Cruising to Woy Woy

Another adventure along our well travelled path to Woy Woy, narrated by bunny Amanda; enjoy :)

The Ride Stats

Bunnies on board: Amanda and Annettte
Meeting place: Near Adcock Park
Distance cycled: 28.2km
Time spent cycling: 1 hour 40 min
Total adventure time: 2 hours 10 min
Calories burnt: 895
Heart rate: 119 average 173 max
Speed: 16.1 km/h average 47.6 km/h max

Being caged up in the rain certainly made Annette and I somewhat keen to get back on our bikes – even though Annette had just completed the 100km challenge. With somewhat dubious weather, as soon as we saw a break in the clouds we jumped on our bikes and set off on a gentle ride to Woy Woy and back. We passed lots of happy cyclists along the way and had a couple of laughs as Annette and I put tissue paper in our ears to try and stop the wind from giving us headaches, but Annette had to take them out because she felt like she was cycling underwater. We came across a large amount of dog poo on the path which set Annette off on a rave about ‘why didn’t they just let their dogs shit in their lounges and how rude they were.’ It WAS rather a large poo!

The detrimental tissues in ears 

At our usual coffee stop at Gnostic Manna, we run into Ann Maree and some rather unusual characters. While ordering coffee Annette gets into a funny conversation with a cyclist:

Cyclist comes to a halt on the pavement and asks Annette "How are you feeling?".... "Good Good" she replies, whereby cyclist exclaims: "Well I'm feeling GREAT now that I've STOPPED!" 
Then we see a large array of weirdo’s. First of all, a man dressed in full on ski-like attire starts chatting to Annette’s new cycle friend whilst he smokes a cigarette and looks like he should have a set of skis in his hand, an old man walks past in two pairs of jeans, which has Annette staring in amazement whilst he stares back at her and then a little old lady with a 10 foot turban on her head rambles past. It was almost like we were in a movie script for Jumanji or something ... vey funny indeed!

On our way home we cycled past a lady walking her dog (off the lead) and Annette disappeared into the distance as I shouted ‘The dog is not interested in you … it is not even looking at you’ – poor Annette really doesn’t like dogs which makes it difficult for me because I am not that comfortable with them either and I have to chase her every time at jaw breaking speeds. At the underpass we also passed a couple of lads who shouted ‘oooh it is slippery down here’

Then when we reached our departure point we had a giggle whilst we both tried to mount our bikes whilst pushing off with one leg and cocking the other one over the saddle … sounds rude especially since we had also been talking about places to route our bikes (but we meant root).

Unfortunately we didn’t go into another world today but once we have worked out our time frames, fantasy land here we come.

In the sun-glass world...

Amanda :)

Friday stroll to Woy Woy

The Ride
Gosford to WoyWoy return - 26th April 2010


Bunnies on board: Amanda and Annette
Meeting place: Gosford pool
Distance cycled: Amanda: 24km Annette 33km
Speed: 16 km/h average 45 km/h max
Time riding: 2 hours 20 min
Time it took us all up: 3 hours 30 min
Calories burnt: 1213
Heart rate: 115 average 173 max

With bunny-Amanda still in recovery mode with her ligament-outed back, we met up on this fine Friday morning to ride to Woy Woy and back... We had arranged to meet by the pool at Gosford and I was happily on my way to our meeting place when suddenly out of the blue, I was YELLED at: A guy waiting at the lights on the other side of the road decided to vent his morning anger at me as I road past in the opposite direction... He threw in a few F***-ing for good measure (where one was referring to some idiot and the other was referring to some road...)... Although it wasn't nice to be yelled at, I can see the similarity with the kid in the sandpit yelling "GET OUT OF MY WAY" to the cat up a tree 50m away... There are a few (not many - truly most people on the road are ever so nice) so called motorists who need to take a good look at how they behave on the roads... a tonne of metal is a strange thing to hide in, while directing your anger at people you've never met... Yes... driving can be frustrating - there's roadworks, delays and the general stress of getting to places on time. But if you think about the real risk involved in doing something stupid - and not getting there at all: Is it really worth it??

