Sydney to Gong

Zebee Johnstone said:

- some people spend so much on their bikes, their clothes, and their
shoes that they can't afford a puncture kit. They go on a long
ride anyway.

Sigh, that would apply to me this morning. I had a spare tube and pump
but forgot repair kit, tools etc. After puncturing once I spent the rest
of my ride with eagle-eye paranoia over any sign of broken glass on the
road.

DaveB

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:18:54 +1100

DaveB said:

Zebee Johnstone said:

- some people spend so much on their bikes, their clothes, and their
shoes that they can't afford a puncture kit. They go on a long
ride anyway.

Sigh, that would apply to me this morning. I had a spare tube and pump
but forgot repair kit, tools etc. After puncturing once I spent the rest
of my ride with eagle-eye paranoia over any sign of broken glass on the
road.

At least you had *something*.

One bod didn't have so much as a credit card. Bike, clothes,
waterbottle. No pump, no tubes, no patches, no nothing. I brought my
patch kit and floor pump because I suspected they might be needed 🙂

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

One bod didn't have so much as a credit card.

A few years ago I did it and just took my regular riding pack, which is
set up for MTB. Pootling along near Sutho I caught a couple of blokes, one
of whom was ratcheting the pedals because his chain had snapped.

The amazement when I 1) offered to help, b) had tools and spare parts, and
iii) refused any payment led me to believe that there is a world of
difference between road and MTB.

Actually, that may have been the time I shaved my legs to not scare too
many roadies, as opposed to the time I put slicks on a 5" duallie so I
could scare roadies. Stoppies past Cops are fun (on the hill Zebee was
talking about, and the one down from Stanwell).

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
"Hey, watch the 'fro" - Danny Glaze

Zebee Johnstone said:

Some things I noted during the day:

- some people spend so much on their bikes, their clothes, and their
shoes that they can't afford a puncture kit. They go on a long
ride anyway.

And there are some people that don't spend nearly enough. I was looking
at an old 10speed ladies bike that one bloke was riding trying to figure
out how the bend in the top down tube could have got there - then I saw
that the seat tube was snapped straight through about 20cm above the BB.
It was not a new crack either.

Quoted message said:

- I don't think I'd be willing to ride a DF bike wearing knicks with
a bright green stripe across the bum with "LIQUIGAS" written on it.

And to the bloke who had the red knicks with a small (~3x7cm) mesh panel
in the back of his knicks just at the top of his crack - They are
soooooo wrong.

Quoted message said:

- top marks to the lad on the single speed BMX, who was damned if he
was going to be left behind.

It was a 'cross bike not a BMX. Oh you weren't talking about me

Quoted message said:

- There's tough and there's tough. There's not a pair of old boots
in the land who wouldn't give up the title to the bod doing the
ride on the hand cranked trike.

Yup. He probably went better up the hills than a lot of other riders too.

Quoted message said:

- Some riders seem to find it difficult to believe in motorcycles,
they must think they are mirages. So when said riders are in the
middle of the wrong side of the road and a motorcycle is coming the
other way they just figure it's a figment of their imagination and
keep riding straight at it.

Big motorcycles they were too. They also forget to check just behind
them when they pull out to overtake someone.

Quoted message said:

- Bicycle riders can be as oblivious of an ambulance trying to pass as
car drivers can be.

I managed to avoid seeing most of the carnage. I heard of a fair bit.

Quoted message said:

- Black long knicks really emphasise the QUADS!!!-(knee)-CALVES!!!
shape leg.

- Tall bikes need tall trees to lean against.

One of the other marshals is trying to persuade me to ride it with him
next year. We shall see....

Do it! On the 'bent?

Parbs - who's hurting, but probably not as much as next weekend.

PS Thanks for coming out and helping Zeebee

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 06:27:08 GMT

Parbs said:

And to the bloke who had the red knicks with a small (~3x7cm) mesh panel
in the back of his knicks just at the top of his crack - They are
soooooo wrong.

