Big HuRT - Sept 2012 (Aus)

[RossC]

In November 2011, a sneaky little self supported event ran for the first time following 324km of mixed single track and fire roads through the Hunter Valley in Australia. It's working title was called the 'HuRT' which seemed to stick, and while it was a small event with only four riders, it was a start for bikepacking events in Aus and there are quite a few people lining up ITT's for early 2012.

This year, we wanted to go bigger, so the Big HuRT was born and while the last of the mapping is still being finalised, it will certainly crack the 600 km mark. It features every kind of terrain imaginable; smooth flowy single track, rutted motorbike tracks, rocky fire roads, god foresaken hike-a-bikes and some amazing scenery.

It's a rugged event so don't expect to finish it in 2 days, It took the winner 40 hours to finish the original HuRT so we are forecasting near enough to 5 days for the new version. Riders look after themselves and follow the standard self supported ethos we all know and love.

The start date has been set for September 1 2012 and the HuRT and Big HuRT will run concurrently so choose your length and start planning.

More details are available at the wordpress site http://hunterracetrail.wordpress.com/ or the facebook group http://www.facebook.com/groups/190943500957500/

Happy Trails!

[rhino-x]

I do believe I will make the startline

[RossC]

Awesome, if you need any help with accomodation, airport shuttles etc, PM me and we can sort something out.

[RossC]

For the Ye Olde HuRT, the start and finish are right in the middle of Newcastle.

For the Big HuRT, Newcastle is about 2 hours away from the start line by train. With the ability to get the train right at the airport, I would think Sydney might be a better option for people to get to the start line since Newcastle doesn't have any bike friendly public transport options to the city.

The finish is in the middle of no-where i.e Wisemans ferry. There is a caravan park so check in, clean yourself up, sleep like the dead and then catch the river postman the next morning down river to the train station at Brooklyn - book the day ahead and order the 3 course meal. Romantic.

[aplummer]

will see how i'm going with work and money but would like to have a go at this before we head off to do the tour divide in 2013

[rhino-x]

Loads of details of the event are now on the facebook page;

https://www.facebook.com/groups/190943500957500/

[rhino-x]

60% singletrack over 735kms.

Its going to be a long and hard race.

Trackleaders is being set up, and should be organised in a week.

[RossC]

I should have the final gps file out this weekend Rhino. I might double guess my 60% single track call though. It might be less now that we are going out to Lithgow and had to add stacks of fireroad into the mix.

[Spoonie]

Folks, just bumping this up as they're now off and running!  (but looks like track leaders are 19hrs behind (edit: should be fixed-ish now thanks Scott)

http://trackleaders.com/hurt

We also have a call in thing setup, though no where near as slick as Joe's stuff....

http://solonutter.org/

750km's in probably 4 days something is my guess

Enjoy!