Anyways, with that little debacle way behind me, I found myself at the pool with time to spare, and waited for bunny Amanda by the fence... Low and behold my surprise when I spot an orange flouro vest zipping around the pathway at the back of the pool! Quick! jump on bike and catch up - silly me, I was waiting in the wrong spot :) I caught up with my fellow rider just by the boat ramp and got to admire her new and very exciting bike! Black Beauty is very flash indeed and oh so suits our fashionista bunny! We set off on our merry way, chattering all the way to the bridge - and beyond... for with her new bike bunny Amanda can come out of the closet and happily embrace her secret love of hills!

We kept up a nice pace along the pathway, there were a few people out walking which we said hi to, my bell had stopped working so I did the loud HI, Hello and SORRY, while Amanda rang her bell double time... The sun was out and it was a fabulous morning to be riding. So fabulous that we were both overcome (as you too would be...) by a compulsion to YODEL & YOHOO riding through the railway tunnel at Point Clare. Meeting Mr Serious biker halfway into the tunnel was such a contrast that we ended up in stitches laughing our heads off... we honestly don't strive for this half-mad image, it just happens... ;)

Once we'd passed Point Claire we zipped out into the bike lane on Brisbane Water road, where we stretched our legs and picked up the pace sitting on about 24km/h all the way into Woy Woy. Ahh the wind in our hair and the water views - just lovely!

Getting to our half-way coffee stop at the Gnostic café had us bumping into a gang of 'senior' bike riders, all out on a Friday adventure. Amanda had properly dismounted to cross the road, whilst I was sort of straddling and trying to walk half-dismounted (bit indecisive there...) and at the same time attempting to smile, wave and say hello to the above-mentioned gang of riders.... It's a wonder I didn't lose my balance completely and fall over! We had our coffee (which was divine) sitting outside with a fabulous view... across the street, where Amanda had spotted this dress she simply just HAD to try on....(the short story to that adventure is that yes the colours were fabulous, but the cut was a disaster... and it all ended with this little voice calling for help from the change cubicle and both of us making a quick exit, leaving the shop girl to fold a pile of bedspreads which I'd been looking at... oh dear!)

Waiting for coffee... 

 

Mad...? oh no not me!

We started on our home-run with all going smoothly. A quick water stop on the side of Brisbane Water road provided a photo opportunity, where I managed to capture that elusive bunny...

 

Catch me if you can!

Water..... ahhh :)

One happy biker bunny

Everything was going ever so smoothly until my phone rang... I'm never good at finding things in my bag (even when off my bike), so to try and get the stupid phone out of the bag before it stopped ringing had me swearing at the phone while emptying my bag on the side of the road... Naturally I didn't find the phone in time and proceeded to tell Amanda what a stupid phone it is, that despite me extending the time it rings for - it still makes sure it stays hidden for those extra couple of rings... However the person who had to listen to my little sermon about phones wasn't Amanda at all, but some innocent bike rider who in the corner of my eye was posing as Amanda... I laughed and said sorry and hopped back on my bike to find Amanda laughing her head off down the road, with her camera ready... 

Phone safely put away and smile back on...

Somehow we managed one last incident just as we were parting ways (I continued up Kariong hill, while Amanda rode down past Adcock park and back to the pool)... Excitedly I was telling Amanda about my very first karate lesson and hopped off my bike to show her one of the moves, I think I asked her to hold her arms up and then I flailed my own arms in something supposed to resemble a 'block'. Who should ride past just as I'm performing the most vicious karate chop on the most innocent bike rider ever...??? The 'senior' gang of bike riders chose the perfect moment to appear out of nowhere! So... with our mad image intact we said our goodbyes and continued on our laughing merry ways.

Happy safe riding all and hope ride soon again!
Annette :)


And...... bunny Amanda has a few lines to add:


Annette has the ride well and truly summed up except I may add that when we sat down for coffee two notable things occurred:

• A vintage stationwagon pulled up next to us and out of the car climbed five old people all in their 70s and 80s having a quick coffee before they went on the ferry to Palm Beach. They were a chatty lot and even told us we had had long enough for our coffee and should jump on our bikes and keep riding – they were all jolly cute
  
• The dress looked absolutely stunning on the model (as always) and I in my delusion state thought it would look just as good on me, so after coffee we mosey on over and I get the dress of the manikin and run into the changing room all excited about such a find. However after trying for a couple of minutes I realized there was no zip so yanked it over my head and squeezed into it – silly really because I had to then try and get it off. Now I was in my trainers and I did have my bike pants on underneath but I looked absolutely hideous, more so than at the Hunter Valley, and that is saying something. I really did look like a homeless person this time. SO after laughing hysterically at myself I had to get Annette to come in and help me get it off because try as I might I really couldn’t get it over my head. After a bit of yanking and fear that I may rip the bloody thing, Annette showed me the trophy dress in her hand all safe and sound. Then the shop assistant showed me a similar patterned dress kinda A line with a biker back top half which looked even worse on me…… so we left the shop dejected but ready for our ride home.