I'm glad I missed that one!

Quoted message said:

It was a 'cross bike not a BMX. Oh you weren't talking about me

Nah, plenty of single speeders about, but few with 20" wheels.

Quoted message said:

Big motorcycles they were too. They also forget to check just behind
them when they pull out to overtake someone.

IT was definitely eyes in your [censored] time. I was spending more time on
the mirrors than straight ahead, and head checking wildly.

Mind you, with the noise my bike makes you'd think riders might wonder
if *they* should head check before darting across the road in front of
me.

Most people were very well behaved which is why the idiots are so
memorable.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

- Bicycle riders can be as oblivious of an ambulance trying to pass as
car drivers can be.

I managed to avoid seeing most of the carnage. I heard of a fair bit.

The ambos did seem to be busy. A few "got too close and touched
wheels" and a few "oh. a corner. Oh dear" ones.

Quoted message said:

Do it! On the 'bent?

The only pushbike I own 🙂
(my version of the N+1 rule requires motors.)

Saw a few trikes, but no bikes, no idea if there were any.

THe ride up to Baldy looked pretty damn heartbreaking for some. Mr
QUADS!!-(knees)-CALVES!! did it like it was flat but most people were
struggling and when I did a scout that way for problems I got a few
"gissa tow?" requests. And a few cries of "cheater!" 🙂

I expect in a year I should be fit enough to try it if I start hard
work about 6 months before. Maybe....

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

Well my day consisted of back and forth from Waterfall more or less
providing a visible idea of how fast was sensible on the descents.
Which some people ignored who they had the skills, and some ignored
who didn't.... Not sure of the total number of offs in that area,
more than 3 I believe.

Thanks for helping out, Zebee. I think I saw you coming down from the
Bald Hill end.

This was my first Gong ride - did the full 90k too (actually it was my
first ever ride longer than 50k). The wind was wicked strong, but
luckily the forecast rain didn't happen. I had been watching the
forecasts, and mulling over whether to pike or not. Am so glad I didn't.

There was an interesting mix of cycles. Was very impressed with the
three seat tandem, pedalled by a dad and his 2 daughters. Missed the
hand cranked trike - would have liked to see that. I did see two Birdys
(Birdies?). Full marks to both riders - I love my Birdy, but would'nt
want to ride it that far.

--
beerwolf
(To reply by email, remove numbers from my address)

Zeebee - red motorcycle?? You must be a man of great patience. And you seemed to be enjoying it too. Thanks for helping us out today, hope to see you riding next year.

Great to see so many out there having a go, and riding to their best ability. Shame a small minority seem to be born without any road sense. How will they survive to old age???

Highlights for me
- that bloke hand cranking his recumbent. Passed him on Tarren Point Rd, amazed he was still going at Waterfall

- Mums/Dads doing the climb out of the National Park with their kids on trailers or those trailing bikes. The kids looked pretty happy though.

- those two-story bikes....what the?

- the City Rail staff who cleared the log jam at Wollongong Station at 5.30am by telling everyone they could get a ticket at the other end (didn't see anyone actually do that, but don't tell City Rail)

Shame about the headwind along the coast. Just for interest, today the Met station at Bellambi recorded a consistent SSW wind averaging 37-52 kph (20-28 knots) but gusting up to 74 kph (40 knots).

Explains why those riding back to Sydney seemed so happy. Just hope it hasn't put off the first timers!

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 06:52:31 -0000

beerwolf said:

There was an interesting mix of cycles. Was very impressed with the
three seat tandem, pedalled by a dad and his 2 daughters. Missed the
hand cranked trike - would have liked to see that. I did see two Birdys
(Birdies?). Full marks to both riders - I love my Birdy, but would'nt
want to ride it that far.

Didn't see the trandem but I did see a Birdy tandem 🙂

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 06:27:08 GMT

Parbs said:

And to the bloke who had the red knicks with a small (~3x7cm) mesh panel
in the back of his knicks just at the top of his crack - They are
soooooo wrong.

