Perth Great Bike Ride

Vincent Patrick said:

Hi,

Did anyone here do the City of Perth Great Bike Ride last year, or have some
knowledge of the event? It is a pleasant river circuit in November. I have
just been looking at the website ( http://www.greatbikeride.com.au/ ) and
wondering whether the 106 km is do-able for ordinary folk like myself.
Being just a commuter cyclist (14 km each way, maybe 3 days per week), 106
km is quite a bit of a jump.

If it were just a matter of the distance I would probably be willing to grin
and plod on, but there is a time limit for a noon finish. The advertised
starting time for the 106 km is 5.45 am to 7.30 am.

Does anyone know whether the slower riders would start earlier or later? If
later, then there could be just 4.5 hours to do 106 km, which seems a bit
tight timewise. I normally like to allow 35 minutes for my 14 km commute,
although my time varies considerably depending on the wind etc. I would
expect to travel more slowly and/or have breaks during 106 km.

Would 106 km require 'real' training?

Any advice, thoughts, knowledge of the event, or suggestions?

Cheers and thanks in advance,

Vince

I'm not sure about "real" training but it would require "some" training.
Just push out your distances a bit and you'll gain confidence. Eat
plenty of food and get used to being on the bike for longer periods.

Friday

Friday said:

Vincent Patrick said:

Hi,

Did anyone here do the City of Perth Great Bike Ride last year, or have some
knowledge of the event? It is a pleasant river circuit in November. I have
just been looking at the website ( http://www.greatbikeride.com.au/ ) and
wondering whether the 106 km is do-able for ordinary folk like myself.
Being just a commuter cyclist (14 km each way, maybe 3 days per week), 106
km is quite a bit of a jump.

If it were just a matter of the distance I would probably be willing to grin
and plod on, but there is a time limit for a noon finish. The advertised
starting time for the 106 km is 5.45 am to 7.30 am.

Does anyone know whether the slower riders would start earlier or later? If
later, then there could be just 4.5 hours to do 106 km, which seems a bit
tight timewise. I normally like to allow 35 minutes for my 14 km commute,
although my time varies considerably depending on the wind etc. I would
expect to travel more slowly and/or have breaks during 106 km.

Would 106 km require 'real' training?

Any advice, thoughts, knowledge of the event, or suggestions?

Cheers and thanks in advance,

Vince

I'm not sure about "real" training but it would require "some" training.
Just push out your distances a bit and you'll gain confidence. Eat
plenty of food and get used to being on the bike for longer periods.

Friday

$40 to ride on public roads and the freeway for 6kms, I might pass.
I do that ride round-the-river (rtr) ~most~ weekends for free and with
plenty of fellow cyclists for company. In fact Vincent, start riding
the route now and you'll soon get an understanding of the route the
sights, the few hills, the expensive real estate and the wonderful Swan
River.
If you want to make a contribution to charity, just give directly to
your chosen recipient.

The Freeway ride up to Joondalup in March/April however is a completely
different matter, it is such a good feeling to be riding through the
Tunnel at 60km/h on one of the best road surfaces for cycling. Magic.

gumby said:

Friday said:

Vincent Patrick said:

Hi,

Did anyone here do the City of Perth Great Bike Ride last year, or have
some
knowledge of the event? It is a pleasant river circuit in November. I
have just been looking at the website (
http://www.greatbikeride.com.au/ ) and wondering whether the 106 km is
do-able for ordinary folk like myself. Being just a commuter cyclist
(14 km each way, maybe 3 days per week), 106 km is quite a bit of a
jump.

If it were just a matter of the distance I would probably be willing to
grin and plod on, but there is a time limit for a noon finish. The
advertised starting time for the 106 km is 5.45 am to 7.30 am.

Does anyone know whether the slower riders would start earlier or
later? If later, then there could be just 4.5 hours to do 106 km,
which seems a bit
tight timewise. I normally like to allow 35 minutes for my 14 km
commute, although my time varies considerably depending on the wind
etc. I would expect to travel more slowly and/or have breaks during 106
km.

Would 106 km require 'real' training?

Any advice, thoughts, knowledge of the event, or suggestions?

Cheers and thanks in advance,

Vince

I'm not sure about "real" training but it would require "some" training.
Just push out your distances a bit and you'll gain confidence. Eat
plenty of food and get used to being on the bike for longer periods.

