Shakedown After Arriving in Sydney

Yesterday was an early start with my son , Chris picking me up at 7.00 am for the ride to the airport. Very grateful for the ride as the bike box was rather large( see photo)

I was a bit concerned that the box might be too big for Qantas , but had no problem at all. In fact the bike transport was very smooth with the bike arriving intact at Sydney airport. 

After taking a taxi I arrived at the Sydney Youth Hostel which is right across the road from the main Sydney railway station.

I met Chris and it was great to see him again after a long time due to Covid and all the pandemic restrictions.

It was then time to assemble the bike which apart from trouble with pumping the tyres up was relatively quick. The issue with pumping the tyres related to the valve not seating when the pump was removed and we spent some time pumping and re-pumping the tyres when the valve blew off!

In the end we got one tyre pumped up and had to take the other wheel to a bike shop to get them to help.

After all of this we decided to go by ferry to Manly for dinner. It was a really pleasant trip across the harbour and after a short walk to the beach we found an Italian place for a bowl of pasta….good food!

After dinner it was back on the speed ferry and tram to the youth hostel and in to bed!

This morning we were up and about at 7.00 am and on our bikes at about 8.00 am for the shakedown ride

The weather was good for the day. Virtually no wind and warm sun.

The ride was planned by us using cycle.travel and was a loop around the inner harbour on the western side of the harbour… it took in some very pleasant scenery along Darling Harbour and crossed a number of bridges including Anzac, Gladesville and of course the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

On the way we had breakfast near the Opera House, lunch in North Sydney and made a visit to the bike shop in Sydney central to sort out a couple of things.

The ride was about 50 kms monsoon bike paths and was enjoyable plus it gave me a real chance to set the bike up for the days of riding ahead.

We arrived back at the Hostel and showered and sorted out washing and a few grocery items for breakfast.

Not sure where we will have dinner tonight but think it it maybe local with an early night ahead of an early start for the ride tomorrow.

A good couple of days to start the ride… looking forward to the days ahead!!!!

There are no photos at this stage as I am having trouble downloading them….sorry will send them later!!!!

grrrrrrr!!!!

Sydney Melbourne Ride

I am leaving tomorrow for a ride with my Kiwi mate Chris where we are looking to ride from Sydney to Melbourne 

The ride will take about 2 weeks and we are following the Hume Highway roughly. We have 2 rest days in both Canberra and Albury. It is unsupported and we are planning on staying at cheaper motel style accommodation most of which has been pre booked.

We will be riding about 1200 kms and climbing about 9500 metres 

Tomorrow I catch the plane to Sydney and have packed the bike and gear in the bike box.

Hope you enjoy the blog as we make our journey.

Bass Coast Ride

 Day 4- Yarrum to Home via Traralgon 

It was raining all night at Yarrum and we agreed at dinner that we would probably not ride in the wet!

Waking at about 7.00am it was still drizzling so all but Anthony decided that we would not ride but “ferry” riders to Traralgon to catch the train. In the meantime Anthony would make his way through the Strzelecki ranges to Traralgon. 

I set off with Gary, Frank, Stephen and Mike in the drizzle in the ute to the Traralgon railway station and after crossing the mountain range in the drizzle it cleared. We arrived about an hour early for the train courtesy of not adjusting the clocks for the ending of daylight saving!

The boys were left at the station and I returned to Yarrum….I managed to catch Anthony on the final hill on the climb out of the Strzelecki ranges and he was soaked through with the drizzle but determined to finish the ride….

Returning to Yarrum I met Rob and Phil for a coffee and “toastie” and after packing the ute we made our way through to Traralgon again….still through the drizzle!

We met Anthony just outside the Loy Yang power stations and after getting changed he joined us for the trip back to Melbourne….fortunately Rob drove most of the way home.

The trip was uneventful other than traffic getting to Phil’s flat in Richmond….

Arriving home, Rob and I unpacked the ute and the boys picked up bags etc

Ending these rides is always a bit sad but it gives us a real opportunity to see parts of our wonderful country with a group of similar minded cyclists 

Special thanks to Gary for sorting out the ride and to all who were part of a special time together

Here is photo of us all at the Yarrum Country Club having our final dinner 

Bass Coast Ride

 Bass Coast Ride-Day 3 Toora to Yarrum 50 km

The day started a bit late with us all sleeping in until about 8.00am!

The weather was cool with drizzling rain with a fair bit of gloom!

Little did we realise the day ahead would have plenty of adventure!!!