I'm glad I missed that one!

Quoted message said:

It was a 'cross bike not a BMX. Oh you weren't talking about me

Nah, plenty of single speeders about, but few with 20" wheels.

Quoted message said:

Big motorcycles they were too. They also forget to check just behind
them when they pull out to overtake someone.

IT was definitely eyes in your [censored] time. I was spending more time on
the mirrors than straight ahead, and head checking wildly.

Mind you, with the noise my bike makes you'd think riders might wonder
if *they* should head check before darting across the road in front of
me.

Most people were very well behaved which is why the idiots are so
memorable.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

- Bicycle riders can be as oblivious of an ambulance trying to pass as
car drivers can be.

I managed to avoid seeing most of the carnage. I heard of a fair bit.

The ambos did seem to be busy. A few "got too close and touched
wheels" and a few "oh. a corner. Oh dear" ones.

Quoted message said:

Do it! On the 'bent?

The only pushbike I own 🙂
(my version of the N+1 rule requires motors.)

Saw a few trikes, but no bikes, no idea if there were any.

THe ride up to Baldy looked pretty damn heartbreaking for some. Mr
QUADS!!-(knees)-CALVES!! did it like it was flat but most people were
struggling and when I did a scout that way for problems I got a few
"gissa tow?" requests. And a few cries of "cheater!" 🙂

I expect in a year I should be fit enough to try it if I start hard
work about 6 months before. Maybe....

Zebee

I know this is blasphemy, but dare I say that a nice light road bike could
make it a bit easier in the hors category? A diamond is a girl's best
friend. Go on, try living on the wedge.

It might take a little while until you feel comfortable, but the extra
benefit of not having to wear a stuck-on beard must surely outweigh the
loss of dignity in joining the rest of us rabble.

Cheers,

Vince

branded said:

Zeebee - red motorcycle?? You must be a man of great patience.

No she's not. ;-)

<>snip>

Parbs

Does anyone know the condition of that poor girl who crashed just south of the Captain Cook Bridge?

She looked in a very, very bad way as I passed her and I hope she is going to be OK?

Scotty

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 15:31:52 +0800

Vincent Patrick said:

I know this is blasphemy, but dare I say that a nice light road bike could
make it a bit easier in the hors category? A diamond is a girl's best
friend. Go on, try living on the wedge.

Did for a long time.

Never rode it as much as I ride this. Never hopped on it for a ride
because I was bored, never decided to ride it instead of the
motorcycle.

IF I wanted faster, I'd buy a faster bent 🙂

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 06:52:31 -0000

beerwolf said:

I did see two Birdys
(Birdies?). Full marks to both riders - I love my Birdy, but would'nt
want to ride it that far.

A couple of friends of mine did the NSW Big Ride earlier in the year on
them.

Quoted message said:

Didn't see the trandem but I did see a Birdy tandem 🙂

Was it a Birdy tandem or a Bike Friday Tandem?
http://www.bikefriday.com/images/bicycles/large/HBar406.jpg

Parbs

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 08:25:53 GMT

Parbs said:

Zebee Johnstone said:

Didn't see the trandem but I did see a Birdy tandem 🙂

Was it a Birdy tandem or a Bike Friday Tandem?

Well, if it was a Bike Friday it was in disguise.

Birdy stickers all over it.

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

- top marks to the lad on the single speed BMX, who was damned if he
was going to be left behind.

yup.. the thing I liked about him was the whole getup: tight black
jeans and boxers hanging out the top...

thanks for the effort zebee (and all your helpers.. I was particularly
amused by the large bloke on the loud harley).

My first 'gong.. 90k. I must admit that I've never ridden further than
25k at a time (which is my commute to work), but didn't find it too
bad.. even after the 'warm up' 25k riding into St Peters; so I guess
the commute is keeping me fit. The wind was a killer, especially
towards the end.

