The 5 Peaks Ride

This time last week I was bathing in the after glow of completing the 5 peaks ride. I did this ride last year when there was wild weather in Canberra. I found myself battling the weather and being totally unprepared for the ride. This year I put some preparation in and thought I would give it a good go which I did.

I rode to Blundells cottage in time to get myself signed in. I had spent the night preparing myself by carb loading with a plate of spaghetti, ensuring I had the bike tools ready including a spare tube and ultimately making sure the energy gels and bars were on hand for the day. We got the usual safety brief and were sent on our way.

The first hill to climb was Mt Pleasant and we headed up it behind the Australian Defence Force Academy. I found myself heating up due to the long sleeve jersey and took my cycling cap off and put it into my jersey pocket. I found myself passing some riders including some who were on touring bikes – similar to what I intend on making from the Giant CRX 4 I was riding.  I reached the summit and got the card stamped. I headed down and found myself passing some riders including a couple on a Tandem.

The next climb was Mt Ainslie and it lived up to it’s reputation as a hard long climb. I found myself stopping a few times and having sips of water due to the humidity. I eventually crested the hill and got the brevet card stamped. I found myself riding down passing various riders notably an elderly man on a road bike equipped with triathlon bars. The descent was much quicker than the ascent. The ride then went through to Anzac Avenue and through Civic via Constitution Avenue to the ANU for the approach to Black Mountain.

I reached the ANU and found myself using the bike path to the beginning of the ascent I began the climb after a warning from a marshal that there were other riders on the mountain and to watch out for those descending. I passed what turned out to be a father and son team on a tandem. This father and son team was an elderly man and his autistic son. They became companions later on in the ride. I also passed a couple walking up the road. I eventually reached the summit and replenished the water in the bidons and got some cake and some of the energy gels onboard to keep my energy levels up. I also took the opportunity to use the loo at Black Mountain Tower. After chatting to the medic from Sports Medicine Australia I began the descent.

When I reached the bottom I took the bike path to the morning tea stop on the bike path on the shores of Scrivener dam. After the morning tea stop I began the ride though the bike path to Cook. Last year this path was notorious for the swooping magpies and the puncture which cost me time. This year I made it all the way to the road point and found myself following the arrows to the Cotter road. I have rode this section of the ride on the Amy Gillett ride and found myself enjoying some really good descents along with some sharp hills. The ride took us to Mt Stromlo and I found myself riding with the riders on touring bikes. There was a 24 hour mountain bike race on and there were spectators clapping riders as they made their laps.

When I reached the summit of Mt Stromlo I had another energy bar and an energy gel. I also filled the biddons for the ride to Red Hill. I also got another copy of the route map as my copy disappeared somewhere between Black Mountain and the morning tea stop. I also got pointers from someone who completed the ride last year including the section between Red Hill – the Oaks Estate and the finish. There was a photo shoot being done in some of the ruins of the old observatory nothing special but they were working on their make up.

I then took on the suburbs of Canberra including passing what I suspect is Alan Evans the former NRMA presidents house in Rivett.  I found myself riding through streets which were becoming busy with the after church crowd. I got back onto Cotter road and eventually got to Dunrossil Avenue which lead to the Governor Generals residence and the lunch/afternoon tea. I got to the check point and got the card signed. I got the usual cup of coffee and cake and some jelly snakes before heading off for Red Hill.

I followed the bike path to Mugga Way I rode up through Deakin and then began the ascent of Red Hill. I took some stops for water and eventually made it to the summit. I got the card stamped and used the loo before the descent. After the descent I found myself making my way through Canberra’s best suburb through to Symonston where I took Narrabundah lane past the correctional centre. I passed the TGA and eventually made it to Hindmarsh Drive where I found myself riding in what was a bike lane at some stage. I had cars wizzing past at 80 km +. I made it to Canberra Avenue at Fyshwick where I headed west to the Oaks Estate.

After getting through the road works We took the Oaks Estate road. I found myself being joined by the father and son team. The scenery changed from light industrial to semirural. I was surprised that we were not going though the actual town or using the bike path through Queanbeyan. As the ride progressed the road became busier. I made it to the check point but had lost the father and son team. I waited for a while and was eventually joined by other riders who claimed they had not seen the tandem.

I headed off for the finish and rode down through Piallago, I passed the airport and eventually Royal Military College Duntroon. I took the bike path at Fyshwick and then followed the bike path around the lake to Blundells cottage . Once there I got my card signed and a free sausage sandwich. I bought a can of coke and enjoyed a chat with some of the Rotary Volunteers. Eventually the tandem arrived and the guys on touring bikes. I had a chat with the riders and congratulated the father and son team. They really were inspirational.

