Kep Track Ride Report

Myself and ajh_ausnzcf (ajh) completed the Kep Track from Mundaring to Northam return (152 km) on October 25, 2008. I rode Julia my Giant XTC 2 and ajh rode his German road touring bike. Neither of us had any serious issues with our bike choice and the track surface/condition.

For those interested and maybe planning their own rides my statistics are:

Distance: 152 km Overall All Time: 12 hours 14 minutes Moving time (on the bike): Nine hours 58 minutes Moving average: 15.2 km/h Overall average: 12.4 km/h (within Audax requirements)

On the outbound route through to Northam the moving average was 16.8 km/h, so we lost time coming back with the climb out of Northam, more of a head wind and my tired legs.

Added August 14, 2010: You may also enjoy reading Madrapper’s more recent report on his ride of the Kep Track.  You can find the ride report in the South Perth Rouleurs blog.  Fairy has also posted his take on the ride here.

We had a few stops on the way to Northam to sort out my seat which kept coming loose and  to sample the delights at the bakery at Bakers Hill (highly recommended). Once we arrived Northam ajh promptly got a puncture. Once that was sorted, we had lunch at at one of the bakeries and then headed back to Mundaring. The climb out of Northam was not so friendly and not helped by the wind which had picked up in the afternoon. Once again we stopped briefly at Bakers Hill before continuing on. It was pretty much from here that I slowed us down, whereas ajh was powering on up the inclines, I felt like I was going in reverse. My slow riding cost us around 2 km/h over the day I reckon.

In terms of the track, is in pretty good nick with the section from Wooroloo to Bakers Hill being the worse (pea gravel, bump surface).From Clackline it gets a bit more hilly and there is a 6.5 km section of bitumen road riding.  Really the surface is fine and could be easily ridden on most bikes with wider tyres (say 32 mm plus) such as hybrids through to mountain bikes.

It is well marked with the exception of in Northam itself (we finished at the tourist bureau when we should have finished on the opposite side of the river) and where the track turns to the Mundaring Weir (Munda Biddi section) just out of Mundaring.  We really had no problems following the Track, the distance markers where frequent and very handy.

All up a good days riding and whilst I may not take it on again as a one day ride, I would consider doing it again as a weekend ride.

For more information on the Kep Track, the following resources might be useful:

Kep Track Offical Website Kep Track “map” (PDF) Aushiker’s Track Log at Bikely.com Google Earth .kml file of the Kep Track Perth Mountain Bike Club forum thread The famous Bakers Hill Bakery

Related posts:

1. RIDE REPORT: Munda Biddi Trail – "Pea Gravel Highway" – Mundaring to Collie – April 2008

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