What a ride. Big crowd of participants, old blogging friends, friends from suffering of yore and new types just waiting to be befriended.
I knew it was going to be a good day when I woke up in time to drive up to Waitara to join Howard and Bec's 200km brevet. The last one I missed - got a call from Bec halfway up the Picton road - "Are you coming Grant? we're about to go!" So I checked the starting time twice and set my alarm.
At the start I was happy to see some ole riding buddies, Peter B from the ill fated Scone 600 last year (he made it), Bec and of course Howard (thought I can't actually say I've ridden with Howard he's much too fast), Adrian and a number of new faces, a couple Naomi and Nick who were on very handsome bikes touring indeed.
The ride itself was glorious, separating out the tragedy on the western motorway, the weather was grand, the company great and the riding rewarding. Even at the first controle in suburban Springwood the organisers had somehow arranged for entertainment in the form of an Irish Harp player.
Leaving Springwood on the second leg was not without it's misadventures. Peter, Ming and I set off, Ming on a rather nice 26.5 inch bike with classic TA cranks. On the descent of Macquarie Rd, Ming found some awkward bumps on a tight corner and went down hard. I was far enough away to avoid hitting him and after pulling him and his bike out of the path of oncoming traffic we patched him up as best we could with my emergency first aid kit before riding slowly on to Richmond where a train could get him back to civilization. He had displaced his shoulder but luckily had not broken anything, which was a relief.
From there Peter and I wound our way up to the second controle at Kurrajong passing the "touring trio" of Adrian, Nick and Naomi. After the warmish climbing, the views from the ridge into Kurajong were wonderful, as was the Sassafras cafe were we met Bec and others and enjoyed some lovely food, a great cup of coffee and friendly service. The touring trio arrived shortly after us and we left en masse and I got the opportunity to ogle Nick and Naomi's thoughtfully constructed bikes.
They had both recently returned from a touring holiday in New Zealand and the bikes looked great. Nick had a Surly LHT from which he had removed the stickers which made it look kind of exotic and different. Naomi rode a beautiful blue Europa, with Grand Bois tyres, hammered Honjo fenders, relaxed gearing, Brookes Saddle and titanium Tubus rack. Did I mention her Stainless bidons?
Seriously cool bike that could drift off the bitumen onto gravel and not crash. It was great chatting about it and I was worried that I would come over a bit weird but Nick and Naomi seemed to understand. It renewed my love of the more relaxed bike, of the touriste aesthetic, of the original Apollogy project which got me reduxing in the first place. (More of that later).
On with the ride
We rode on down to Sackville for a ferry ride and then on to Berowra for another ferry ride, chatting away the miles, enjoying the hills and revelling in the descents. Even the Cattai Ridge Road was not as painful as I recalled. I was getting a bit of hot foot and my achilles tendon was playing up but the miles passed pleasantly and before too long we were at the finish enjoying a quick rissoto and beer with the others and sharing stories. There are some impressively fast riders out there. The first group were back by 3pm.
It was a great day, fabulous ride and I really enjoyed the company.
Anyway so impressed was I with Nick and Naomi's bikes I have decided to follow through and get myself a Rivendell Sam Hillborne, Maybe even some tweed bags and a flannelet cycling shirt. Style I think, counts for a lot with me.
Mileage in Km = 2320
BRM km = 1000
Monday, April 12, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Tallowa Dam 200 - the ride of the damned
The easter long weekend saw the successful completion of the Tallowa Dam ride (Hooray!). Have some history with this one, having broken down on it last year (see my post 3 flats and a buggered knee). But this year it was a different story entirely, Well I made it for a start, it was cooler which made it a lot easier, and it rained quite heavily
I got the job of organizing the ride and was pretty happy to see a larger than normal group roll up on Saturday morning for the start. As well as the usual suspects, we had an "international" visitor from New Zealand, an interstate visitor (The ACT counts) plus a few making the trip down from Sydney for the ride.
We had spruiked the ride as covering some of the best scenery the Illawarra has to offer and the first half of the ride did not disappoint. Departing from Dapto we were spoilt with clear views across the escarpment and the gentle rolling hills around Albion Park and Tongarra. Climbing the pass the group began to spread out with the faster riders leaping ahead. Conditions on the pass were lovely and a number of Lyre Birds and King Parrots were spotted.
Before reaching the top of Macquarie Passs the route veers right to tackle the Tourist Road and its climb up over the Kangaloon Valley passing the Headwaters of the Nepean River and the snarling attack dogs - small and awkward, before the mostly downhill section along Sheepwash Road to the first Controle at Fitzroy Falls.
