Mt Penang Cycling Muster

Sunday 19th September Mt Penang Cycling Muster
What a fabulous day we had at the Mt Penang Cycling muster - offered for free to us by the same group who organised the bicycle confidence workshop last October: Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service.

A few quick stats

Attending Bunnies: Amanda, Diane & Annette
Total attendees: 30+
Meeting Place: Mt Penang Parklands
Muster workshop duration: 9am - 12 noon
Cycling distance: 8km (approx - including to & from event)
Calories burnt: 525
Heart rate: 158 max 92 average

The muster congregated opposite the Waterfall café near Mt Penang Gardens - at 9am on this slightly overcast Sunday morning.

Diane and Annette & cycled to the event (just across the road from home...), and Amanda drove up the hill to meet us with a bag full of laughs and slight dose of disorganisation: She'd arrived without her wallet and registration papers... but then absent-minds seemed to flourish; as I fell out of bed with less than 30 minutes to get ready; sent a "what are you wearing" text to Amanda before dashing out to my bike with my son holding my half-eaten banana and unlocking my bike for me... Diane left one of her registration forms at home as well, but was too excited to worry about it as she'd just cycled across the Central Coast highway to get to the event... We were all most eager to get started! During our check-in we were welcomed, ticked off the list and also got a brand new bright yellow hi-vis vest with reflector tape and the slogan "Get Back on Your Bike" on the back! Feeling spoilt and highly visible we waited for the introduction talk on the grass...

Introduction time...

Stage 1
The muster attendees were split into 3 groups (advanced, intermediate and beginners), somehow we landed ourselves in the advanced group and started our 'gears, hills & hand-signals run' by almost falling off our bikes (all excitement, no focus...). Our instructor had us weave between orange cones, cycle in single-file and give clear "this is what I intend to do signals" to our fellow riders, which prompted much laughing from a few silly bunnies in the group. After failing to react to the "Passing" signal (last weekend during the Newcastle to Dungog ride), I did my best to over-compensate, while Diane braved signalling right-hand turns & Amanda cycled along in pro-style (being clipped in et all).

After a few safe laps around the duck pond it was time to go further a-field and take on the big hill. By this time Amanda was getting worried "Is it like Kariong hill....?" she asked... I'd cycled through the grounds on a number of occasions but couldn't for the life of me remember what the hill was like, so I hesitated... which instantly confirmed the hill as very long and very steep. Little did it help that, Diane, who was riding her "Amsterdam special" bicycle, was told she wouldn't make it up the hill without gears and so had to wait at the top while the rest of the group careered down the hill in a spaced out fashion. Turns out the hill was neither very long nor very steep, but it was still a fun part of the exercise (and in hind-sight we figured that "Amsterdam special" would have made it as well). With 45minutes gone it was time to make our way back to the muster area for stage two...

Bunnies in new hi-vis vests...

Stage 2

Stage two was all about technical riding skills. Our instructor took us to the roundabout and showed us how to take fast corners (approach the roundabout at high speed, lean on the outside leg as you veer around the bend without losing balance or hitting anyone within a 50m radius...). This was a new skill for many of us and it was very exciting to feel that (although there's still room to perfect the technique) it actually makes a huge difference! Both Amanda and I agreed that we'd been leaning on the wrong leg before today, so this was a welcome addition to things we need to practice.

After our 'cornering practice' it was time to move on to group riding skills... We lined up in single-file and set off with our instructor at the front. We practised changing leader, pointing out debris on the road, signalling where to go and when to stop. There were quite a few laughs along the way as we 'lost' part of the group and then became a bit over-enthusiastic in 'pointing out' things along the way. After single-file riding it was time for a trial run of two-abreast "bunch riding". Our instructor, who was very informative and helpful, talked about the speeds you can reach when riding in a group like this and how professional riders will protect their 'sprinters' in the middle of the group so they are 'fresh' for the run to the finish line. With no lack of imagination - we felt highly peletonish as we zoomed yet another lap around the duck pond before meeting up at the muster area for stage three of our workshop morning.

Note the Amsterdam special vintage bike

Stage 3
Stage three was all about bicycle maintenance... Our instructor showed us how to fit our seat height, how to use a plomb to see if your seat is too far forward or too far back (or just right...). He then talked us through a list of maintenance checks:

• Keeping the chain nicely oiled (but not too greasy)
• Adjusting the breaks
• Adjusting the gears
• Checking the tyre pressure (and using the pump to put more air in)
• Helmet adjustment

As the other two groups came back, one lady performed a stunt trick: Her back tyre exploded with a monumental BANG!! We all jumped and some of us screamed... then the instructors assessed the situation thinking this may be a perfect opportunity to demonstrate fixing a flat... alas the whole tyre was split to bits, so fixing the inner-tube was put on hold - so instead we were told that this incident demonstrated only too clearly how hazardous it can be to use Petrol Station Pumps - a definite no-no as the pressure cannot be trusted...

