The Gong ride contribution to a grand for charty 90Km

Before the ride on the first of November, I was weighing up my options for doing this ride or going on the Fitz’s challenge. I know people who live in the Dapto area who were keen to have me around after I finished. I also thought it would be a good ride to do (as it always is). I haven’t done Fitz’s challenge yet and will definitely do it next year. I decided to do the Gong ride this year because I needed something that would remind me of the people who I rode with in Sydney. I also wanted to do it because it is a good ride.

Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club has a team in the Gong ride bust so did Pedal Power.  In the end as much as I wanted to ride with Dulwich Hill, I signed up with Pedal Power in the hope that I would meet other cyclist from the ACT. I signed up then contacted the team organiser Chris Mann. It turned out he had done some research with Google and knew something about me from Sydney cyclist and other forums.

I arranged to meet Chris and the other riders at Steel Park, St Peters in the morning around 7.30. I took myself and the Red Hybrid to Dapto the night before and got myself settled down. In the morning I got myself ready and took the down to Dapto station in time for the train to St Peters. I was expecting an older train as I was told that an old red rattler was used by city rail last time to bring riders from the Illawarra to the start point at St Peters. However we got the usual train that is used on the Illawarra, Hunter and Blue Mountains lines and it made a good difference. I got to the start point on time. I hung out and absorbed the atmosphere for a while waiting for Chris and the other riders to appear.  I know St Peters very well. I have rode through the area many times and knew some of the Cafe’s and Pubs on the lower end of King Street.

Chris finally showed up and I met the other riders. They were mostly older riders. Chris and I were the younger riders. We had the usual hiatus at the start point, getting the last-minute things done and then had the team photo. I will see if I can get any of the photos on to this site as soon as I can.  We were also delayed at the start because of safety concerns as the traffic lights along the Princes Highway were delaying riders. Everyone was also reminded about an incident that occurred earlier in the week where a cyclist using the Parramatta T-way had got involved in a road rage incident and attacked a bus driver. This incident had got a lot of media attention including the usual trolls from the Terror and the likes of John (Bong Head) Birmingham and Miranda Divine.

When we finally got underway I had a good look around for Dulwich Hill riders and only noticed some who must have one the training ride to Waterfall and were on their way back. I also enjoyed a good look at some of my old haunts around Tempe, Sydenham and later Brighton Le Sands. We rode as a group for a while before we wound up being separated.

We went through some of the best areas in the St George area and enjoyed a good run to the first rest point at Loftus. After a comfort stop I got the customary muffin and cup of coffee and got myself ready to carry on. I caught up with some people I know from my days as a St John volunteer in Sydney and caught up with them for a while before finally getting under way.

As we rode through the Shire I caught up with Chris and discussed the differences between Canberra and Sydney as regards cycling culture. It turns out Chris has done some time in Sydney and was used to commuting to the CBD with the cars doing less speed than his bicycle. He also has some family in the Illawarra and had caught up with them every so often. He has done a lot of rides in NSW and was fully aware of the cycling and road culture in Sydney. I have met Canberrans who were not aware of the differences in road rules and other issues.

We finally got to the stage where we went through the Royal National Park and it was here that the group split up again. The ride went well and I was able to make good time getting to the clearing where lunch was served.  It was here that I caught up with Brian Yap – a member of Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club and MASSBUG. He was riding his recumbent. I think his recumbent was the only one I saw that day. We discussed the ride and how Dulwich Hill was going. Apparently the Saturday Slowies Group is getting big and is more often split into 2 groups. for the ride to and from Centennial Park. I also found out that everything was fine with MASSBUG which was pleasing to hear.

After Lunch I set off down the escarpment to Lawrence Hargraves drive. I made to the lookout and then began the descent to Wollongong. It was on Lawrence Hargraves Drive that  I copped a puncture in the front tyre. It happened a the worst time and in the worst area. I was able to dismount and begin working on it although I had to put myself and the bike on the other side of the crash barrier as the police were holding back the cars at the start of the road and were letting them through in dribs and drabs. I began working on the puncture when I found that the valve on the pump had gone. Fortunately there was a guy on the other side of the road who had a pump but no spare tube. I asked him for a lend of his pump and he tossed it over. Unfortunately for me it was too high and it got caught in the tree behind where I was.  I was on the sloping side of the road and had to almost climb the tree get the pump ( I held onto a branch and jumped/swung out and got the pump) and then had to fight my way back to the bike. While  was getting the spare tube in the traffic passed and there were some interesting looks and a laugh from one of the lazy weak bastards in a XR6. I got the tyre pumped up and was joined by some of the roving mechanical helpers who were patrolling the course. I bought a new spare tube and headed off after giving the other rider his pump with the welcome news that he was lucky it didn’t go further down.  I also saw some of the Dulwich Hill riders including Simon Sharwood riding back to Sydney.