After breakfast we left at about 9.30 am with the ride along the Great Southern Rail Trail to Welshpool and Port Welshpool for morning tea….well the only place for morning tea was the general store…. To say the coffee was ordinary would be an understatement but at least we were out of the rain and wind!

After this we made our way to Telegraph Road once again in the drizzle. The road was sealed for the first few kms then gravel for the next few kms….then sand!

Well this meant we needed to walk the bikes potentially for about 10pm!!!After walking for a few kms we agreed we needed an alternate plan and resorted to putting the bikes on the ute 4 at a time to travel by car to the end of the road!

I was on the second group so we had a longer walk whilst waiting for the ute to return.

The guys in the first group ride on to Yarrum and we in the second group agreed to “cheat “ a bit by traveling all the way to Yarrum by car… a great option given the weather and the tribulations of Telegraph Road 

This experience takes over from experiences we have had previously with Ellio on the famous Allendale Rd hill!!

Big call to beat a 20% plus series of climbs!!!

Arriving at Yarrum it was off to the bakery for a lovely lunch and recap of our adventures 

After lunch we made our way to the caravan park and spent some time cleaning our bikes

All in all these are the days of some challenges but in responding to them it makes the day more meaningful and rewarding 

So thanks to all the group in working together as a team in the circumstances 

These are out of order…

Trying to unclog the sand from my bike!!

The order dockets at morning tea…

Very complicated really!!

Mine was 45

Happy birthday to Mike’s grandson above 

Followed by the start of the sandy part of Telegraph 

Yuck!!!

Bogged down!

Waiting at the road fork for the ute…

The start of the day of adventure at Toora 

Little did we realise what would come!

Loading up the bikes on the ute!

 Bass Coast Ride-Day 2 April 1 2022

Today being April fools day was pleasantly surprising with an early morning wake up at 7.00am with cloudy weather and temperatures in the mid teens… the only April fool trick was the head wind!!!

We were off riding by about 8.30 am for the days ride to Toora about 70 kms away 

The first stop was Tarwin Lower for coffee which was after about 20kms into the wind. Once again it was single file and rotated riders after about a km… seemed to work well and the group is finally organising itself for this sort of riding after about 20 years of training!

The morning coffee was welcome and made the next 20 km ride to Fish Creek somewhat more enjoyable as we found the rail trail to get us off the main roads. It was quite a bit more sheltered than the roads and the gradients were more gentle!

Lunch at Long John Pickles was great… several of us had the chicken pie with chips…. All good for the afternoon push in to Toora.

Once again we were on the rail trail which made for pleasant riding and some great scenery. The weather was ok with some drizzle at times 

We made good time to get in to Toora and about 3.45pm

We are staying the night at the Toora Lodge Motel which is quite comfortable and we are looking forward to a pub meal tonight 

A good day of riding particularly on the rail trail.. all the better with a great bunch of blokes

Great view from the side of the rail trail

Lunch at Fish Creek 

View of the rail trail

At Tarwin Lower

Bass Coast Ride Day 2

At Lang Lang

A demons supporter!

At the start of the ride

At morning tea at Caldermeade farm 

At the top of one of the climbs
 

Bass Coast Ride

 Bass Coast Ride- Day 1 Cranbourne to Inveloch 100 kms

Today was an early start for all of us leaving home and driving to Cranbourne railway station to meet the guys traveling by train from Murrumbena.

We started the ride from the station at about 9.00am with coolish weather and the threat of rain but it stayed away thankfully! But…. We had a head wind for most of the day which meant we had to ride in a group taking turns at the front after about a km. Seemed to work well

The first part of the ride was through the outer suburbs of greater Melbourne which was quite amazing that the spread of Melbourne reaches this far!

I was first in the ute and started my ride after about 15 kms

The early part of the ride was through the market gardens of Victoria on the flat 

We travelled through to Caldermeade farm for morning tea which is near Lang Lang where my wife Robyn spent the early years of her life. Her father was the local doctor in the town 

After morning tea it was off to the climb up the hills to Loch for lunch….lovely lunch venue

It was a late lunch about 1.30 pm 

We then had a fairly big climb out of Loch and through undulating country to Longwack where we were to have arvo tea. The town was shut so we made our way through to Invaloch to the Big4 caravan park where we enjoyed a shower in lovely cabins. A great relief after a long day of 100 kms for most of the group. Arriving at about 4.30 pm meant we had time for a rest before dinner 

I should mention that one of our group Ellio pulled out at the last minute as his father was taken to hospital. We all hope he is okay and our thoughts are with Ellio….

A good day of hard riding… will sleep well tonight