Barrington Tops Adventure Ride

This is a two-day ride that starts in Gloucester (90min drive north of Newcastle) and traverses the wonders of the Barrington Tops which are part of The Great Dividing Range in NSW.

It is an extremely remote two day ride with the only major town being Gloucester where you leave from. It crosses a number of fords and gains fairly high elevation before stopping for the night at a pub and camping ground in Moonan Flat. The route is popular due to the wonderfully smooth gravel roads and never ending scenes of rolling hills.
 

Thunderbolts Adventure Scratch Race – My Experience

 
Hosted by Graveleur, The Thunderbolts Adventure Ride is a yearly hosted event and an amazing two day adventure ride cradling the very lumpy and very beautiful region of Barrington Tops starting from Gloucester (around a 90min drive north of Newcastle, NSW) and heading to the picturesque Moonan Flats before chucking a U-turn and looping your way back. Well at least that’s what I thought it was going to be.”
 
In typical Vince fashion I tried to cram as much into my Friday as possible and then planned to catch the last flight out of Melbourne to Newcastle before hiring a car when I landed at 8.30pm. I’d then drive halfway to Gloucester (where the ride begins), assemble my bike, sleep somewhere in the middle and then carry on in the morning before showing up at the starting line, guns a blazing!
Well unfortunately in typical Qantas fashion, the flight was delayed two hours and by the time the plane arrived for landing in Newcastle, a thick fog had set in and before I knew it, we had been re-routed to Sydney. Without a car. Without anywhere to stay.
Alas, my two day adventure was not to be. It was now too late at night to hire a car from Sydney Airport and I would miss this great adventure I had been yearning for. I dejectedly pushed my awkward to push bike bag along to a hotel room that I had hastily booked (no cabs at the airport), put on the kettle, sat down and ate a stick of salami that I had been planning to consume as a mid-way bike snack. Turns out even the kettle didn’t work. I wallowed in defeat.
 
But wait!!! I remember talk of a scratch race. That is, the two day adventure, heaped into a singular day and it’s a race!
Sure, I’m not at my fittest, certainly not as fit as the big hitters signed up already. Think Mitch Docker, Jason English and Jonny Odams just to name a few. But it’s only 260km. On Gravel. With about 5500 vert. I’m also not the slightest bit prepared. Fuck, I’ve accidentally packed tyre sealant instead of chain lube. It was midnight, I needed a good night sleep because in the morning, there was work to be done.
I woke early on about 4 hours sleep and marched down to Budget Rent-a-car. Thankfully, an extremely overpriced rental car was available. I punched it back to the hotel, slammed the bike in the boot and went on my merry way.
 
First stop Newcastle, I wanted to put my bike back together in the comfort of knowing there was a bike shop nearby in-case of any mid-flight mishaps involving my derailleur or other. Right I was to do so as the valve had become completely loose and was leaking sealant.
I had selected the carpark of Cheeky Bikes Bike Shop as the place to assemble my bike and without hesitation on their part, I had a new valve on the rear tyre, pumped tyres and also a new camelback backpack that I was going to need to hold 250km worth of snacks.
I booked a nights accommodation in Gloucester, near town and made the 90min commute that I should have been making the night earlier.
The night before I had emailed the events organisers informing them of the mishap and they happily obliged to let me run in the scratch.
A cute little town it was, I took the bike for a quick adventure and quickly realised how magical this place actually is! I settled in to my room by dusk, more snacks, more salami and dinner in hand.
 

The scratch race

 
It was 5.30am, we were to roll at six. A quick briefing from the event organisers let us know that the route had changed a little bit and it was now and out and back route due to some of the roads not being in the best condition. Great news, shorter course and less vert. but not by much.
We were off and within about 4km I was riding alone in dead last position as the faint backlight of the riders in-front of me faded into the horizon. That’s alright I thought, I can just enjoy this.
 
