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Broken Axle Doesn’t Stop ‘Backpackers Barn’

Lysanne de Graaf / 28.02.2006

Stories abound at checkpoints about mishaps, hazards, obstacles and just plain ‘what the .. ??’ that happened on the last leg and at the checkpoints they passed. Team ‘Backpackers Barn’ made their entrance at XPD Mid-Camp on day four very unique.

Completing the monster 153km mountain bike leg from Corinna to Gowrie Park, this team of four arrived on three bikes! While probably not the easiest way to complete the leg, it was in fact their solution to a broken rear axle.

To enhance the mental picture …
• Rider #1: two wheels strapped to the pack
• Rider #2: bike frame strapped to the pack
• Rider #3: rider #4 on the rear pannier rack

Repairs took quite a while, in fact most of the six hours they were required to stay at this TA, so they opted to stay several hours longer so that they could get a few hours sleep and recovery.

Well done to some interesting and imaginative repairs. Team ‘Backpackers Barn’ must surely be happy that they didn’t need to continue the other two bike legs of the course doubling their team member!

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