MS Gong Ride... Team DHBC

[weiyun]

The MS Gong ride this year will be on Sun 4th of Nov with an unfortunate clash to the Fixie Century. Right now, we have a registered DHBC team in place with 6 riders on the roster. So whoever isn't in the fixie brigade should seriously consider riding the Gong, it'll only be just over half the distance compared with what the fixie boys and gals have to do. There'll even be a slowie group...

http://register.gongride.org.au/?Dulwic ... cle%20Club

At present, we have Fouad and myself expressing interests in riding back from the Gong, thereby beating you fixie guys on distance for the day. More are welcome!

Note also that at this time point, our DHBC team sits at 46th position (out of 235) on the team fundraising register, beating Integral Energy, Mirvac, Credit Suisse, BikeEast and Sydney CC. So please chip in and contribute to a good charity cause!

[FAswad]

I have just received my MS Ride starte pack.

I have been assigned a time of 6:15 and will be riding as No. 11759.

[weiyun]

Forget about their start time. I'd say just show up early (6am). The later we leave, the more likely we'll get hit by the southerly.

[FAswad]

I am going to be there at around 6 to make sure I leave with the first leavers. But I am quite sure that the earliest departure will be at 6:15am.

Forget about their start time. I'd say just show up early (6am). The later we leave, the more likely we'll get hit by the southerly.

[mikesbytes]

However if you arrive at 6:15am then you will be at the back of a large group leaving at that time and for the first few K, you are limited to one lane, so overtaking is rather difficult. Better to be there early and get to start at the front.

[weiyun]

However if you arrive at 6:15am then you will be at the back of a large group leaving at that time and for the first few K, you are limited to one lane, so overtaking is rather difficult. Better to be there early and get to start at the front.

Hehe, given the standard of those in the early group, I'd be lucky if I don't get overtaken myself.

[weiyun]

Just dawned on me. We can ride back from the Gong and be just in time to get a feed at Tempe velodrome. Maybe we can even sneak in for a ride on the track before the fixie folks arrive.

[mikesbytes]

Hehe, given the standard of those in the early group, I'd be lucky if I don't get overtaken myself.

Seriously Weiyun, your better off being towards the front of the inital group. It will be broken up by the traffic lights and if your at the back, you will end up having to ride by yourself after leaving the slower riders behind.

[weiyun]

Seriously Weiyun, your better off being towards the front of the inital group. It will be broken up by the traffic lights and if your at the back, you will end up having to ride by yourself after leaving the slower riders behind.

Thanks Mike for the advice. I do intend to start at 6am this year. Last year I left the start line in light rain at around 6:20 and the traffic wasn't serious at all. There were no stresses apart from the rain and road crud.

[timyone]

wat time will you all get back?

[weiyun]

I'd imagine it would be similar, early-mid afternoon?

[mikesbytes]

I'd imagine it would be similar, early-mid afternoon?

At a guess the Gong riders will be back before the fixie riders as you start 2 1/2 hours earlier for less than 1 hours extra riding.

[FAswad]

DEAL!

Just dawned on me. We can ride back from the Gong and be just in time to get a feed at Tempe velodrome. Maybe we can even sneak in for a ride on the track before the fixie folks arrive.

[T-Bone]

I might join you guys, but i'll turn back at Bulli Pass so i can get back home in time for work.

[weiyun]

Good. That means we'll have 4 riders on the early start (Faroud, MichaelM, JamesF, myself). Not sure when the ladies of the team would show up. Will ask them on Sat.

[jimmy]

If you want to ride down and back to the Start, you are looking at about 175km round trip.

There are a few ways you can come back, all of which require some serious hills.

You can obviously reverse the route, but you will not be able to use the Cycle Path between the Finish (Flagstaff Point) and Thirroul. However, it is easy to get to the Princess Highway from the Finish, and once on the Highway, you can follow it all the way back to Thirroul. One thing to be aware of if you do this, is that you will encounter a lot of cyclists when you are riding through the RNP, and some of these will be on the wrong side of the road. When I did it last year, I was constantly yelling out "Rider" to make sure that they knew I was coming. It was pretty hairy on some of the corners as I couldn't see how clear the road was on the other side.