The workshop concluded with a photo shoot near the Mt Penang Gardens and most of us stayed for a cup of coffee and a chat in the Waterfall café. On top of our fashionable hi-vis vests we also received a water bottle, a hand-towel and a entry pass to the gardens. As this workshop was a lot more practical compared to the first one we attended, we walked away feeling that we'd learnt new things, had a great time and been given lots of great hints (and treats) to try out in the near future - our instructors were friendly, positive & professional and provided us with a really good experience. 

Couldn't resist the mirror photo...

Bicycle muster group shot at the end...


Happy riding all and thanks for a great day!
Annette, Amanda & Diane :)

Newcastle to Dungog 90km

A 90km charity ride from Nobbys beach in Newcastle to the main street in Dungog...


Ride Stats:
Bunnies on board: Amanda & Annette
Distance cycled: 90km
Depart Newcastle: 6:45 am
Arrive Dungog: 12:30 pm
Time cycling: 5 hours 5 min
Total time: 5 hours 45 min
Calories burnt: 3000
Heart Rate: 164 max   132 average
Speed: 46.8km/h max 19km/h average

Before we dive into the tale of the adventure itself; here's a quick look at the map (and the elevation) of the ride to Dungog:

The Map:

Here's Amanda to take you through the first 50 kms of our ride:

The first hurdle for me was to work out how to get up at 3.15 am to go on a bike ride. I know I enjoy riding but to me that was a tad ridiculous … so rather than catch the 4.20am train I decided to drive which gave me until 4am to sleep (normally my bed time on the weekend), a much better alternative. Having been proofing and editing for most of Thursday and Friday afternoon I knew I would be tired so luckily for me I fell asleep by 9.30 – had a fairly good night's sleep and awoke ready for a challenge. Drove to Tuggerah in the dark to pick up Annette and went to the wrong side of the train station so poor bunny was cold and tired and had to come over to meet me. We attach Netti’s bike to the bike rack and set off on our merry way. We soon discovered that we both had chronic tooth pain and were acting tough to keep the pain at bay. Laughing all along the freeway we missed our turn-off to Newcastle and managed to find our way to Nobbys Beach by 6.05 am (God knows how, because neither of us knew where we going – especially Annette who happily told me she had worked in Newcastle for ten years and was sure she could direct us – NEVER listen to her directions!) – it was actually quite beautiful at this time of the morning & Netti and I prepared ourselves for mounds and mounds of riders, as they were expecting 500 but only 150 registered... We soon discovered how out of place we were when:

1. Annette was riding, wait for it – a mountain bike and 
2. I was riding, God forbid, a kind of hybrid road bike and 
3. We were not appropriately attired.

In the car park a couple pulled up two bays beside us and refused to look at us or even smile and lots more road bikers did the same. I cannot believe how snobby and unfriendly they were. We had prepared ourselves for this but didn’t actually expect so much snobbery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then a rather delicious man in a BMW pulled up opposite, got his bike gear ready and came over and asked if we were ok (either we looked so out of place or he fancied a bit of hanky panky) – I replied that we were fine so far and he said just to take it one step at a time – maybe he thought we couldn’t do it – WELL WE PROVED THEM ALL WRONG!

So off we trundle with our new shoes and pedals to the starting line and we discover that instead of five groups as promised there were only three and to be honest there only needed to be two groups – US and THEM. There were only about 7 people there who were not serious road racers and this made US rather nervous. These two ladies who were lining up next to us standing there all rather jolly and thinking the same thing, and... (as we found out when we met up with them for coffee in Dungog) disappointed at the lack of 'ribbons' on bikes! I spoke with one inspirational man who had just finished a night shift at Hunter Hospital and was doing the ride on his own. So we discovered there were at least three nice chatty people who we did see a little along the way and a man with the number 70 kept passing us and nodding and he even smiled at me at the café in Dungog.

I also found out that when a cyclist is trying to pass Annette and shouts ‘passing’ she stays in her spot (or goes into the middle of the lane) and makes them nearly get hit by a car on the freeway as they try and get around her.

So now to the ride – the first 50km were absolutely awesome – lots of speed and small hills along the freeway and Annette and I managed to ride together all the way. We passed a lot of racers sat on the side of the road fixing punctures or tightening their seats and I even smiled and asked one guy if he needed any help – me who can’t even put my chain on! He looked at me as if to say – you are not even on a road bike (I just pulled a face full of disdain then).

At the rest stop

We stopped at around 48km for a drink, a banana and a wee and Annette left me in the toilet talking to myself while she stood outside laughing. There was a young girl waiting and I thought we were all alone so I was rambling on about crap and telling Annette she didn’t even have the decency to answer me … blah blah blah. I was feeling really good at this stage and was even considering going to a party that night but then our ride on the freeway came to an end and we turned off on to BUCKETS WAY – the beginning of my HELL! Before we did that, we cycled past my inspirational night shift man and Annette said that she said to him that ‘if the coffee hadn’t set in she would meet him for a quickie’ – we both nearly fell off our bikes laughing.

