Trail Bike Adventure Magazine

Apex Ride – Mojo At Mogo

Friday, 30 July 2010 10:08

I found my mojo at Mogo

By Hammer

The Apex ride at Mogo can now be considered an annual pilgrimage and having been to most over the last 10 odd years the event keeps delivering a good fun weekend of riding with your mates. Admittedly my first attempt was with no mates, on a super tanker equipped XR650 with a 26ltr Aqualine tank and road bias tyres. Yep I've learnt a lot over the years. Like not having 20ltrs of fuel on board when attempting single track, nonetheless the fun is still there regardless of whether you are on the latest single track super weapon, or an old trail hack.

It has been a ride of many events over the years, some fun, others not so fun. Our riding group has learnt how to change the jetting on a KTM250, while pissed the night before the ride and then on the morning of the ride (to correct the slightly incorrect settings made under the influence). We've bleed brakes on the side of the track in the first loop, on a bike that gets ridden a couple of times a year. All bikes are now serviced well in advance of any event. We have had memorable stacks that seem to get better each year without any factual evidence to the contrary, while now we've video evidence. Alas this time despite the video I missed the stack of the weekend.

The plan was to arrive on the Saturday and get one loop in, have a few refreshing drinks on Saturday night and do at least one loop on Sunday. I was keen to ride as much as possible so this suited me well.

We arrived on Saturday, kitted up and headed out on the Northern loop. The northern loop contains Pork Chop and I had tried to pyshc myself into having a crack for the first time. Every other time the Chop had intimidated me enough that I didn't do it, as my confidence of climbing mega hills in front of all my mates and 300 odd other mates had never been that high. This year I thought stuff it I'd have a go, well I'd see how I was feeling when I got there and if the mojo was happening I'd have a crack.

As with all other Apex Mogo rides it was a mix of single track and fire trail. There was some nice new stuff cut in and some of the older well formed tracks. Which ever you were on it was fun, with plenty of flowing stuff to hook into and some more technical to make you use or quick develop skills to get through. There was plenty of logs to get over, but none that were case crackers. The dust hung heavily in the air at times, but whilst this was annoying it wasn’t any worse than a normal trail ride. Well, when you got stuck behind a big group it was worse, but still what do expect riding in Australia.

The good thing about these rides is that there is something there for everyone. The single track keeps most people smiling, except those perhaps new to the sport and the fire trail sections give everyone the opportunity to get their breath back and enjoy a few erosion control jumps.

The north loop had a couple of bridges built in the single track to reduce the erosion impact in spots and some nice hill climbs other than Pork Chop. But the crowning glory of the north loop must be the Chop, even if it is only as a spectacle for all to watch.

The ride to the Chop was sweet, with my mojo returning and staying with me for a pleasant change. The Chop did just seem to appear, but maybe that was because I was enjoying my ride that much. “Right” I thought, I'd have a crack, my spirits were high. So after a moment of watching a couple of attempts I got into line. All my prior planning of watching successful You Tube videos, noting recent failures right before my eyes all went straight out the window as soon as I headed for the start of the climb. My mind went blank, like it stalled, what the heck do I do? My thoughts starting spluttering back to life like a drowned bike struggling with water in the carby. Too late, my lack of confidence and momentum saw a fail, though no worse than other attempts. The second faired slightly better. The third I took off from the creek. 

I waited my turn, my heart pumping blood at such a furious rate I could feel it pumping through my body. As I started riding up the hill I knew I wasn’t going far. I lack the confidence to give it some when needed and with that I stopped. I stopped higher than my other attempts but well below the summit. The third attempt was the furthest, but yet still a mountain of chop away from the top. Pork Chop 3, sour kraut nil. I headed off, tail between my legs vowing to come back another day.

After some more awesome single trail it was back to rally central. A feed from the Apex crew, a couple of beers and we headed off to the van to rest and recuperate for Sunday.

As usual for us we arrived right at the tail end of the riders briefing, so missed some of the instructions. However even those that seemed to attend weren't to clear on what direction was to be taken. Everyone was being directed to the same the hill (direction) and this instilled confusion as past years saw a different direction taken for north or south loop just past the inflatable pig.

We headed south and were quickly into some single track. A slippery little mud covered log was an interesting obstacle within the first km and caused a little ride block. Once past it you were into the track proper with the loop consisting of some of the best single track I've ridden. Sure there was fire trail, and sure it was dusty at times, but all those little things still didn't take away from some great trails. As with the northern loop there was plenty of tight technical single, combined with flowing stuff that you hook into your hearts content. There were no nasty climbs or anything that stuck in my mind that was particularly difficult. All up it was just a great trail to share with your mates.

We were back in time for lunch this year. I didn't win the mini bike for the kids, despite crossing everything and wishing really hard. Rob scored some oil as a prize, but only our group knew the futility of providing something to service a bike with to a bloke that rides a couple times a year maximum. His bike still had the same dirt on it from riding here last year!

Rob and Ben the elder statesmen of group pulled the pin and headed home early. I was keen to get in at least one more big loop and if I was lucky a smaller one too. Brad, Gray and Col were keen to ride but were going to take the easy option back after about half the loop. Our group of four headed off back onto the northern loop and I started to pyshc myself for another crack at the Chop. My prior mojoless rides on the Husaberg seemed a million miles away as it all seemed to come together. I was having a ball, the bike performed well and I even got use to the pivot pegs. I was in single track heaven and then it ended, 21kms and I was back at rally central. I begged to go out again, but the sweeps had all ready gone out. So my riding was over and unfortunately it didn't end as I'd like.

I do understand the organisers point for shortening the loop, however I'd suggest that they communicate the shortened loop better next year so people can plan to maximise the fun which is Mogoagogo, rather than have unhappy riders leaving. I spoke to a few other riders in the car park and they were equally unimpressed, particularly as they had only come down for the day.

Hammer's 'Mojo At Mogo' story goes in the draw to win an Epic Video camera and a set of Dirt Freak Gear thermals! We welcome all trail/adventure related stories, you can check out the deal 'here' Send em in!