fully-rigid bike that she’s only just been given and is (still) a bit too big for her. Much promise there.Morning tea (and grapes – thank you Dimelza) at Balmoral in full swing“Monkey” gets the best view though
All is wrapped up by lunch at the Jarrahdale General Store before we part company, with promises of ‘missions’ yet to be planned.
It was just as well we were well supplied with spare carrying capacity! Though we’d thought it would be for the older kids bikes not mine. :-)
It was a very worn 2.4″ tyre, so a bit if a sharp edge to the valve hole combined with lower pressures for the pea gravel probably did it – very weird thing though.
Tyre volume probably trumps tread pattern with pea gravel – the fatter the better. And once you’ve got volume – grip is useful – maybe something like a 2.4″ Maxxis Ardent…
[…] cover all bases. The three of us are joined by Greg and his family plus Tim. We’ve done similar things before though at that point Sarah was 32 weeks pregnant. It’s a mark of our extraordinary level of […]
bicyclenomad 
Trailer to the rescue!
It was just as well we were well supplied with spare carrying capacity! Though we’d thought it would be for the older kids bikes not mine. :-)
It was a very worn 2.4″ tyre, so a bit if a sharp edge to the valve hole combined with lower pressures for the pea gravel probably did it – very weird thing though.
Murphy’s Law – the strange stuff only happens when it’s inconvenient! Glad it all worked out. :)
Loved reading about this adventure- looking forward to more!
[…] (for Tom’s version of this adventure head to his blog – bicyclenomad ) […]
Pea gravel – Its like riding on marbles.
Any idea which tyre (tread) is suitable?
Tyre volume probably trumps tread pattern with pea gravel – the fatter the better. And once you’ve got volume – grip is useful – maybe something like a 2.4″ Maxxis Ardent…
[…] cover all bases. The three of us are joined by Greg and his family plus Tim. We’ve done similar things before though at that point Sarah was 32 weeks pregnant. It’s a mark of our extraordinary level of […]