Moreton Island fatbike weekend - VIDEO!

I had a weekend of filming planned over on Moreton Island, to make a short clip similar to what I used to make many years ago when working in video production. This clip reminded me of the reason I followed that profession in the first place - the feeling you get when you blend great shots,  tasteful editing, a matching soundtrack and a lot of heart.

 

 

I caught the early express flyer over, many thanks to Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort. I had to deliver a Moonlander to Trevor (resort manager) that he'd bought from our shop, he was pumped when he saw it and even moreso on his first ride. We rode up to the QPWS rangers' station and I met some of the the team, great bunch and chatted about the bikes - was great to hear their feedback on the bikes and the potential of exploration on the island by bike.

 

The accessibility, the size of the island and the terrain does lend itself very well to fatbikes. Given that there is very little infrastructure (paved roads, heavy development) it is an ideal getaway for a riding loop over a day, a weekend or a week. Then it was off to Bulwer general store, where they make an awesome steak sandwich with chips, but you gotta ring ahead to check the times they run the coffee machine...

 

Some clips didn't make it into the video, and some areas were better with just a photo.

 

Phat. Fat. Same same in my mind.

Up near Heath Island is the outlet for the lagoon, at low tide it was still too deep to ride through, plus huge sections of quicksand where I sunk knee deep in the sand during the crossing. Plenty of birdlife to spot with the binos.

Interesting wind/wave action on the coffee rock, forming all sorts of shapes.

North Point/Smith Rock overlooking Honeymoon Bay, with Cape Moreton Lighthouse in the distance.

Shadows grow longer, near North Point with Yellow Patch visible in the background.

Brand new day.

 

Illustrates the impact from the fatbike tyre compared to a shoed footprint. Hmmm, could there be an improvement to the old saying of take only photographs, leave only footprints...

 

 

West coast beauty, with the debris and a moderate tide you can see the difficulties for vehicles with access, but no limitations for human powered transport. 

Vast interior of coastal heathland, dormant wildflowers and white sandy singletrack. On my way back from filling up water at Blue Lagoon.

Telegraph track still has remnants of the cable for communications between wartime outposts. Fires have damaged various areas on the island, taking many years to recover due to the poor quality soils with little organic material.

We have a saying whenever leaving for an adventure - 'I'll be back at half past'. Half past what exactly? It's a rhetorical statement, that places no limits on the length of your adventure. I was booked on the 2pm boat home on Sunday, well at 2pm I was still slogging it out along Telegraph track with no phone reception.

By the time I summitted Mt Tempest, the 4:30pm boat was looking out of reach also, so re-arranged for the last boat after the dolphin feeding which started at 6pm.

 

Was perfect timing, in time to wash down a huge bowl of potato wedges and a coke, watch the last of the sunset and relax.

 

On the boat ride home, the first mate commented there were plenty of seats available inside the launch...I was quite happy to sit outside and feel the fresh air, gaze upon the stars and watch the lights of the resort slowly fade - daydreaming of the next adventure on this island gem.

 

Amazing where riding a bike will take you...

 

 

 

I'm getting fat - part 1

"Honey, you're getting fat" wifey said to me at the dinner table.

Now, saying this would normally land you in front of the mirror, flexing your pecs, abs and biceps, then walking away confidently saying to yourself "Yeah, I still got it".


But she had good reason for saying it - in fact she relished in it.

"Am I really?" I replied excitedly.

My waistline was not increasing in girth, no middle age spread, no man boobs, no implants or body augmentation surgery, alas it was far more exciting than that.

It was time for a new bike to join the family. Not just any bike, it was a fat bike.

The bike arrived in a really, really big bike box. The tyres are 5" wide. I'm more of a function over form kinda guy, but as I was building it, it was triggering synapses in my brain that get excited when I see tactical response vehicles, APCs, podium baja/desert trucks and rockcrawlers.

To quote Tim Allen from Home Improvement " You never really own something, until you've built it with your own hands" argh argh, it was time for me to don the apron and get building.

I built the bike, then road tested it for fit by commuting to work a few times and doing a river loop ride with the shop bunch. Turned a lot of roadie heads, and was great to have it on display in the shop as a talking point for customers.

We've got quite a few trips planned, many of them on the beach and in harsh environments, and being a steel frame and fork it needed to be treated where the paint don't go - inside the tubes. I've rustproofed plenty of my 4wds for beach work, so to keep the duco pretty and the frame rust free internally it was time to do the same. Tear down bike to bare frame.

Process and product the same, coat all exposed steel surfaces with cavity wax, I've used fish oil with success too, but takes a long time to cure and weeps forever.

Frame tubes have holes either internally or externally, they allow water, air and contaminants into the frame and that's where the rust process begins. I cover one of the holes on each tube with tape, then flood the tube with cavity wax from the other end, slosh it around, drain the excess and let it cure. It's a long process but essential. I let the wax flash off for a week or so, then cover all external holes with white electrical tape to keep contaminants out.

Also the exterior gets a few touch ups, the underside of the cable lugs gets very little paint from the factory, so a good idea to go over these areas with a few coats.

When I build a bike there are a lot of little touches to ensure longevity and reliability. A few of these needed to be carried out given the type of bike and the terrain to be covered. First off was adding a drain hole to the BB shell, tapping it M5 and adding a drain bolt.

The BB shell faces weren't parallel or clean, so a face and chase was next.

The spoke tensions weren't up to spec, a quick email to Bob at Surly confirmed 1200N/120kg for standard/drive and 1100N/110kg for offset side. Clown Shoe only just fitted in the Park truing stand with mm to spare.

Lots of lube. I like heavy oil on CPS hardware, assists with alignment and helps prevent corrosion freezing them in place.

Grease it, torque it, tune it. Replaced the phosphor black bolts on the cranks and stem with shiny stainless steel units.

Built up again, with a Revelate framebag (borrowed from the Fargo until my next order), Viscacha seatpack with Spocket, and Gastank bag. Applied some tough polyester tape under the framebag straps.