My first cycling event and I had a ball! I found the (35k) ride pretty easy going and was in my element riding along surrounded by some pretty awesome looking rigs. Announcement later stated that there appeared to be way more road bikes than MTBs this year. The start was a little messed up. I went about 15 mins after the start with about 1500 people in front of me and around that again or a bit more than that behind me. The first 5 kms I was most pretty much under brakes and even off and walking after everything ground to a complete halt. Bike jam! Found out later that apparently a motorist had clipped one of the police cars and they pulled the vehicles into the lane they'd blocked off for the event rather than block another lane. So we all had to wait. :-( The mechanics reported fixing so many flats for people that they ran out of tubes and had to start patching! Warnings later for people to put some air in their tyres next time... Just 5 or 6 people had busters serious enough to warrant hitching a ride on the sagged-rider wagon. I had a close call when someone amongst the bunch I was with missed a gear on a tight bend along the board-walk and came to a sudden and unexpected stop. Best of all at the end was discovering that the largest size Bike Week T-Shirt available was 2XL and it fits! Next year I may be one of those lycra clad roadies too... ;-) Next goal: Become a roadie and get in on some bunch rides...
Good onya Ozzie. It was a lovely day for a ride, although a few folk looked like they weren't enjoying some of the hills much! Good luck with your next goal.
Something is better than nothing. Here's the Courier Mail's tiny web contribution on the GBBR, plus a pic of Vinnie the mutt with his family: http://tinyurl.com/h38wc
VINNIE RIDES AGAIN March 13, 2006
Cyclists crowded the streets yesterday for the annual Great Brisbane Bike Ride.
About 3000 people left South Bank on 10km, 35km and 50km rides. Indooroopilly pooch Vinnie completed the 35km ride with owner Jim Coates, his wife Lorraine, son Lorcan, 12, left, and friend Alastair Esser, 11.
My first cycling event and I had a ball! I found the (35k) ride pretty easy going and was in my element riding along surrounded by some pretty awesome looking rigs. Announcement later stated that there appeared to be way more road bikes than MTBs this year. The start was a little messed up. I went about 15 mins after the start with about 1500 people in front of me and around that again or a bit more than that behind me. The first 5 kms I was most pretty much under brakes and even off and walking after everything ground to a complete halt. Bike jam! Found out later that apparently a motorist had clipped one of the police cars and they pulled the vehicles into the lane they'd blocked off for the event rather than block another lane. So we all had to wait. :-( The mechanics reported fixing so many flats for people that they ran out of tubes and had to start patching! Warnings later for people to put some air in their tyres next time... Just 5 or 6 people had busters serious enough to warrant hitching a ride on the sagged-rider wagon. I had a close call when someone amongst the bunch I was with missed a gear on a tight bend along the board-walk and came to a sudden and unexpected stop. Best of all at the end was discovering that the largest size Bike Week T-Shirt available was 2XL and it fits! Next year I may be one of those lycra clad roadies too... ;-) Next goal: Become a roadie and get in on some bunch rides...
My first mass ride for some 20 years too ... had two punctures, one as I was loading the bike, second one just as the start started. Faulty tubes in the new bike. but I had a great day, though for the first time in my memory I had to walk a hill, that one by the Green Bridge construction site was too much for me after the refuelling stop at Graceville, a pretty solid bun and a very nice mocha flavoured milk.
And a very well marshalled event, shame about the huge hold ups on Coro Drive though
Karen -- "I'd far rather be happy than right any day." - Slartibartfast
"Karen Gallagher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
My first mass ride for some 20 years too ... had two punctures, one as I was loading the bike, second one just as the start started. Faulty tubes in the new bike. but I had a great day, though for the first time in my memory I had to walk a hill, that one by the Green Bridge construction site was too much for me after the refuelling stop at Graceville, a pretty solid bun and a very nice mocha flavoured milk.
That was a shocker of a hill. I guess that was the one they referred to as "Heartbreak Hill".
"Donga" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Something is better than nothing. Here's the Courier Mail's tiny web contribution on the GBBR, plus a pic of Vinnie the mutt with his family: http://tinyurl.com/h38wc
VINNIE RIDES AGAIN March 13, 2006
Cyclists crowded the streets yesterday for the annual Great Brisbane Bike Ride.
About 3000 people left South Bank on 10km, 35km and 50km rides. Indooroopilly pooch Vinnie completed the 35km ride with owner Jim Coates, his wife Lorraine, son Lorcan, 12, left, and friend Alastair Esser, 11.
Heather Faulkner
It was odd seeing the Courier Mail as one of the main sponsors of Bike Week, considering how much anti-cycling [censored] appears in their columns.
Everyone keeps telling me they saw Suz (my partner) and I in a colour photo in the courier mail last week promoting bike week. Even the guys at my local bottlo recognized both of us even with sunnies and helmets on. Hmmm then again they do get to see us quite regularly 🙂
Good on you guys for getting into the BGBR too!! See you on a LA group ride sometime soon?
