Dave Byrnes' Adventures

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt - 2009
Overview     Planning     Schedule     Map     Diary     Pictures     Messages     Conclusion
Day: 020
Date:

Saturday, 15 August 2009

Start:

Timber Creek

Finish:

Timber Creek

Daily Kilometres: 0
Total Kilometres:  
Podcasts:
Journal:

Firstly, I have to thank everybody for the sympathetic and constructive advice and support I have received through the Yahoo Group, after describing my mechanical problems of yesterday.  I’m very grateful and apologise for not responding individually.  As a consequence, I decided to explore a couple more options before giving up and heading home.  However, a prerequisite was that any solution would have to see me riding again on Monday, with the loss of only two days, otherwise there is no chance of me breaking the record. 

Plan A was to find some temporary fix that would get me going to the next bike shop (Broome, 1300km away and 40km off my route).  I asked around the campsite to see if any of the grey nomads had some industrial strength epoxy resin.  One guy had a lesser standard but expressed doubt, on looking at the bike, that any resin could be applied in a way that would solve the problem.  The alloy nut into which the pedal screws in the carbon fibre crank arm has actually fractured and it’s very hard to see how you would apply the resin to bind the pedal, nut and crank arm.  I decided it was not a feasible solution in the time available. Bearing in mind it is the weekend and taking the bike to any nearby town (at least 225km away) for an epoxy bond repair has doubtful merit.  I have to get there, find someone who will do it on the weekend, and then get back.  The garage in Timber Creek is closed on weekends and they weren’t much help yesterday. 

Plan B was to find a bike shop in Darwin with a replacement crank arm or crankset in stock and get them to ship it to Timber Creek on the daily Greyhound bus that leaves Darwin at 7:15am and gets to Timber Creek at 3:30pm on the same day.  I also called Dan Cleary from the Pushy Galore bike shop back home that supplied the bike to see if he had any ideas and left it with him.  I began calling Darwin bike shops and none of the first five had a compatible crank arm or crankset.  I could get another brand crankset, but it would likely require more tools, parts and expertise than I had available on a Sunday in Timber Creek to do the job.  The sixth bike shop I called was Bike to Fit, an Avanti/Specialized dealer, who had just been called by Dan on my behalf to see if they could help.  Unfortunately, they didn’t have a compatible crankset either.  I then asked what bikes they had in stock that might suit my purposes, thinking that it might be easier just to get a replacement bike.  They had one Specialized Tricross, the same bike I have now, but in the standard version (I have the higher-end Expert).  Simon, the proprietor was very helpful and said he could have it ready to ship it to me tomorrow on the Sunday Greyhound bus.  I called Greyhound and discovered their freight office is closed on weekends and that their drivers won’t accept freight unless it is pre-booked.  With an hour to spare, I called Simon, said I would take his bike if I could collect it late tonight or early tomorrow morning, and booked myself a return ticket with bike from Timber Creek to Darwin.  I then hastily stripped my bike of as much of my customised gear as I could in the time remaining, booked my room in Timber Creek for Saturday and Sunday nights so I could leave gear there, and booked myself a room in Darwin near the bus terminal for tonight.  The bus arrives at 9:30pm and I will then get a cab to meet Simon at his shop, leave my current bike with him to ship home, buy the replacement bike (swap my front wheel, which has a dynamo hub to power my lighting and my rear “puncture proof” tyre….can’t swap the rear wheel or crankset easily because the new bike is 27 speed as opposed to my existing 20 speed), return to my hotel room for some sleep and then catch the 7:15am bus back to Timber Creek.  When I get back in mid-afternoon, I will fit the new bike with the customised gear I need – racks, lights, wiring, bottle cages, etc. – hope to get an early night and be on my way by very early morning on Monday. I had a minor panic when I rushed to get the bus from Timber Creek because there was no activity indicating an approaching bus service.  I suddenly thought that I had assumed a 1:40pm departure instead of a 1:20 departure and missed it.  But then it turned upJ. 

If this all sounds complicated, then I can assure you that it has been a lot more complicated than I have detailed here, complete with a backdrop of frustration, depression, loss of motivation, and a sense that I’m clutching at straws in a futile and faint hope of continuing successfully.  (The money I’m spending on the new bike could pay for a trip to the UK next year to hike from Lands End to John O’Groats, my next project.) 

Even with the loss of just two days, I now have to average 314km per day for the next 30 days to come close to the record.  During my first 17 days on this trip, I averaged 304km per day and four hours sleep per night.  I felt on the edge many times, had several “foetal” moments (just wanted to curl up in the foetal position on the side of the road and wait for my mother to come and get me), and don’t relish the prospect of going even harder for longer from this point on.  There will be no margin for error with respect to health, the bike or the weather.  Common sense tells me that too many things have to go right for success and that I am now grossly over-committed in terms of goals and money.  I think that the most likely outcome is a few more problems, a falling further behind schedule, and a gradual loss of motivation.  We’ll see. 

I’m writing this from the Greyhound bus about 2.5 hours south of Darwin and will send it when within range. 

Thanks again for all the support.

ADVENTURE LIST

 

Round Ireland
(2016)

Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)

Via Alpina
(2012)

Australian Alps Walking Track
(2011)

Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)

Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)

Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)

Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)

Three Peaks Race
(2004)

Appalachian Trail
(1986)

Alpine Track
(1983)

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