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 :)