flyingdutch said:So? who went?
How was it?
Suggestions/criticisms/constructive comments for next time???
F"wearing the other hat"Dutch
Euan and I drove to Ivanhoe to meet Kathy and Dave then a quick ride down to the Guide Dogs to meet cfsmtb and Bikesoiler. Set off up that first hill from the Chandler Hwy end and found the FREE COFFEE!!!! By then I had racked up over 100 calories on my HRM so I deserved a break. 😄
BV and the High Country Challenge organisers had some tables set up with brochures and they were encouraging people to enter the draw for one of 3 entries to the High Country Challenge so of course I wrote my name down. Heaven forbid I should win and have to do more hills!!! We got our free coffees and stood around admiring the bike [censored] on display. It was a nice friendly atmosphere.
After everyone was finished with coffee #1 we set off on the first lap. Wow, I loved riding that course. Some really challenging hills for me then awesome long downhill sections. Hardly any flat areas which was good because I didn't have to change gears much. I found the road to be rather uncomfortable in some sections and I was concerned about losing my water bottle with all the shaking. The distance from the top of the hill with the coffee to the Walmer Street end was 6km.
Rest break was called at the end of the first half of the lap then after everyone was recovered it was back on the bikes to reach the FREE COFFEE. At one point the road divides to form a bike path on the left hand side of the road. I followed Euan and Dave down there which was fine until the path ends at the round about.We were going fairly fast and Euan ended up jumping the curb because the bike exit onto the road wasn't immediately obvious. I followed Dave back onto the road and decided not to use the path next time. Normally bike riders would have to slow down because there would be traffic at the intersection but we were going fast because there wasn't any traffic and it was a little hairy I thought.
Bikesoiler and cfsmtb went by me with Bikesoiler pushing cfsmtb up the hill. I yelled at Euan to come back and push me. He put his hand on my back and immediately I felt the difference. Euan was really suprised as he was hardly touching me. We had no idea that pushing someone up the hill would be that easy.
Made it back to the start and Bikesoiler, Euan and I decided to do another lap. I told the boys to ride at the pace they wanted and I'd turn around when I saw them coming back. I made it almost to the end before I saw them so I figure my down hills must have been quicker because my uphills were S L O W. Back to the start for coffee #2 which was very much appreciated.
I'd certainly be interested in heading out there to ride on a car free day again but I'd like to see the sections where there were witches hats and a narrowing of the road better marked as I did think there was some danger of a head on between cyclists coming fast down the hill around the corner and those coming up.
All in all, a big success. It was great to see such a variety of riders, all shapes and sizes, many different types of bikes all enjoying a good car free road. 😄
