Please be advised this is a “Double Black Diamond” trail, thus is extremely difficult. Please assess your capabilities and if you choose to proceed, please do so with a friend. A mobile phone cannot administer first aid.
So you’ve mastered all the Stromlo trails. “There’s nothing to challenge my sizeable mettle,” you say confidently. “Neither slant nor slope can stop my reign over Canberra’s mountain bike heart.” I’ve got news for you. Cardiac Arrest AKA the World Cup Climb was built to test the best XC riders in the world. If you can get though this track with ease, change your last name to Absalon.
Branching off from the trunk trail at Blue Gums, the track veers right. Then it’s straight into a difficult uphill rock garden with lines either through the rocks or straight up the inside in a route requiring some serious skills. If you can’t ride this section, maybe this trail is not for you yet.
Enter here for a serious challenge
The first section you’ll encounter
2009 World Champion Nino Schurter battles Julien Absalon
Steep and slippery, the Cardiac Climb
Now it’s onto Cardiac Climb. You won’t find anything steeper than this around. With mini water bars, the gradient teases you, giving you moments of respite before sending you up another slippery ‘wall’. If you can make it up here without getting off, you may stop to admire yourself at the summit.
Before you’ve got the chance to catch your breath, its down “Waterfall.” Its steep, its nasty and its usually wet. Straight down the middle is likely to be your best bet. It certainly doesn’t look like there’s a trail though. There’s a big metal barrier (The Mincer) at the bottom to stop you falling to…… well lets say it wouldn’t be pretty.
Now you’ve got a bit of time to catch your breath. You’ll need it. The next challenges will see you climbing over boulders, negotiating steep and sharp turns and generally trying to keep your balance. There are ‘A lines’ on the inside of some corners if you are looking for an extra test, or a gap over your buddies.
Nathan Haas takes an ‘A line’
Rowena Fry making it look easy
After continuous climbing and relentless negotiations of the toughest sections of trail seen at a World Cup, or World Championships in recent history you reach a plateau. There’s no false sense of relief or conquest, you know there’s more to come, you just appreciate a few metres of flat, undemanding trail.
Your speed increases and you hang on tight. You pick your way down and around the boulders. Everything’s going fine. It’s not that steep. That’s until, as your first time down here, you stop suddenly. “Where on earth does the trail go,” you ask. Yes, it does go straight down that rock, and yes you have to hang on for the bit after. You’ve reached Hammerhead! There is a ‘B line’ though. It’s not in itself, ‘easy.’ In fact there are a few small drops and a tight downhill rock turn. It’s recommended riders take this route around Hammerhead unless they are extremely confident in their ability and have someone to standby for safety measures.
For those adequately prepared to take it on, a very slow speed is critical. The initial drop is extremely steep and requires you to get a long way behind the seat to avoid overbalancing. Again, your speed must be very slow which requires good balance. You will need to look ahead and be prepared to negotiate the next section immediately as you will pick up momentum as you roll down the first rock face. Use the brakes smoothly and controlled while relaxing your limbs as much as possible.
Ben Henderson poised above Hammerhead
Na Sang Hoon of Korea descending Hammerhead
From here there are a few tight turns and two more A/B line sections where the A line takes you over three rock drops in quick succession and the second is a jump over a significant gap, but with a bridge around for those less comfortable with ‘air time.’ The final test is of pure strength as you make your way up to the flyover bridge and the beginning of the Luge on a steep, open climb.
Spectators at the 2009 MTB World Championships on the last section of Cardiac Arrest
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Canberra: 12°
Trail Guide: Cardiac Arrest, Stromlo Forest Park
Please be advised this is a “Double Black Diamond” trail, thus is extremely difficult. Please assess your capabilities and if you choose to proceed, please do so with a friend. A mobile phone cannot administer first aid.
So you’ve mastered all the Stromlo trails. “There’s nothing to challenge my sizeable mettle,” you say confidently. “Neither slant nor slope can stop my reign over Canberra’s mountain bike heart.” I’ve got news for you. Cardiac Arrest AKA the World Cup Climb was built to test the best XC riders in the world. If you can get though this track with ease, change your last name to Absalon.
Branching off from the trunk trail at Blue Gums, the track veers right. Then it’s straight into a difficult uphill rock garden with lines either through the rocks or straight up the inside in a route requiring some serious skills. If you can’t ride this section, maybe this trail is not for you yet.
Enter here for a serious challenge
The first section you’ll encounter
2009 World Champion Nino Schurter battles Julien Absalon
Steep and slippery, the Cardiac Climb
Now it’s onto Cardiac Climb. You won’t find anything steeper than this around. With mini water bars, the gradient teases you, giving you moments of respite before sending you up another slippery ‘wall’. If you can make it up here without getting off, you may stop to admire yourself at the summit.
Before you’ve got the chance to catch your breath, its down “Waterfall.” Its steep, its nasty and its usually wet. Straight down the middle is likely to be your best bet. It certainly doesn’t look like there’s a trail though. There’s a big metal barrier (The Mincer) at the bottom to stop you falling to…… well lets say it wouldn’t be pretty.
Now you’ve got a bit of time to catch your breath. You’ll need it. The next challenges will see you climbing over boulders, negotiating steep and sharp turns and generally trying to keep your balance. There are ‘A lines’ on the inside of some corners if you are looking for an extra test, or a gap over your buddies.
Nathan Haas takes an ‘A line’
Rowena Fry making it look easy
After continuous climbing and relentless negotiations of the toughest sections of trail seen at a World Cup, or World Championships in recent history you reach a plateau. There’s no false sense of relief or conquest, you know there’s more to come, you just appreciate a few metres of flat, undemanding trail.
Your speed increases and you hang on tight. You pick your way down and around the boulders. Everything’s going fine. It’s not that steep. That’s until, as your first time down here, you stop suddenly. “Where on earth does the trail go,” you ask. Yes, it does go straight down that rock, and yes you have to hang on for the bit after. You’ve reached Hammerhead! There is a ‘B line’ though. It’s not in itself, ‘easy.’ In fact there are a few small drops and a tight downhill rock turn. It’s recommended riders take this route around Hammerhead unless they are extremely confident in their ability and have someone to standby for safety measures.
For those adequately prepared to take it on, a very slow speed is critical. The initial drop is extremely steep and requires you to get a long way behind the seat to avoid overbalancing. Again, your speed must be very slow which requires good balance. You will need to look ahead and be prepared to negotiate the next section immediately as you will pick up momentum as you roll down the first rock face. Use the brakes smoothly and controlled while relaxing your limbs as much as possible.
Ben Henderson poised above Hammerhead
Na Sang Hoon of Korea descending Hammerhead
From here there are a few tight turns and two more A/B line sections where the A line takes you over three rock drops in quick succession and the second is a jump over a significant gap, but with a bridge around for those less comfortable with ‘air time.’ The final test is of pure strength as you make your way up to the flyover bridge and the beginning of the Luge on a steep, open climb.
Spectators at the 2009 MTB World Championships on the last section of Cardiac Arrest