Don't forget as well, that there are two leg breaker climbs. Both of these will be controlled descents, so odds are, you will have the road to yourself, and then a flood of cyclists will be coming down, again, they will often stray to the wrong side of the road and you won't have a lot of space.

Alternatively, once up to Stanwell Tops, you could turn left instead of right and get to Helensburg, this would mean that you can avoid the RNP.

The other options are to ride up Mount Keira and then join the F6 all they way to Helensburg before taking the Old Princess Highway. Mount Keira isn't a bad climb, but it does go up and down quite a bit afterwards until you get to the top of Bulli Pass.

The third option, would be to ride up the Princess Highway to Thirroul, and then do Bulli Pass, this climb is a leg breaker, it probably averages about 10%, but as it levels off in the middle, it is usually steeper. It is about 3-4km long, so it isn't easy. From the top, follow the F6 to Helensburg and then take the Old Princess Highway to Waterfall.

I will probably just do Stanwell Tops on that day, but I will be ahead of the Gong Riders.

Enjoy your ride guys, I just hope that it is a nicer day than last year (60km southerlies with rain).

James

[weiyun]

Thanks James for your insider's tip. They will be very useful info. From my point of view, the easiest route is the best route ie. Helensburg. Adding up the ride to home, it'll be 200km round trip... Ouch!

[JM]

did the there and back thing last year ... riders wrong side of the road - not good!

plan on doing same this year but probably via helensburgh as the RNP although shorter was dangerous due to riders straying as James F noted ... should be fun

[FAswad]

I would tend to agree that via Helensburgh is the best because RNP would not be a good idea because what JamesC and JamesM said. Also, Bulli Pass, well... errrrr... maybe some other day.

did the there and back thing last year ... riders wrong side of the road - not good!

plan on doing same this year but probably via helensburgh as the RNP although shorter was dangerous due to riders straying as James F noted ... should be fun

[weiyun]

Just did a careful check of the route profile from my last year's GPS track log. The reverse side of those hills after RNP are all around 10% grade of significant length. This is going to be a seriously tough ride back. And people are right, the ride out of RNP averages out to 5-6%, not as tough

[T-Bone]

Bulli Pass isn't that bad..... only gets to 15%!!

I guess the climb up to Stanwell Tops is a bit easier, but it's still reasonably steep.

[jimmy]

The difference between doing Bulli Pass or going up to Stanwell Tops to Helensburg is whether you want to get the pain over and done with, or pad it out.

Bulli Pass gives you all of your elevation in one lump, while going back to Stanwell Tops means that the hills get split up into 2, the one straight after the bridge, and the one to Stanwell Tops that then goes up towards Helensburg.

Don't forget that going to Stanwell Tops means that you will need to deal with the Cyclists coming down the hill as well.

James

[timyone]

Just did a careful check of the route profile from my last year's GPS track log. The reverse side of those hills after RNP are all around 10% grade of significant length. This is going to be a seriously tough ride back. And people are right, the ride out of RNP averages out to 5-6%, not as tough

lol man you lads are funy with all the fancy stuff you get up to
mean while theres me who changed gears once on saturday slowies on the weekend, not bothering to do the same on sunday to waterfall, because i didnt see the need to

[weiyun]

lol man you lads are funy with all the fancy stuff you get up to
mean while theres me who changed gears once on saturday slowies on the weekend, not bothering to do the same on sunday to waterfall, because i didnt see the need to

It's called planning.

[micklan]

I plan to leave early on 4 Nov 6.15am. Not sure for the ride back, I'd like to complete it, but may not have the conditioning or petrol - see how I go over the next few weeks - this after being at a conference on the Gold Coast for the last 10 days with no riding. Michael Langdon

[weiyun]

I don't think I have the condition nor petrol either but would be a good challenge for what's it worth. Planning to slow coach back if the weather condition is reasonable and take the easiest route. We can make the final decision after we get there.

[Simon Llewellyn]

We did the gong ride a few times training for grafton, it is actually a really enjoyable day out and not too strenuous if you eat at the right places....

[weiyun]

Where are the fuel stops on the way back? Particularly water.

[T-Bone]

Doubt whether you'll need to stop for too much, you can fill up before you head back, and there're shops along the way.

[mikesbytes]

Where are the fuel stops on the way back? Particularly water.