And I also have to add, that when Annette was karate chopping me we weren’t just laughing – we were hysterical to the point that Annette nearly fell off her bike…. All in all another mad adventure with The Terminator!

Amanda :)

Gear Up Girl

The Gear Up Girl ride from Cronulla to Homebush, runs on the weekend closest to the International Womens' Day (8th March) and supports the Children's Oncology Foundation. The ride itself is 55km long and was held for the third time this year, with lots of happy bike riders weaving their way up through the back streets and park lands of Sydney. 3 of our biker-bunnies made it down to the ride, sadly a number of our friends were injured and had to sit at home with drooping bunny ears, although we definitely had you all in our thoughts along the way! Hopefully we'll all make it down next year - it truly is a magnificent ride!

The Ride stats
Bunnies on board - Tor, Vickie and Annette
Rise and shine - Hideously early - 4:45am from Vickie's house!
Ride start time - ~ 7:45-8:00 am Cronulla
Distance cycled - 55km + 7km back into Homebush after the ride
Speed - 17 km/h (average) 42 km/h (max)
Time cycling - 3 hours 20 minutes
Total time (start to finish) - 3 hours 40 minutes
Add-on ride time - 35 minutes
Total Calories burnt - 1829
Heart rate - 129 (average) 176 (max)
Stops along the way - 3
Weather - Brilliant! no rain, just lovely weather!
Attire - Bunny ears (Tor & Annette)

The trip down to Cronulla turned into a luxury ride thanks to Vickie and her husband Gerard, who drove us all the way down (THANK YOU :)). Our bikes travelled on the the back of the car (sitting on the most snazzy looking bike rack!) and we arrived in Cronulla with time for a coffee before the start, what more could you wish for?

Once we had unloaded the bikes and put Vickie's wheel back on her bike, we lined up: first in the toilet queue, then in the start queue... The sun was rising and the clouds looked as though they weren't planning to dump bucket-loads on our heads, so with a dose of caffeine running though our veins we were ready to go! Bunny-ears firmly strapped to 2 helmets (Tor's and mine... Vickie decided she would steer clear of the bunny ears for today, so she'd be able to talk us out of any trouble we may find ourselves in...), the ride had begun...!

 Vickie and the very cool bike rack

 Bright and cheery Tor

 

 The Cronulla start

We cycled through the back streets and along some absolutely beautiful bike paths, which took us through parklands and along the waterfront at Botany Bay. I saw parts of Sydney I've never seen before, and discovering these hidden pockets from the saddle, was a lovely experience!

We did have a laugh at the (small) number of guys who forced their way into this all GIRL ride... only so that they could go "PLING PLING" and overtake as many girls as possible, elbowing their way past with an air of  importance and arrogance. There weren't many of these creatures, and in fairness I came across one or two guys who'd sort of been 'pulled' into the group on their morning ride, so pretty much had no choice but to ride with us for a while, ...but the ones who obviously sought out the ride just to do an elbow display; left us with raised eyebrows and a small laugh :D Imagine if us girls had gate-crashed an all boys ride..!

As we rode along the waterfront at Botany Bay we watched several jumbo jets take-off and land, the landing strip was just across the water, in full view - it's amazing we managed to stay on our bikes with all the Ohhhs and Ahhhs!

 3 bunnies cruising down near Botany

 

And this champion was worried about finishing...!?

 

Happy bunny :)

There were bicycles in all shapes and sizes along the way: retro bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes and custom bikes. It was fun to ride along in a group, especially once we got out of the initial bottle-neck and the pace picked up a bit - everyone was very friendly!

At rest stop number 2; the two bunny-ears took friendly to a new level by delving into the lion's den and posing with two police bikers. These guys rode the whole way on their very cool police mountain-bikes. We didn't see them make any arrests (nor did we see them attending to any unfortunate stacks, which some of us witnessed in the Spring Cycle, when 2 Policemen rushed to Collette's assistance when she flew over the handlebars), but we did see them riding along smiling and waving, so we grovelled for a fan photo and here it is:

 Cops and Bunnies...