"Donga" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Something is better than nothing. Here's the Courier Mail's tiny web contribution on the GBBR, plus a pic of Vinnie the mutt with his family: http://tinyurl.com/h38wc
Disappointing. I would have thought it'd get more coverage than that and I was sure I saw a few news cameras there. There was a courier mail photographer talking to a lady next to me at the finish for a while but I think she may have been more to do with the social pages than news and was taking "happy people" snaps.
"Donga" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
The Dutton Park hill by the Green Bridge is usually known as "Cemetary Hill" (did you need a nice, long rest? :-)
I'm not sure where they meant by Heartbreak Hill. I saw a lot of riders walking up Kate/Jerrang Sts on the way out to Fig Tree Pocket.
That'd be the one. I was sure they said "Heartbreak" but it may have been "Cemetary" after all. Nearly put me in one trying to get up it anyway. Short and steep I can handle but the long ones, even a fairly gentle rise, still knock me about a bit.
That'd be the one. I was sure they said "Heartbreak" but it may have been "Cemetary" after all. Nearly put me in one trying to get up it anyway. Short and steep I can handle but the long ones, even a fairly gentle rise, still knock me about a bit.
Good on you guys for getting into the BGBR too!! See you on a LA group ride sometime soon?
Well, err, confession to make. I decided not to do it, as the family entry was a bit beyond the budget (too much bike bling last year!). Then I imbibed a little much on Saturday night, with a lot of urging from a bad bad guest (a cop as a matter of fact - lucky his wife drove home!). About 6 on Sunday, my mate SMS'ed he was round the corner and get my [censored] into gear, so I pulled on the lycra and made us both an espresso, then off we went. When I got to the foot of Jack Pesch bridge I saw two cops looking decidedly business-like and I freaked out a bit, thinking they were out to bust cyclists. I actually stopped and unclipped at the stop sign!! About halfway down Pig Free Pocket, a motorcycle cop blasts up behind me and tells me to pull over. WTF??? Only then we remembered the Great Brisbane Bike Ride. D'oh!
I'll be on the LA rides in school holidays - seeya then Adam.
That'd be the one. I was sure they said "Heartbreak" but it may have been "Cemetary" after all. Nearly put me in one trying to get up it anyway. Short and steep I can handle but the long ones, even a fairly gentle rise, still knock me about a bit.
Sorry Ozzie but that is short and steep!! 🙂
Adam
That's what I was going to say! In fact, I don't think there are any long rises on the GBBR loop?
The Dutton Park hill by the Green Bridge is usually known as "Cemetary Hill" (did you need a nice, long rest? :-)
I'm not sure where they meant by Heartbreak Hill. I saw a lot of riders walking up Kate/Jerrang Sts on the way out to Fig Tree Pocket.
I would've thought Heartbreak was the one coming back from FTP, into Indooroopilly, near the bridge? I saw plenty walking up there last year.
How gold are the people who stop right in the middle of the road in front of you, without calling, at Dutton Park. Fantastic.
Tam
Quite a few muppets on exotic bikes overtook me as I hit the bike track under the Green Bridge, despite the fact that all of a sudden there was only space for one bike each side of the big yellow bollard in the middle - made many of us stop dead due to the stupidity of the boy racers blocking off our path.
Karen -- "I'd far rather be happy than right any day." - Slartibartfast
Lemme strap 60-80kgs on you guys and I'm sure your definitions would fall into line with mine. ;-)
What's easy for one person isn't quite that easy for others. Good on you for getting out there and doing it - think of all the poor [censored] stuck in their living rooms watching cricket (or something equally boring).
Once again, I skipped this mess of a ride. I've participated in a few over the years and all, bar the first one (mostly roadies) were sh!te. It's a shame for the organisers that so many w@nkers participate in this ride.
Once again, I skipped this mess of a ride. I've participated in a few over the years and all, bar the first one (mostly roadies) were sh!te. It's a shame for the organisers that so many w@nkers participate in this ride.
Lotte
Yep. Lotte and I had a run in with an unpleasant chap who informed me that I have no skills because I ride a roadie. All because I told him I wasnt impressed that he was using a drinking fountain as a personal bath considering I was meant to fill my bottle up after him.
Once again, I skipped this mess of a ride. I've participated in a few over the years and all, bar the first one (mostly roadies) were sh!te. It's a shame for the organisers that so many w@nkers participate in this ride.
Lotte
Yep. Lotte and I had a run in with an unpleasant chap who informed me that I have no skills because I ride a roadie. All because I told him I wasnt impressed that he was using a drinking fountain as a personal bath considering I was meant to fill my bottle up after him.
-- Paulie-AU
See, I would've just smacked his head down on the fountain and walked away. You're such a gentleman.