I kidded myself that I was riding sweep in case anyone required assistance, but I was just slow. Gravity sped me up on the ride down to Kangaroo Valley, topping 85kph on the descent and I caught up with Bec crossing the Hampton Bridge - carefully.
During the long slow climb up almost to the Dam (steep descent to the water) I started to see the faster riders coming back up and down. The sun was out now and it was growing warmer. Though not as intensely ovenlike as it has been.
Made it down the steep hill to the Dam wall and took the obligatory anti-summit picture before regrouping and heading back up the steep climb.
I soon commenced cramping and dismounted and walked a number of times. Highlight of the climb up was a very large goanna basking by the side of the road.
Topping out it's a good undulating ride back down towards Kangaroo Valley, a section of the ride highlight by sighting a large Wombat (alive) and the beginning of the rain. Arriving at the second controle I was greeted with cheers (thanks guys) and the disappointing news that the cafe had stopped taking orders for lunch. Damn! I broke open my emergency energy bar supply and before long was happily rounding up the tail to climb the last major obstacle of the route - Barrengarry Mountain.
At the foot of the climb the rain began, and the traffic picked up. I donned my reflective vest and had the lights flashing brightly and turned towards the climb. The road was slick and in many places I succeeded in spinning my wheel and it became necessary to dismount and walk. This happened more frequently as the climb wore on, partly cause I was knackered, but also it seemed safer to walk in may places as the wet conditions, high traffic speed and general absence of road shoulder were causing me some concern.
Eventually, after what seemed like an hour, the road began to flatten out, the rain grew heavier and the fog began to thicken. Pretty sure I was at the top. I came across a number of cycle tourists along the way, sensibly waiting for the rain to ease before undertaking the descent. Smart move.
I was really happy to reach the turnoff to Myra Vale Road and leave the traffic behind. A couple of km in I stopped to rest and put on some more layers as the conditions were very wet and increasingly cold. My speedo was also playing up but I managed to fix it with a spare ziplock bag and a rubber band. I was also very happy to find the the new Carradice Tourist bag was bone dry on the inside.
Sucking down some gu I then set up the remaining climbs to Robertson and then cautiously descended the Pass in improving conditions. Big ups to the driving of the Mazda who patiently sat behind me for a good few kilometers until it was safe to pass.
Once back on the relative flat the rain had eased and tailwind was ready to push me home and on the final freeway leg I was happily pushing along at 35kph, which always feels good with 190km on the legs.
Made it in last rounding up to 12 hours for the ride certainly a slow ride but with over 2500m of vertical gain (closer to 3000 I think) and the difficult conditions I was very pleased.
More pleasing yet is that I'm an official starter for Perth Albany Perth, so with luck I will get my first 1200 under my belt this season.
Mileage in Kilometers 2150
I got the job of organizing the ride and was pretty happy to see a larger than normal group roll up on Saturday morning for the start. As well as the usual suspects, we had an "international" visitor from New Zealand, an interstate visitor (The ACT counts) plus a few making the trip down from Sydney for the ride.
We had spruiked the ride as covering some of the best scenery the Illawarra has to offer and the first half of the ride did not disappoint. Departing from Dapto we were spoilt with clear views across the escarpment and the gentle rolling hills around Albion Park and Tongarra. Climbing the pass the group began to spread out with the faster riders leaping ahead. Conditions on the pass were lovely and a number of Lyre Birds and King Parrots were spotted.
Before reaching the top of Macquarie Passs the route veers right to tackle the Tourist Road and its climb up over the Kangaloon Valley passing the Headwaters of the Nepean River and the snarling attack dogs - small and awkward, before the mostly downhill section along Sheepwash Road to the first Controle at Fitzroy Falls.
I kidded myself that I was riding sweep in case anyone required assistance, but I was just slow. Gravity sped me up on the ride down to Kangaroo Valley, topping 85kph on the descent and I caught up with Bec crossing the Hampton Bridge - carefully.
During the long slow climb up almost to the Dam (steep descent to the water) I started to see the faster riders coming back up and down. The sun was out now and it was growing warmer. Though not as intensely ovenlike as it has been.
Made it down the steep hill to the Dam wall and took the obligatory anti-summit picture before regrouping and heading back up the steep climb.
I soon commenced cramping and dismounted and walked a number of times. Highlight of the climb up was a very large goanna basking by the side of the road.