I found it best to hang behind bunches of people that looked like that
knew what they were doing:
a) they didn't do stupid things (there was a fair bit of "not looking
before pulling out", even on the Princes Hwy into the car lane)
b) they were good to draft at a safe distance (almost as good as the
tandems)

Didn't see any prangs, but a workmate had someone clip his rear wheel
and had a girl go down behind him, taking someone else with her.

duncan

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Sun, 05 Nov 2006 15:31:52 +0800

Vincent Patrick said:

I know this is blasphemy, but dare I say that a nice light road bike
could make it a bit easier in the hors category? A diamond is a
girls's best friend. Go on, try living on the wedge.

Did for a long time.

Never rode it as much as I ride this. Never hopped on it for a ride
because I was bored, never decided to ride it instead of the
motorcycle.

I have rarely been bored - if the physical effort and scenery isn't enough,
there's always been a puncture, an obstacle, or a motorist somewhere
willing to add a dash of excitement.

Did you have a real road bike, or was it one of those MTB or hybrid things?
{mutters as he puts on flameproof knicks, here I go again}

Quoted message said:

IF I wanted faster, I'd buy a faster bent 🙂

Nice comeback!

Cheers,

Vince

In article <[email hidden]>,

Zebee Johnstone said:

Well my day consisted of back and forth from Waterfall more or less
providing a visible idea of how fast was sensible on the descents.
Which some people ignored who they had the skills, and some ignored
who didn't.... Not sure of the total number of offs in that area,
more than 3 I believe.

Some things I noted during the day:

- some people spend so much on their bikes, their clothes, and their
shoes that they can't afford a puncture kit. They go on a long
ride anyway.

- I don't think I'd be willing to ride a DF bike wearing knicks with
a bright green stripe across the bum with "LIQUIGAS" written on it.

- top marks to the lad on the single speed BMX, who was damned if he
was going to be left behind.

- There's tough and there's tough. There's not a pair of old boots
in the land who wouldn't give up the title to the bod doing the
ride on the hand cranked trike.

- Some riders seem to find it difficult to believe in motorcycles,
they must think they are mirages. So when said riders are in the
middle of the wrong side of the road and a motorcycle is coming the
other way they just figure it's a figment of their imagination and
keep riding straight at it.

- Bicycle riders can be as oblivious of an ambulance trying to pass as
car drivers can be.

- Black long knicks really emphasise the QUADS!!!-(knee)-CALVES!!!
shape leg.

- Tall bikes need tall trees to lean against.

One of the other marshals is trying to persuade me to ride it with him
next year. We shall see....

Great tidbits and a big thank you to you and all the volunteers on the
ride.

Wind was bad, rain was ok, climbs were a test of mental toughness, but
overall it was a fun challenge. Look forward to see you in the bunch
next year!
--

In article <[email hidden]>,

beerwolf said:

There was an interesting mix of cycles. Was very impressed with the
three seat tandem, pedalled by a dad and his 2 daughters. Missed the
hand cranked trike - would have liked to see that. I did see two Birdys
(Birdies?). Full marks to both riders - I love my Birdy, but would'nt
want to ride it that far.

The best I saw was the hippie guy on a 70/80s kid bike, you know, the
chopper kind with those long padded seat (won't even call it a saddle).
I passed him on the downward run of Captain Cook Br. I wondered if he
made made it to the finish.
--

In article <[email hidden]>,

DaveB said:

Zebee Johnstone said:

- some people spend so much on their bikes, their clothes, and their
shoes that they can't afford a puncture kit. They go on a long
ride anyway.

Sigh, that would apply to me this morning. I had a spare tube and pump
but forgot repair kit, tools etc. After puncturing once I spent the rest
of my ride with eagle-eye paranoia over any sign of broken glass on the
road.

I was eagle eyed too along the way. But I have to say, the whole route
was pretty clean compared to regular Sun rides to Waterfall. Did the
local councils do a sweep just before the ride or did the wind and rain
last night clear it all?
--