We met up at each rest stop and Vickie made sure that the facilities were tested and rated accordingly. They all pretty much lived up to her expectations, apart from the last one, which was wanting slightly due to having run out of paper...

Nearing the end of the ride we rode through the wetlands surrounding Homebush bay, this is where the lucky frog resides (the one who saved the wetlands when they were building the Olympic stadium), I didn't see him, but I'm sure he's very happy as it is a lovely area!

 On the home run 

 

Here comes Bunny Tor!

 Vickie nearing the finish line!

We got to the Homebush Bay finish, and received a bag of goodies - and an oh so refreshing cup of Cranberry Juice! Then we hung around for a short while listening to the over-enthusiastic Jazzband from Sydney Uni..., before we hopped back on our bikes and rode into Homebush where Vickie's car was waiting for us.

 

We did it! :)

Thanks for an amazing ride girls, it was a hoot and I hope we can all do it again next year!
Happy riding!

Annette :)

Holiday Wrap

Well bunnies... it's been a while since our last post, what with school holidays and the silly season throwing all sorts of time-juggling challenges into the mix. Although we haven't quite managed to maintain our weekly bunny rides, I've done a few (shorter) solo rides, and we've also had some exciting adventures with mini riders, so I thought I'd quickly update you on these before plunging into our exciting new year of riding....

Adcock Park to Point Clare return
This ride was a true adventure! 8 kids and 4 mums met up at Adcock Park on a slightly overcast (becoming HOT) January Friday morning. Having managed the feat of wrangling 12 bicycles out of 4 cars we set off in (impressive) single file, cruising down the pathway from Adcock park. The short "close to traffic" stretch across the bridge and down past the RSL, had one of our mini-bikers miffed, as the fence decided to have a lend of her handlebars (how very rude indeed)!! It was quickly decided (by mini-biker) that it was all the bike's fault... so bike ended up in the corner of shame, padlocked to the fence, while mini-biker got the escalated and more comfortable position riding on the back of mum's bike....

Once we were on the waterfront pathway, all was going very cruisy and quite speedy until the first stack of the day landed our next mini-biker on her nose... Luckily mum had brought pain-killers (chocolate gold coins definitely work!) which saw our brave little champion back in the saddle sporting 2 band-aids and a smile, ready to conquer the rest of the ride. We rode on past Point Clare to the most perfect picnic spot, where we took a break and had our snacks before pedalling back the same way.

On the way back there was another stop thrown in at the play ground in West Gosford, before it was time to cruise on back to the starting point. Once back at Adcock park we snuck on to the velodrome for a few laps to wrap up our adventure. All up it was a success with kids managing beautifully and the weather (although quite hot at the end) holding up nicely.

Riding Stats:
Distance Covered - 13 km
Maximum Speed - 34.5 km/h
Average Speed - 11.3 km/h
Active Riding Time - 1 hour 5min
Adventure Total Time - 3 hours 35 min
Calories Burnt - 570
Heart Rate - 85 average 166 max
Band-Aids - 2
Sunscreen - Plenty

Well done to all of you! :)
----------------------

Velo Ride in Adcock Park

A sunny Saturday afternoon, the kids and I took our bikes down to the velodrome where we rode around and around.... and around :) It was a thrill! The surface is great to ride on and can be a perfect training-course when you just want to zone out and do something different to undulating hills and flats. Kids loved it and set up a pit stop at the beginning of the lap (with water bottles secured to the fence for refreshment). There was ample commentating of the event, which could be heard all the way around the track...
"... putting in that extra pedal power as I come up behind one of the track champions... will I make it past? The crowd is looking... legs are hurting... the ULTIMATE pedal technique is going to get me past.... Oh look there's a bird! I think it's watching, yes it is! Oh maybe it's going to do the long-jump... you know some birds are very good at the long-jump! I can see the pit stop coming up.... I swerve, I dodge.... skid to a stop.... grab my drink bottle.... PERFECT!...."

We finished off our lap-adventure by hanging and stretching on the poles rigged up just outside the velodrome, happy to do a repeat performance of this one any time :)

Riding Stats:

Distance Covered - 16 km

Maximum Speed - 31.5 km/h

Average Speed - 21.5 km/h

Active Riding Time - 45 min

Adventure Total Time - 1 hours 15 min

Calories Burnt - 533

Heart Rate - 129 average 169 max

:)