Topping out it's a good undulating ride back down towards Kangaroo Valley, a section of the ride highlight by sighting a large Wombat (alive) and the beginning of the rain. Arriving at the second controle I was greeted with cheers (thanks guys) and the disappointing news that the cafe had stopped taking orders for lunch. Damn! I broke open my emergency energy bar supply and before long was happily rounding up the tail to climb the last major obstacle of the route - Barrengarry Mountain.
At the foot of the climb the rain began, and the traffic picked up. I donned my reflective vest and had the lights flashing brightly and turned towards the climb. The road was slick and in many places I succeeded in spinning my wheel and it became necessary to dismount and walk. This happened more frequently as the climb wore on, partly cause I was knackered, but also it seemed safer to walk in may places as the wet conditions, high traffic speed and general absence of road shoulder were causing me some concern.
Eventually, after what seemed like an hour, the road began to flatten out, the rain grew heavier and the fog began to thicken. Pretty sure I was at the top. I came across a number of cycle tourists along the way, sensibly waiting for the rain to ease before undertaking the descent. Smart move.
I was really happy to reach the turnoff to Myra Vale Road and leave the traffic behind. A couple of km in I stopped to rest and put on some more layers as the conditions were very wet and increasingly cold. My speedo was also playing up but I managed to fix it with a spare ziplock bag and a rubber band. I was also very happy to find the the new Carradice Tourist bag was bone dry on the inside.
Sucking down some gu I then set up the remaining climbs to Robertson and then cautiously descended the Pass in improving conditions. Big ups to the driving of the Mazda who patiently sat behind me for a good few kilometers until it was safe to pass.
Once back on the relative flat the rain had eased and tailwind was ready to push me home and on the final freeway leg I was happily pushing along at 35kph, which always feels good with 190km on the legs.
Made it in last rounding up to 12 hours for the ride certainly a slow ride but with over 2500m of vertical gain (closer to 3000 I think) and the difficult conditions I was very pleased.
More pleasing yet is that I'm an official starter for Perth Albany Perth, so with luck I will get my first 1200 under my belt this season.
Mileage in Kilometers 2150
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Still Riding
I'm making fairly good progress towards my mileage goal for the year, with 1341km up now. It would be more but I have had a recurrence of the gammy knee which has slowed me down and forced a retirement from the Canberra 600km ride last weekend.
Have only ventured out a few times this week, a couple of early morning 30's to Bulli and back, though I pushed hard on a 100km training ride this morning down to Kiama and back - returning by thte scenic and undulating coastal cycleway. (will post a photo - truly I am spoilt for riding vistas). Feeling good afterwards, the knee a bit cranky but it was happy enough on the ride.
I am currently awaiting the arrival of a new saddle bag - the Carradice SQR Tour
It's quite a lot larger than the bag I currently use (a 5l Vaude Off road) and can hopefullly take the extra gear I need for the longer unsupported rides. I can't mount a rack on the Roubaix - and Dave would kill me if every tried) so this seems like a good and useful alternative. Not too heavy, not too heavy.
I ordered it through wiggle.com but it is out of stock and not due until March. Hopefully I will have it in time for the Dungog 600 in April.
Have only ventured out a few times this week, a couple of early morning 30's to Bulli and back, though I pushed hard on a 100km training ride this morning down to Kiama and back - returning by thte scenic and undulating coastal cycleway. (will post a photo - truly I am spoilt for riding vistas). Feeling good afterwards, the knee a bit cranky but it was happy enough on the ride.
I am currently awaiting the arrival of a new saddle bag - the Carradice SQR Tour
It's quite a lot larger than the bag I currently use (a 5l Vaude Off road) and can hopefullly take the extra gear I need for the longer unsupported rides. I can't mount a rack on the Roubaix - and Dave would kill me if every tried) so this seems like a good and useful alternative. Not too heavy, not too heavy.
I ordered it through wiggle.com but it is out of stock and not due until March. Hopefully I will have it in time for the Dungog 600 in April.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Just back from the Gunning 400km brevet. Made it in by 90 minutes for a total of 25 hours on the bike through heat, torrential rain, hail, strong winds, sleep deprived hallucinations, power napping in the forecourt of the Sutton Forest Servo, punctures and ongoing rear light failures - (thanks a bunch Planet Bike - why make a light that can't keep out water?).
Now I'm having a rauchbier to celebrate my achievements and to numb the pain. After that I'm going to sleep.
Mileage in Kms = 827
Now I'm having a rauchbier to celebrate my achievements and to numb the pain. After that I'm going to sleep.