Friday

$40 to ride on public roads and the freeway for 6kms, I might pass.
I do that ride round-the-river (rtr) ~most~ weekends for free and with
plenty of fellow cyclists for company. In fact Vincent, start riding
the route now and you'll soon get an understanding of the route the
sights, the few hills, the expensive real estate and the wonderful Swan
River.
If you want to make a contribution to charity, just give directly to
your chosen recipient.

The Freeway ride up to Joondalup in March/April however is a completely
different matter, it is such a good feeling to be riding through the
Tunnel at 60km/h on one of the best road surfaces for cycling. Magic.

Hi Gumby,

Fair comments, and an interesting point of view. I will try to explain why
I was thinking of riding in the PGBR.

A mass cycle event can provide positive media attention for cycling and
cyclists. If enough people participate, there might be more political clout
for those pushing for bicycle friendly laws, roads and paths. More
non-cyclists might start thinking that cyclists are real people and not
just occasional targets on the road.

I am not an athlete or a seasoned long distance cyclist. The PGBR is an
opportunity to get out of my comfort zone in a social setting where others
are doing the same, with perhaps the thought that there is increased safety
in numbers and organisation. It may be boring for the athletes, the old
hands and the professionals, but it seems a reasonable first step for
ordinary Joe Timid here.

A couple of years ago I did the Freeway Bike Hike to Joondalup and enjoyed
it, like you did. I thought the PGBR might be fun in the same way. Last
year my Freeway Bike Hike ride was cut quite short by an ambulance trip
when my son broke a few ribs near the entrance to the PolyPipe. I've
ridden 30 km in the Freeway Bike Hike, and up to 50 km meandering on a
bicycle, but never 100 km.

The PGBR is obviously less interesting if you do the river round-trip almost
every weekend, but I would need to ride for an hour just to get to the
river.

Anyway, you have made me think that I should try a Perth-Fremantle
river 'tour' some weekend. Do you think it is best clockwise or
anticlockwise?

Cheers,

Vince

Signs of warmer weather: passing a dugite coiled up in the Reid Highway bike
lane

Vincent Patrick said:

Fair comments, and an interesting point of view. I will try to explain why
I was thinking of riding in the PGBR.

A mass cycle event can provide positive media attention for cycling and
cyclists. If enough people participate, there might be more political clout
for those pushing for bicycle friendly laws, roads and paths. More
non-cyclists might start thinking that cyclists are real people and not
just occasional targets on the road.

Yep
I agree but I think you can get a better impact by riding your bike
every day and not just in organised mass cycling events.
steven

Vincent Patrick said:

Hi Gumby,

Fair comments, and an interesting point of view. I will try to explain why
I was thinking of riding in the PGBR.

A mass cycle event can provide positive media attention for cycling and
cyclists. If enough people participate, there might be more political clout
for those pushing for bicycle friendly laws, roads and paths. More
non-cyclists might start thinking that cyclists are real people and not
just occasional targets on the road.

Previous post

Quoted message said:

I am not an athlete or a seasoned long distance cyclist. The PGBR is an
opportunity to get out of my comfort zone in a social setting where others
are doing the same, with perhaps the thought that there is increased safety
in numbers and organisation. It may be boring for the athletes, the old
hands and the professionals, but it seems a reasonable first step for
ordinary Joe Timid here.

Group rides ARE good. Get into it, but the course around the river
remains there each and every week and you do not have to pay to ride it
in safety, charity begins at home donate if you wish, and I don't
necessarily want a bunch of SES volunteers telling me how to ride my
bike (1)

Quoted message said:

A couple of years ago I did the Freeway Bike Hike to Joondalup and enjoyed
it, like you did. I thought the PGBR might be fun in the same way. Last
year my Freeway Bike Hike ride was cut quite short by an ambulance trip
when my son broke a few ribs near the entrance to the PolyPipe. I've
ridden 30 km in the Freeway Bike Hike, and up to 50 km meandering on a
bicycle, but never 100 km.

Is your son named Chris? I saw a cyclist lying on the freeway just shy
of Leederville. I am glad he was being looked after and made a good
recovery.

Quoted message said:

The PGBR is obviously less interesting if you do the river round-trip almost
every weekend, but I would need to ride for an hour just to get to the
river.

