Lawsons Ridge - Hazelbrook

So after riding the fire trail near home, and managing a 7km ride along a nice flat gravel road on a weekend visit to my parents -  I decided it was time to tackle one of the popular or 'known' MTB trails in the Blue Mountains.

Using the wonderful Trailflix resource,  I decided upon giving the nearest track to home a go - Lawsons Ridge. Obviouly I wasn't going to make the full 20km return trip, my fitness and confidence are not up to that yet, expecially plugging along by myself.

I can tell you now - I made a few key mistakes on my first adventure and did not make it very far along Lawson's ridge at all! I did manage a couple of photos below - but no maps or video's. I expect to make another post in the future when I do this trail properly, and I will permanently link that as my 'guide and review' of the trail. Today's post is simply a couple of 'lessons learned'

1. Do not head out on a ride at 1pm on a stinking hot day. I am not fit yet, and tire easily enough in the best of conditions. Rides should be planned for early morning or in the evening when you are starting out.
2. Attempting a ride that is well beyond your fitness level is not fun and can be quite demoralising. Take time to look at a topographical map and read reviews of a trail before heading out with hopes of conquering it.
3. If your fitness is not great - do not pick a trail that is mostly downhill on the way and uphill on the return... I am not sure the entire trail is like this, but the first couple of km I managed was. You do not want to have an uphill journey home if you are already tired.
4. Snakes! I should carry at least a basic first aid kit and a bandage with me. Even on my short ride I saw 3 rather large black snakes. I did not have any mobile phone service (Although this is not uncommon for Vodafone even in the middle of Sydney..) so if I was bitten it would have been a little difficult.

So overall a little dissappointing, but I did enjoy getting out. I had to walk the bike up most of the hills on the return journey because I simply tired out far too quickly climbing hills in the heat. I would have been lucky if I covered 5km  total in this ride. I definitely need to find a more appropriate location to build my skills and fitness.