Mileage in Kms = 827
Friday, January 1, 2010
End of year wrap up
So, last year didn't quite go to plan. I finished 2009 with 6380 km (2008 3909 km) which exceeded my target (was aiming for 6000), however injuries and illness got in the way of completing a super-series and generated the greatest disappointment of the year in not being able to take part in the Sydney Melbourne 1200.
In fact as far as audax rides go I had a 30% failure rate and only managed 4 BRMs and the oppy with 7 cafe rides. I rode 120 times during the year, or once every 3 days. October was the best month for distance with 1160km ridden. Another highlight was broadening my riding horizons with the Sydney Audax group who's rides through the gorge country of northern Sydney and the central coast were very satisfying.
2009 was a good year for learning about riding and the importance of mental preparation as well as physical fitness, I've refined a lot of my approaches and can ride further on a lower base than before. The mental toughness still needs some work though.
This year the goals are to;
Finish a Super series.
Complete at least one BRM event every month
Clock up the required 2400km of BRM rides (November - November) to qualify for early entry into PBP (only 2200 to go!)
Complete a 1000km ride
Hopefully complete Perth Albany Perth (am on the waiting list)
Aim for a total mileage of 8000km.
In other non cycling achievements I successfully completed a Masters in Management, saw my son through the HSC and on to University (he's going to do science education), finished building a new library , and brewed 21 batches of delicious home brew.
Mileage in Kilometres = 30km
In fact as far as audax rides go I had a 30% failure rate and only managed 4 BRMs and the oppy with 7 cafe rides. I rode 120 times during the year, or once every 3 days. October was the best month for distance with 1160km ridden. Another highlight was broadening my riding horizons with the Sydney Audax group who's rides through the gorge country of northern Sydney and the central coast were very satisfying.
2009 was a good year for learning about riding and the importance of mental preparation as well as physical fitness, I've refined a lot of my approaches and can ride further on a lower base than before. The mental toughness still needs some work though.
This year the goals are to;
Finish a Super series.
Complete at least one BRM event every month
Clock up the required 2400km of BRM rides (November - November) to qualify for early entry into PBP (only 2200 to go!)
Complete a 1000km ride
Hopefully complete Perth Albany Perth (am on the waiting list)
Aim for a total mileage of 8000km.
In other non cycling achievements I successfully completed a Masters in Management, saw my son through the HSC and on to University (he's going to do science education), finished building a new library , and brewed 21 batches of delicious home brew.
Mileage in Kilometres = 30km
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Fragile back and the long road to recovery
Have been having one of those periods of ups and downs. Some days I feel great and then overdo it so that for the next couple of weeks I feel terrible. Getting sick of the sight of voltaren.
The real challenge has been dealing with the disappointment of withdrawing from the SM 1200. I've been quite despondent about that, but on the bright side I'm looking forward now to Perth- Albany- Perth in October 2010. Also I'm planning a few longer rides, definitely want to complete a super series this year.
I was also hoping to pursue the year round randonneur award this year, hopefully I will be OK to do the Bungendore bash on the 20th December with the ACT chaps.
Nevertheless, physio is going well, and hopefully I should be back on the bike after about 3 weeks, fingers crossed. Just have to take it easy and stop reinjuring myself.
The real challenge has been dealing with the disappointment of withdrawing from the SM 1200. I've been quite despondent about that, but on the bright side I'm looking forward now to Perth- Albany- Perth in October 2010. Also I'm planning a few longer rides, definitely want to complete a super series this year.
I was also hoping to pursue the year round randonneur award this year, hopefully I will be OK to do the Bungendore bash on the 20th December with the ACT chaps.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Learning 2.1
The learning continues as I've just joined up for the second emerging phase of the Learning 2.1 programme. It might make me blog a little more too.
The second step in 2.1 is to familiarise yourself with twitter. I've been on twitter for a while now and mostly post progress on rides from my 3G phone. Sometimes I have conversations with my twitter buddies.
We haven't engaged twitter at the Library just yet, I think it really has useful applications as a reference tool, though it could also be useful as a general promotional tool. Might set one up later today.
The second step in 2.1 is to familiarise yourself with twitter. I've been on twitter for a while now and mostly post progress on rides from my 3G phone. Sometimes I have conversations with my twitter buddies.
We haven't engaged twitter at the Library just yet, I think it really has useful applications as a reference tool, though it could also be useful as a general promotional tool. Might set one up later today.
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