Amanda :)

BUCKETS WAY and over to Annette


What a beautiful undulating road it was - Buckets way... Truly the first 20 or so kilometres were very similar to the terrain we cycle around the coast (undulating....), and even though Amanda may have forgotten; she did exclaim with glee "Oh we know this!" as we embarked on the first few gentle hills - though this was before the road turned to craters, potholes, bigger hills and and an edge shot to bits...

The scenic road...

As we left Buckets way and turned on to Limeburners Creek Road, pedalling further and further into a deserted countryside; the road followed suit and literally fell apart before our eyes. Worst was careering downhill full speed with no way of avoiding the many dips and bumps along the way - We screamed our way down the biggest hills (small part exhilaration - big part sheer terror!), somehow Lady Luck got us through with no stacks.

The mysterious clanking sound was back in my pedals, but thankfully it was random and didn't have the feel of 'this bike will self-destruct in 3 - 2 - 1... BANG!' about it, so I kept pedalling and managed to block out the sound most of the time... and then Amanda brought out her bag of jelly-beans!! We cycled up and down hills comparing favourite colours (white are the best, followed closely by, orange, yellow, blue, red, black, purple and even green...).

Biker Bunny endorsing jellybeans

 

more free product placement...

Cycling along we marvelled at how easy it was to clip in and out of our new pedals. Considering how little time we'd had to get used to the pedals and shoes, we were doing FINE! Numb toes was the only little glitch on the clipless horizon, which we remedied by stopping, taking off our shoes and lying flat on our backs on the deserted country road (although Amanda wasn't quite flat on her back thanks to the 2 water bottles in her back pocket...) - Just as we were getting ready to do some serious cloud watching.... deserted country road decides to dish up a CAR out of nowhere... So to avoid ending up completely flat; we clambered up, got back in our shoes and braved the road again, with toes feeling slightly happier.

Made it to the top of yet another hill!

The bumpy road...

...the beautiful countryside we rode through

We waved and said hello to the many lovely volunteers, who were spaced out along the way offering encouragement and showing us where to go. As we chatted with two very nice volunteers at the 18km to go mark; Amanda raised her concern about the number of 'serious'  riders dumping their rubbish along the way: energy food & gel wrappers, water bottles, bananas and even a pair long pants (!) Desperate weight minimisation (if that's what it was) seems a tad over the top; especially on a charity bike ride and particularly as cycling is supposed to be environmentally friendly... NOT COOL! We all agreed and went on to brave the next hill...

If you eat enough jelly-beans you hallucinate and see things up trees - like big Goannas! No that wasn't a hallucination - I actually spotted one and slammed on my breaks to take a photo, realized I was still clipped into my pedals and nearly hit the road in stand-still mode... somehow I got out of my pedals & even managed to capture the goanna as he looked down and waved from the tree.

A waving goanna...

We were stared at by cows, horses and goats (Amanda even tried to race a few in her delirious state towards the end...) as we clanked, pedalled and laughed our way along the deserted country road getting closer to Dungog with every pedal stroke. At one point we cycled past a big ute with a shady guy in a big hat standing beside the road (and a couple of 'touristy' looking people next to him), Amanda and I both looked at each other and said "Wolf Creek!!" pedalling off at speeds we didn't know we were capable of! A good imagination is sometimes useful if it helps you trick your body :D.

Amanda's chain fell off at one point; damsel in distress signals travel fast through the bush as she'd barely stepped off her bike before Mr Fixit arrived in his ute (not wolf creek man!) popped the chain on, and had her back on her bike in no time at all! The biggest hill of all was saved for last - it wound it's way up, up and further up into the clouds. Someone reported seeing a black snake on this hill, others went into complete delirium, while others again just pedalled on telling themselves that the top of the hill is just around that bend, or no just around the next bend.... oh bugger, maybe the NEXT bend then!! Although it was steep, the scenery was quite beautiful... and from the top we had the rewarding ride into Dungog: another mad downhill run followed by the flat cruise into town.

Only 4 km to go!

We made it into Dungog just before 12:30 (well before the 1:30 cut-off time...) and cycled down the main street on our very last legs looking for the balloons, fanfares and big sign "YOU MADE IT", only to find out (by one of the friendly volunteers, who did come up to us and give us the 'well done!' we so wanted to hear), that the 'serious' racers had had their BBQ and packed up and left... Feeling slightly forgotten, however soon turned into a treat when the friendly volunteer guy had a chat with the 'sag-wagon' driver Bill, who offered us a lift back to Newcastle (saved us waiting for the train)! We had coffee in Dungog with Bill and the two lovely ladies we'd met at the start, and then a very happy chatty lift back to Nobbys beach in Newcastle.

We made it!!!

...coffee in Dungog with Bill & the girls

By this time Amanda must have forgotten about not taking directions from me (or she was trying to give me a second chance..) somehow I had us weaving down the long way instead of the F3 and am now formally banned from giving directions - poor Amanda!

It was a fabulous ride and although tired at the end it was definitely worth every minute!
Stay safe and happy cycling

Annette :)