Over the Halfway Mark

So much for the good intentions. I had intended to tell you when I reached the halfway mark in the Commuter Challenge but with all the intensity of work and other things I missed out. I am now up to over 3000 km on the bike and have had some interesting times getting there. I rode from Canberra to Queanbeyan via the Sutton Road on a number of occasions and have had some interesting encounters with motorists, many of whom (the ones displaying Red P plates) are generally so stupid it should be legal to shoot them (If I was armed I would – but P platers do a good enough job of killing themselves so I will leave them to it). On other occasions I have rode out to Collector and on Saturday I went as far as to have lunch/morning tea at Lerida Winery. I have to say that is a beautiful area to ride in.

The bike is now needing a service. I probably will get a new chain while I am at it. I have also bought a new ride on Ebay – home of many things dodgey. I have always wanted a single speed and have bought one from what appears to be a legitimate dealer. I had it delivered to mum and dad’s place and it has arrived.

On the issue of the Global Corporate Challenge I looks as if my team will not make the finish line this year. It is a shame and I feel that it hasn’t been for lack of effort. Our manager who signed up enthusiastically has not put his steps in and despite some massive rides by me and efforts by the rest of the team we are somewhere in Guyana. I gather we are going through the some of the worlds toughest areas. There was an orphanage in Africa which was the charity of for the event and I gave $10 as a good will gesture. We spent some time in Europe but it appears that South America is going to be where we finish up. We may be able to get past the 100 destinations but not hit the 152 finishing line. Still it is intersting learning about other countries and cultures, albiet from the comfort of a PC at work.

I will most definately finish the commuter challenge though and am looking forward to the spring/summer daylight saving racing and riding season. There are a number of rides in the pipeline. In particular a cycling Grand Prix in Goulburn using the original motorcycling track, the Gong Ride (which I might do with a team from work) and Fitz Challenge which will be a good ride this season given it doesn’t clash with the Gong Ride. I will provide further details on these rides as they come to hand.

On the issue of daylight saving and the racing season ACT vets will be starting soonish and the criterium season will be a good way to add kilometers to the bike computer. Depending on how the Single Speed fits I may even try using it in crit racing.  I have to say that it will be intersting to see how things go this year given I have been riding a lot through winter with the GCC and the Commuter Challenge.

Anyhow I am over the halfway mark and will be going on to finish the challenges as they come.

The first thousand

Last month I began the Bicycle NSW commuter challenge and the Global Corporate Challenge. Now that the first 1000 Km of the commuter challenge has been done and dusted, I thought I would post an update on my progress and where I have been riding. The 1000 Km includes the Central Coast Century Challenge as well as the Pedal Power Social rides that I have attended. It also includes rides around  the local region.

It has had it’s interesting moments such as the time I was riding along the Great Western Highway and came across a guy riding a Surly 1×1 which had been converted to take a Rohloff Hub. He found himself a shifter which made his day because they cost a fair bit. He was on his way to Black fellas hands near Wallerawang.

I completed the first thousand with the Pedal Power Social ride from Tuggeranong which went to Curtin via Lake Burley Griffin. I found myself riding the final 5 km on a 3 speed after the gear cable for the rear deraileur snapped.

Today I went to Queanbeyan via the Kowen Forest. I went up Northbourne Avenue then took the Federal Highway to Sutton Road. I then took the Sutton Road to the Kowen Forest. The day was brilliant and warm – it has been a mild winter thus far. I rode on to Queanbeyan and then took the bike path back to Canberra. I stopped at the Bus Depot Markets for lunch and then went home via the bike path at Lake Burley Griffin.

The first thousand kilometers also saw me wear out the rear tyre on the red hybrid. I have replaced the Specialized rear tyre  with a Vittoria Zaffiro from Onya Bike Civic.

On the issue of the Global Corporate Challenge. I and the rest of my team started off from Red Square in Moscow. From there we went through Eastern Europe to Hungary where we were moved along to Afghanistan by the GCC’s private jet. The thing that strikes me most about this challenge by including Afghanistan in the virtual tour of the world we are going along to places that were previously part of the Hippy Trail – a route used by travellers to during the 60’s and 70’s. Of course now with Afghanistan and some of the neighbouring republics being conflict zones it seems pity that we are now reduced to going on a virtual tour instead of actually walking and cycling in these areas.

The interesting thing about the GCC is that they convert the Kms done cycling into steps – unfortunately they do not give a 1 for 1 kilometer count but they do include the steps. We are now at Khorog in Tajikistan. This is an interesting country to say the least. The step average is 29849 steps a day.

 I am determined to see these challenges through and expect to be able to give another update at the 200o Km mark of the Commuter Challenge which I am expecting to be around this time next month. I aim to give monthly updates which will be around every 1000 Km