Ride Reports
Karens Report (from Group A)
What can I say – We all arrived home safe from Gayndah on Sunday – even those who rode back on the Sunday can now pat themselves on the back and say “a job well done”.
This was my fifth ride to Gayndah. It is truly an unbelievable experience pushing yourself to the end just hoping the hill in front is the last hill before Gayndah. I take my hat off to Regie who, without training puts in a remarkable effort and finishes the ride convinced that this is going to be her last Gayndah ride. I am afraid Regie that you and I are a team now and as long as I am there, I need you to keep me going.
Bernie, I think, enjoyed riding with the “A” team – he encouraged our small bunch and was quite stoked when we rode in to Biggenden at 10.10am. After leaving Biggenden we had to mentally prepare ourselves for the climb up the range. I was determined to take it steady using my gears to my best advantage. Of course sitting on Bernie’s wheel for most of the climb was for me a huge advantage. Once we reached the top it was nearly all downhill to Ban Ban Springs. This was where the second group caught us. The petrol station was a sight with 33 bike riders resting in any bit of shade they could find. This is where we heard about the mishap with three riders from the second group. Fortunately no one was carted off to hospital. Let’s just hope that Kev has success in getting his bike back on the road. Poor, poor Terry he really needs a new club kit now!
Medals were presented to everyone upon arrival at the Gayndah A. Drinks and left over lunch were devoured. It was great just to sit around and talk about the trip, have a laugh, and work out the breakfast menu, which after much toing and froing worked out in our favour. Even Ross was bought his breakfast that afternoon so as he could be ready to ride back early the next morning.
The Grand Hotel once again lived up to its reputation of providing a hearty meal for the out of town visitors. Tyson scored two meals – he is not all that innocent. Damian came to dinner wearing his medal which started the locals talking “ he must be an elite athlete – maybe John Seibel”
Our bus driver Sandra who followed the riders all the way observing them from the rear declared that Damian has the best butt, closely followed by Keith Mitchell. Thanks to Sandra and Holly for driving the backup vehicles. Sandra turned up the radio when we needed a sing along on the trip home. Ask Damian!!
Karen
Robs Report (from Group B)
A good number of riders departed Quay St at 7:00 with overcast weather and the threat of rain. Just 10 km out of Bundy disaster struck with a couple of riders going down due to a large pothole. Sadly it was the end of the day for Kev with some bruising and a cracked top bar on his brand new Malvern Star. Arthur had a buckled wheel from the incident but was able to continue on and fixed it later. A cruisy pace was held for the rest of the way into Childers apart from an enjoyable climb up the hill before the showgrounds. Guy and Martin had made a break from the front, 15km out of town, with the rest of the group happy to watch them ride off. All riders enjoyed some lollies and biscuits at the 15 min break in Childers with some bike tweaking for a few of the riders.
The next 40km stage started off with a fun descent out of Childers with blue skies and sunshine. The pace was significantly faster then the first 50km stage with Damian and John leading the way through the hilly terrain. The pace did not ease when Rob and Guy took over with a few calls to ease it up. There was a chain mishap at the back with a few riders then having to catch up to the main group which added extra discomfort to their journey. Biggenden soon appeared with lunch ready for all.
The third stage involved a long climb up the range with the group splitting into two. The front group turned up the pace with strong efforts from Damian, Keith, John B and Neil. Martin was a little off his usual spritely self due to sprinting the finishes at the two previous stages. We all met up at Ban Ban and rode the last distance as a group. Sadly Reggie and Rob had punctures 20km and 15km out respectively. From discussions with other the last few kms in to town were at a fast pace with lead outs from a few including Ross, Keith and John H. I believe Greg was the first at the finish line (I can be corrected here if anyone has the inside story… )
Rob
100mile ride to Gayndah weekend: 10/11 April
Departure: River Cruz Cafe: Sat 6am, 10 April
Cost : TBA - includes lunch, accommodation, breakfast - Sunday morning
Those camping – total cost is TBA per person
If just riding, cost is TBA, includes lunch.