The servo at sutherland would be about half way home

[T-Bone]

That's about 2/3 of the way home. shop at waterfall is about halfway. but i guess there's a tap at sutherland, though i'm sure there're more in other places.

[weiyun]

There's a shop at Waterfall?

[T-Bone]

Fish and Chips shop on the Northbound side, between the bridge and the street we usually turn out of. I think it was the Dolphin Combo that i had when we stopped for lunch on one of our training rides. Delicious.

[weiyun]

Thanks. I'll remember that suggestion... Whatever Dolphin Combo is.

[mikesbytes]

At Waterfall you have a choice of a sugar hit or a fat hit

[weiyun]

When you are dying, fat or sugar would no longer be a concern.

[mikesbytes]

Go for both, sugar to get you to General Homes drive and fat to get you home from there.

[Huw]

Shops and cafes at Austinmer do a good job. Watch out for the greasy kebab-shop floor in your bike shoes - the cleats slide like glass!

[weiyun]

Shops and cafes at Austinmer do a good job. Watch out for the greasy kebab-shop floor in your bike shoes - the cleats slide like glass!

That's why I wear MTB shoes.

[Simon Llewellyn]

I recommend the burger in the more fancy shop next to the kebab shop, rather than the pasta. When we were there I had Huw & Grant salivating at my meal....Plus the coffee was great...

[micklan]

yep the ride back is a good challenge, i'm motivated to do it - just to have done it. last year it would of been a quick trip back with the southerly buster

[mcrkennedy]

I have got my start time. It is 6.45 am.

Are we going to have a team photo?

[weiyun]

Why not? But don't worry about the start time, we are going to leave with the first wave at 6:15. So show up early is the word.

I understand our Capt has bailed due to other commitments and Sue will be starting from the 1/2 way mark.

[weiyun]

Ok guys! We are 6 days away and we should work out how we can meet up for a photo as a minimum.

Looking at the weather projection... I beg there not be another wet and windy one like last year.

[micklan]

Hi Weiyun
My mobile ph no. (Michael Langdon), is 041-662-1698
I will be around the start area at about 6am or so for a 6.15 start
The DH bunch will leave 6.30
weather - it can;t be worse than last year- bring ur rain coat

[weiyun]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the mobile number. I'll post mine via PM (Private Message).

I am aiming for 6:15 start also and will contact Michael McKennedy to see how he is placed. Will inform if there's any plan change.

Last year at least the rain cleared quickly and was relatively light. We will see what happens this year.

[FAswad]

So should we all aim to be around the start line at 6 or thereabouts?

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the mobile number. I'll post mine via PM (Private Message).

I am aiming for 6:15 start also and will contact Michael McKennedy to see how he is placed. Will inform if there's any plan change.

Last year at least the rain cleared quickly and was relatively light. We will see what happens this year.

[weiyun]

So should we all aim to be around the start line at 6 or thereabouts?

That would be my aim, at least around the grass oval. 6:10 is probably more realistic.

I think we all have each other's mobile number.

Sue, our highest fund raiser, is scheduled to start at Loftus, so we probably won't get a chance to catch up except maybe at the end.

[FAswad]

it took you 4 minutes to respond to my post. You are always oh so quick!

That would be my aim, at least around the grass oval. 6:10 is probably more realistic.

I think we all have each other's mobile number.

Sue, our highest fund raiser, is scheduled to start at Loftus, so we probably won't get a chance to catch up except maybe at the end.

[micklan]

Sunday Rain clearing in morning. Chance early thunderstorm.

City: Min: 17 Max: 25
West: Min: 13 Max: 26 [/quote]

[weiyun]

Thunderbirds... GO!

[micklan]

Forecast for Sunday
Rain clearing in the morning. Chance of an early thunderstorm. Sunny periods developing. Light to moderate westerly winds turning southerly and freshening overnight.

Precis: Rain clearing. Chance early thunderstorm.

City: Min: 18 Max: 25
West: Min: 16 Max: 26

[micklan]

F.A.B. - VIRGIL

[FAswad]

Guys, we might get lucky tomorrow. See you around 6 around the start line.

[weiyun]

Contacted Michael McKennedy today. We'll ride in and aim to get there by 6:05-6:10. We should aim to have a group photo together before taking off.