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.
Jonathonsbicycleblog's Weblog 