Bookings & Payment see Karen Allan (asphodel@westnet.com.au)
Full Info here: Gayndah_2010.pdf
Back up vehicles for both groups & plenty of moral support
Stops along the way will be at Childers, Biggenden (lunch), Ban Ban Springs and then Gayndah.
For insurance purposes all riders are required to be an affiliated member of Cycling Qld.
Costs: There are four packages available. Choose one that suits your requirements. Deposit is non-refundable, due to booking and payment requirements of accommodation, breakfast and return bus trip to bundaberg.
Package 1: Deluxe
All inclusive, just bring good legs!
Book and pay deposit by 28th February, balance by 21st March. Deposit $40, balance $80 (total $120). Cost includes:
1. Saturday ride: includes follow vehicle, petrol, driver, snacks, lunch and drinks;
2. Accommodation;
3. Hot nourishing Sunday Breakfast;
4. Transport to Bundy on Sunday morning. |
Package 2: Saver
Find own accommodation
Return Sunday transport optional Book and pay deposit by 7th March, balance by 21st March.
· With Sunday transport back to Bundaberg
Deposit $ 40, balance $30 (total $70)
· Without Sunday transport back to Bundaberg
Deposit $40, balance $10 (total $50)
Cost includes:
1. Saturday ride: includes follow vehicle, petrol, driver, snacks, lunch and drinks
2. Hot nourishing Sunday Breakfast
|
Package 3: basic,
Organise own accommodation, breakfast and return transport to bundaberg
Book and pay before 2nd April
Cost $40, which includes:
1. Saturday ride: includes follow vehicle, petrol, driver, snacks, lunch and drinks. |
Package 4: basic, no frills
Organise own Saturday Lunch, accommodation, breakfast and return transport to bundaberg
Book and pay before 10th April
Cost $30, which includes:
Saturday ride: includes follow vehicle, petrol, driver, snacks and drinks
|
Don’t forget to bring:
· A current licence affiliated with Cycling Queensland
· Two water bottles for ride (refills available on ride)
Click on Map below to see route:
The Century (100 mile) Ride to Gayndah commenced in April 2003 to mark CIC’s first ‘social ride’. It is usually held the last weekend of March or the first weekend of April depending on other events such as the City Coast Community Bike ride from Bundaberg to Burnett Heads, the Mooloolaba triathlon and the Pier to Pub swim at Hervey Bay. It is approximately 160 km through the back roads to Childers from Bundaberg, through undulating serene and scenic bushland to Biggenden, then over the challenging range to Ban Ban Springs and onto Gayndah.
The first leg of the challenging ride is 60km and follows Goodwood Road from Bundaberg to Foleys Road. The cyclists then ride through the back roads over hills and through canefields to the infamous back breaker hill of Childers. Systems are refuelled at this welcome stop. After an exciting and fast descent down the range at Childers, the cyclists follow an undulating and winding second leg of 40km through serene bushland to Dallarnil and then Biggenden. A scrumptious lunch awaits the many tired cyclists, who delight in the well earned rest until the next leg. Many tired legs clip back into the pedals for the challenging 20km ride over the range to Ban Ban Springs. Even in April the rays of the early afternoon sun radiate intense and sometimes scorching heat from the open road, heightening the exhaustion of the cyclists who departed full of enthusiasm 7 hours earlier in the cool of the morning. At Ban Ban Springs, the determined cyclists just want to ‘make the distance’ and ‘get there’, thus the rest is short. For some the final 20km seems to take ‘forever’. Legs muscles seize up and pressure pains like broken bones start to penetrate feet not used to being retrained in clip shoes and pedals for half the day. For others the final 20km is a race on for young and old. The pace intensifies as endurance cyclists negotiate the incline over the range and the final flying decent into Gayndah. Only the fittest and smartest cyclist will claim the well deserved yet imaginary podium in the picturesque citrus township on upper Burnett River.
Cyclists from any club who are affiliated with Cycling Queensland are welcome to participate. It is a social ride, not a race. Cyclists wishing to ride should commence a comprehensive weekly training programme at least 8 weeks prior to the event. Qualified level 1 coach, Bernie Kemps, is able to assist with training programmes to prepare cyclists for the Gayndah 100 mile
