Chocolate Foot's Rock Wallaby

It is not often I get to Appin, not after it ripped the MTBing mojo from my body during an eight hour enduro. Post event I said I would never do that again, but then I said that about 24hr events too. Since that fateful day the only events I've returned to Appin for, and there have only been a couple, were shorter cross-country style with just a couple of hours in the saddle. The Rock Wallaby had been of interest this year as it had been some time since my last visit to Appin, that and the fact there were so many DNFs last year. How hard can this twenty-odd kilometre loop be? 

The key for me would be having fun on the trail. The elements to make this happen would be my “I’m not here to race” attitude and bike setup. For Appin the Yeti was setup with extra sag and some fat tubeless rubber, plenty of squish to soak up the harsh trail. As for my attitude, goals were set, just finish, don’t push on the first lap and do a good warm-up.

The chilly air hadn’t put off any riders and the small township of Appin was buzzing with bikes and coffee induced jitters. The recent wet weather had forced the CF crew to shorten the trail but only by a few kilometres and there was an additional new singletrack we were having the pleasure of being almost the first riders to bed in. As the sun started burning the mornings dew from the football oval we were unleashed onto the renown Appin trails.

Photo:theroostmag.com.au

For the half Wallaby’s especially those new to MTBing one lap was enough. At no stage would they have been bored and after all they may have heard about Appin’s gruelling trails, it may have even been tough than ever imaginable. But the social atmosphere where everyone was having fun took the rough edge off this super challenging trail.

To do two laps didn’t even cross my mind, after all, the first lap was more of a preview leading into what would be the faster, more fun lap. I really enjoyed the Rock Wallaby but will remain cautious of the Appin trails especially since the 20km feels like 30km and 40km/60km. The technical nature and unrelenting conditions will test any rider, Rock Wallaby is defiantly a suitable title for this great event, it felt like I had gone ten rounds with one, twice my size.