Welcome back! Again! :)
It seems like only 2 years ago that I last updated this blog. 😎 Unsurprisingly, for the same reason... Outback Odyssey!
I was a initially not sure if I wanted to do it again (at least not the full length version), but with it being the 10th edition of Outback Odyssey we thought that it'd be a special edition of the ride and that we shouldn't miss out. So here we are, planning to another epic adventure in the Flinders Ranges with Bicycle SA.
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| Lynskey and Maretta at the start of Outback Odyssey 2019 |
A slight hiccup
With 2020 being quite a challenging year, with COVID19 and other pressures taking centre stage, we would constantly tell ourselves "just get to May and Outback Odyssey and we can relax". Until we got one of the regular BikeSA newsletters which said that they had sold out 😢. Despite months of looking forward to Outback Odyssey, we hadn't actually booked :( We asked to be put on the waiting list, and like a Christmas miracle, we got an email back in mid-December telling us that two spots had opened up, including the deluxe camping option. No need to ask us twice! Forms filled out and returned. We were going!
Bike preparation
On the bike front, a few things have changed. I eventually got the suspension seat post that I backed on Kickstarter which I had hoped to use in the 2019 Outback Odyssey. However, I have decided not to run with that. Not that it's bad or anything, but rather that I'm preferring to go with what I know works in this case. Whether I will regret this as I'm halfway through Moralana Scenic Drive remains to be seen.
Wheels and tyres
New wheels (Mavic XA Pro) were ordered a few months out which caused quite a bit of concern since I needed to chase down adapters to make them work with my frame. I eventually found the required parts and have them installed. The wheels are lighter than my old ones, and are tubeless compatible (and in my opinion, look great!). I now don't need to rely on the ghetto-tubeless that I had setup on my older wheels to last for 900km in the middle of nowhere. The potential for failure using ghetto-tubeless was certainly high in my mind. That said, they have been working fine to date and my worries are probably a non-issue.
I've switched to running with Pirelli Scorpion tyres instead of the Michelins from last time. I'm hopeful that the Pirellis will be a little harder wearing than the Michelins, especially as I'm running a rear-specific, hard-pack tyre on the rear which is where much of the wear appears to happen over the course of the Odyssey. In testing, they certainly seem to roll quite nicely.
GPS computer
A new Garmin 830 was purchased to replace my Garmin 820, which, despite being perfectly capable and quite a nice unit, didn't seem to have the battery life that I would like or need for this trip. During the last Outback Odyssey I needed to top up the charge on the Garmin 820 on the longer days. which was fine, but if I could avoid doing so, I figured I should. The Garmin 830 seems to be quite a nice unit, though it has it's own quirks which I am still getting used to. Thus far the battery life appears to be quite impressive.
Training
Our training has been going well enough. Not super spectacular, but like in 2019 consistent and reasonably methodical. We repeated our ride around Tanunda and Kapunda from 2019 and have done a few longer rides exploring Dry Creek and a few of the connecting trails.
Online training via Zwift has played a part again in our training. The challenges and series put up on the platform serve to keep us both moving and motivated. That said, I think we both feel that there's simply no substitute for getting outside and riding, hearing and feeling the gravel crunch beneath your tyres.
Things nearly came to a crashing halt at the beginning of April having been hit by a car driven by an idiot, but the recovery from those injuries appear to be mostly complete at this point and I think I can manage any lingering aches and pains should they arise.
Less stress?
Unlike last time, we both know that we can make the distance, so there's less stress on that front. There's also less concern about whether we take any of the short-cuts due to weather or other factors. We've done all (or almost all? 🤔) of the Mawson Trail at some point, so there's less fear of missing out on anything. We can just go and enjoy the ride, whatever that happens to look like, no matter if it happens to be the 'True Mawson' or not. I think this is pretty important for the overall enjoyment of the experience, so with any luck, that's how things will turn out. Fingers crossed for an amazing experience.
Next: Outback Odyssey - Adelaide to Burra