The roads were fantastic. After about 20 – 25km of very scenic asphalt, I hit some really smooth gravel and rolling hills. The route took us through a series of Fords which weren’t all rideable due to heavy rains but we were able to traverse none the less. Back up again and we were looking out on the farm and hinterlands of the Barrington Tops.
 
The first climb, 10km, was manageable. I’ve got this. The second couple of climbs – pinchy. I think I’ve got this. Then an absolute prick of a climb. 17% – 20% for around 5km just as the riders who set out for the two-day adventure started passing us on their way back. They yelled words of support as I put my head down and sheepishly hike-a-biked up the beast of a mountain. It was hot. I was suffering. Sarah Hammond asked me if I was ok with genuine concern on her face. Fine! I managed to eek out. I wasn’t fine. I reached the water truck and told the water boys that I was going to turn back once I reached the top of the hill. I was buggered already; the other riders were paddocks in-front of me, and I had only done 60km and I didn’t want to ride back in the dark.
 
I pushed on up the hill and went to turn my bike around when I glanced up one more time. Two riders facing the same direction as me! Maybe I wasn’t all that far behind? Turns out, WE were pretty far behind but at least not I.
I told the boys, Izzy and Nick, “I’m pretty buggered, I think I’m going to turn back.”
“Nonsense!” said Izzy, “you’re coming with us.’
I knew I couldn’t refuse so onwards I trudged. The climb had about another 15km left in it, less gradient all-be-it, before riding through lush forest at elevation and then a long descent downwards to Moonan Flats.Riding with others gave me a boost and when we came across another rider “Lucy”, who’s bike had shit itself, I was to enjoy an excuse for some much-needed rest while being able to provide absolutely zero support to Lucy.

We descended as the leaders of the scratch race started to pass us by on their return. Jonny, Mitch, Jason, Alby. We were still about 30km from turning around and these guys were smashing it.
 
We rolled into Moonan Flats pub and another rider was their ready to turn around. “Will” from the States, an absolute legend. He posed for a video while I downed a coke and some body-warmed salami and cheese blocks.
There’s not much in Moonan Flats except this bustling pub chock full of visitors. I was envious of the two day riders for being able to stop there longer. It looked really cool.
Meredith who was the event sweeper stocked me up with some of the snacks that Jason English had left behind. Cheers Jase, I’m certain you won’t read this but cheers anyway. They were bloody good too. Honey and something, natural. I need to look it up.
 
The four of us reluctantly departed as a team. We chatted for a while and settled into the first climb. I knew that daylight was soon no longer to be with us and I only had the one really shitty front light. I did not want to descend that monster mountain with the illumination off that alone so I took off. The climb out of Moonan Flats, although partially on asphalt, consisted of about 5km at 14% gradient. Things were going slow but with the coke, salami and Jason’s snacks on board I had a second wind.
I pushed on, quick, recognising parts of the course as I pushed back. Dusk was quickly descending but I was going to make it to the monster mountain just before sundown. I flew down, except the 20% part, that really cramps your hands when you have to hold the brakes that hard for that long.
Dusk has settled and I was alone in Barrington Tops. I had about 80km to go. I needed this light to get me through so I took it off the highest setting and and took the risk of a dimmer path ahead.
To be honest, I didn’t see much for the rest of the ride. It was pitch black. It had started to rain a little but I didn’t mind because it was much cooler now and I think I favour those conditions.
 
My front light started to blink with 40km to go, it was on low charge. Shit!
I played around with it and found an even dimmer setting. I was now literally riding on hopes and dreams.
I hopped off my bike and walked the three fords before roaring into town.
The pub was closing at 9.30pm. It was 9.20pm.
I saw Mitch and Alby out the front so I tried to act like I wasn’t ready to die and look cool in-front of them. I’m certain they saw through me.
Alas the pub had served last drinks but they were still willing to pour me a pint.
“Better make that two” I said.
There was a small group of “2 day riders” gathered in the beer garden who cheered when they saw me and the beers.
I sat with them and had a really good laugh.
I walked my bike back to my accommodation. I was absolutely spent. But I was glad that I gave it a crack.

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