I got myself under way and eventually got on to the Sea Cliff bridge. I was eager to catch up with some of the people ahead and began to ride hard in some parts. I calmed down by the time I made it to the fruit stop at Scarborough. I got the tyre pumped up with the floor pump at the mechanics that were stationed at the Fruit stop and after a couple of bananas, I got myself under way. I began to enjoy the scenery as I went further along the beginning of the Illawarra region.

When we finally reached the outskirts of Wollongong I picked up the pace a little. We joined a bike path briefly and went through Woonona and Bellambi before reaching Fairy Meadow on the final stretches of the ride.  It was good to reach the finish. I wound up meeting Brian again and we went all out to join the DHBC group at the Five Islands Brewery. We got to the brewery as the others were leaving. I caught up with Geoff and Marion and found out that it was indeed their tandem that was in a Bicycling Australia magazine article on Mudgee.

After all of the days exertions it was good to relax with a Dapto Draught and some wedges at the brewery. After I caught up with Brian, I headed back to Dapto via the train. I got myself washed and then headed home to catch up with Mum and Dad.

The week that was – shit happens to good people (including me)

Well it looks like this week has been one of those weeks where anything that could go wrong did go wrong. I had a relatively easy week commuting. I was able to get an early mark at work on Thursday. I went to Ashfield Cycles where I had dropped the Red Hybrid off for a service. I was able to made it on time and collected the bike. The price of the service had grown due to the number of parts that were needed (Mainly brake pads and a bidon cage). I got the bike back and took off to the Cooks River Cycleway.

Unfortunately I missed the park where I was able to get on to the cycleway and wound up going through the streets of Ashfield, Campsie and Canterbury, until I found a point were I was able to join the cycleway. When I got back I wound up going to Tempe Velodromefor the spin session with Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club – my club. I rode to the velodrome only to have the chain snap at Tempe station. I lost half the removable link.  I searched desperately but could not find it.

I met another guy on his way to the velodrome who suggested I continue on to the velodrome where someone would be able to help me. I went to the velodromeand caught up with Lindsay Munks who sorted out the chain issue. He had the tools and was able to get the chain linked together. It was strongly recommended that I see the guys at Ashfield Cycles and find out what went wrong. It was also recommended that I get a new chain as the chain was too tight.

On Friday I rang the guys at Ashfield Cycles and was told that they did not remove the chain for the service. I get the feeling that things were not going to get any easier despite the dead chain. On Saturday I got up and prepared for Slowies only to find that the rain was going to put the kybosh on the event.

I went out to Coles in Monterey for a Birthday present for a friend of mine and a carton of UHT Skim milk. I took the fearless gear-less to see how it would handle the path. There has been some changes but the fearless gear-less handled everything quite well. I got the milk but did not get the present as it was not in stock. As I went back to Tempe my rear tyre blew out. I cursed and swore and got the bike to a shelter used for picnics. I took the rear wheel off using a spanner from my multitool. I found that the tyre was worn out at the side rim, with the tyre coming away from the bead. I replaced the tube with a thorn proof tube. I intended to get back to Tempe pushing the bike but wound up riding it.  Towards the end the issues with the tyre became problematic. I copped the fishtailing as I turned and wound up slowing down. I got the bike in and changed the tyre. I will now be running WTB slicks from the Iguana.

I will write back with details of how the Fearless Gearless preforms with Slicks.

The other issue was major. On Sunday I was still in Sydney for some overtime. I decided to go to Waterfall with DHBC and had prepared myself for the event. It would have been my first Waterfall and I got myself down to Mick Mazza cycles at 06:30 after getting a new chain from Mick I headed off. The drive train seized up with on the way which was the reason for the new chain. After the Club President gave his speech outlining the risks of cycling and stressing that we accepted the risks if we rode with the club that morning, we headed off. We headed down Warren Rd and went through to Gannon Street. We got on to the highway and went past a RBT station and were going down Marsh Street when the rear derailleur came off.

Geoff said it was the end of my ride and I concurred with him. I walked the bike back to Tempe and met a guy who left the peleton due to concerns about rain. He said that the bike may be dead because the hanger is bent and may be elongated as the derailleur bolt has been sheared off. However he reckoned it would be repairable. I got the bike back and put it into the car for the trip to Bike Minded in Wentworth Falls. I took the Green Trek out for a ride. Woolys Wheels was open but it is booked out till the 18th. I dropped into the Addison St Markets at Marrickville after checking out Cell bikes and Stanmore Cycles (both closed due to the long weekend). After the week end I went back to Lithgow.

This morning I took the Red Hybrid to Bike Minded in Wentworth Falls. They reckon it may be dead but it will be wait and see. They will try to get the bolt out and then straighten the drop out. If all is well there will be a new derailleur and everything realigned. If not I may either make the Red Hybrid a single speed or take it and stip it for parts to be put onto a frame either from Europa Cycles or Peter Bundy in Riverwood. In short it was not a good week. God has had an ear bashing from me and I am not a happy boy. But there is always next time. I will also be willing to get out and give everything a go when the Red Hybrid – or it’s replacement is ready to roll.