I started by putting the bike on the car and driving to a designated
spot, getting on the bike and riding, then the hassle of the car got in
the way and I started riding to the designated spot instead, took it
easy, then started adding a few efforts at certain sections, and
recovery and of course coffee!

Just ramp the kays up gently and you'll find that forty five kays goes
to sixty five to eighty five etc just park further from the city, in the
end the hassle of dealing with the car and bike gives way to the
simplicity of getting on the bike and riding, I still feel tired but it
feels good to have finished a hundred kay scenic ride and be at home by
9am on Saturday morning.

Quoted message said:

Anyway, you have made me think that I should try a Perth-Fremantle
river 'tour' some weekend. Do you think it is best clockwise or
anticlockwise?

Best to alternate and not show any favouritism, besides it depend on
which way the wind is blowing.

It is easier going anticlockwise as you turn left at most intersections
rather than crossing oncoming traffic.

Quoted message said:

Cheers,

Vince

Signs of warmer weather: passing a dugite coiled up in the Reid Highway bike
lane

Are you sure it wasnt a fan belt? Yep It was a snake alright.

Quoted message said:

(1) I have been an SES volunteer on organised mass bike rides.

Gumby said:

Vincent Patrick said:

I am not an athlete or a seasoned long distance cyclist. The PGBR is an
opportunity to get out of my comfort zone in a social setting where
others are doing the same, with perhaps the thought that there is
increased safety
in numbers and organisation. It may be boring for the athletes, the old
hands and the professionals, but it seems a reasonable first step for
ordinary Joe Timid here.

Group rides ARE good. Get into it, but the course around the river
remains there each and every week and you do not have to pay to ride it
in safety, charity begins at home donate if you wish, and I don't
necessarily want a bunch of SES volunteers telling me how to ride my
bike (1)

Quoted message said:

A couple of years ago I did the Freeway Bike Hike to Joondalup and
enjoyed
it, like you did. I thought the PGBR might be fun in the same way. Last
year my Freeway Bike Hike ride was cut quite short by an ambulance trip
when my son broke a few ribs near the entrance to the PolyPipe. I've
ridden 30 km in the Freeway Bike Hike, and up to 50 km meandering on a
bicycle, but never 100 km.

Is your son named Chris? I saw a cyclist lying on the freeway just shy
of Leederville. I am glad he was being looked after and made a good
recovery.

There were several accidents of varying severity on the last Freeway Bike
Hike, including the one you saw. From what I understand, Cameron (my son)
was one of the least injured.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The PGBR is obviously less interesting if you do the river round-trip
almost every weekend, but I would need to ride for an hour just to get to
the river.

I started by putting the bike on the car and driving to a designated
spot, getting on the bike and riding, then the hassle of the car got in
the way and I started riding to the designated spot instead, took it
easy, then started adding a few efforts at certain sections, and
recovery and of course coffee!

Just ramp the kays up gently and you'll find that forty five kays goes
to sixty five to eighty five etc just park further from the city, in the
end the hassle of dealing with the car and bike gives way to the
simplicity of getting on the bike and riding, I still feel tired but it
feels good to have finished a hundred kay scenic ride and be at home by
9am on Saturday morning.

Wow.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Anyway, you have made me think that I should try a Perth-Fremantle
river 'tour' some weekend. Do you think it is best clockwise or
anticlockwise?

Best to alternate and not show any favouritism, besides it depend on
which way the wind is blowing.

It is easier going anticlockwise as you turn left at most intersections
rather than crossing oncoming traffic.

OK, anticlockwise sounds good for a first time.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Signs of warmer weather: passing a dugite coiled up in the Reid Highway
bike lane

Are you sure it wasnt a fan belt? Yep It was a snake alright.

You saw it too? One of the guys at work also noticed it when he was cycling
in a bit earlier. Neither of us slowed down to investigate the snake's
health.

Cheers,

Vince

Vincent Patrick said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Signs of warmer weather: passing a dugite coiled up in the Reid Highway
bike lane

Are you sure it wasnt a fan belt? Yep It was a snake alright.

You saw it too? One of the guys at work also noticed it when he was cycling
in a bit earlier. Neither of us slowed down to investigate the snake's
health.

Cheers,

Vince

Nah I didnt see it but i have ridden over a Tiger Snake, behind the
Sandringham Hotel Belmont.
No, I didnt enquire as to its wellbeing after I did it.
I know you cannot have made a mistake in identification, senses seem to
be working overtime.
Steven