Ride Updates

While the Biker Bunnies have been finding time to ride, there doesn't seem to have been much time to post about rides on our blog, which is why I thought on the eve of the  Loop the Lake  ride - I'd add some photos from our latest adventures...


November 2011 - February 2012
Gosford to Ettalong and back
A sunny pre-summer day in November, took us on a slightly longer than our trusted Gossie-Wossie ride... We continued past Woy Woy down to Ettalong - where we had a most interesting coffee experience (which included a lecture on the failures of making a strong coffee :P)... and a browse in the outdoor shopping arcade area, before embarking on the return pedal. All up this adventure covered about 35km.

Amanda at the start near Gosford Pool

Tor arriving in Woy Woy

The waterfront between Woy Woy and Ettalong

...hmmm interesting coffee indeed!

... couldn't agree more :)

Ettalong cycle path with the Jacaranda in full bloom

Gossie Wossie Rides and more...
Amanda and I fitted in a few rides to Woy Woy and back before the Christmas rush. Then early in the new year (after another bout of rainy days), Tor - with her brand new bike came along for an adventure along a slightly wetter bike path. After coasting along for years on her old (but still lovely) bike, Tor literally flew to Woy Woy and back on her aptly named (female) Stallion:

Coming out of the railway tunnel at Point Claire

Biker Bunnies with style :)

Amanda's bike is 'looking after' the new Stallion...

Early February Amanda and I did a hilly ride around Springfield (no camera on board for this one sadly). We started in Erina and cycled down towards the art gallery where we turned into the back streets of East Gosford and Springfield. There are a few decent hills along the way, which gave us a chance to grunt and pedal through the lower gears for a while. Almost at the end of our loop (finish line in sight),  yours truly came up with the idea that we could turn around and double back the way we came to make it a longer (and hillier) ride. Amanda delightfully accepted (you know she secretly loves hills...) and proved a star going up the mad hill where the round-about is painfully positioned before you get to the top... No time for coffee at the end of this ride, but it was still a fabulous adventure :)

Bike re-vamp...
After spending the early part of its life being pink it was time for mini-Amanda's bike to have a re-vamp. With spray cans and stickers at hand, we embarked on a mission to give her bike a new look. This involved cleaning the bike, pumping the tyres, oiling the chain and masking (some) areas before taking aim with the spray can - and here's the groovy result:

Hope you're all well and stay tuned for an update on the Loop the Lake ride which we're off to do tomorrow!

Annette :)

Winter rides 2011

The weather has been a bit all over the place with a mix of rain rain rain and some absolutely gorgeous sunny winter days thrown in to lift our spirits. We have done a number of bunny rides and in between these I've  been cruising up and down the old Pacific Hwy on my own (looking for bellbirds....) when the weather has been kind... So it's about time I update this blog with a few photos.

I've been thinking a fun project on bicycle would be to take photos of interesting signs... there are plenty about the place, just have to find a way to psyche myself into actually stopping to take the photo.

The Spring Cycle is just around the corner (early bird registrations end in 2 days!!!) so get your entry in and come on an adventure - they have changed the route this year to include the Botanic Gardens and a few more exciting places - so it's well worth the experience if just for the sight-seeing. :)

Amanda and I have traversed along the Gosford - Woy Woy track a number of times; stopping off for coffee at the Gnostic in Woy Woy, giving us a chance to giggle and collect ourselves before completing the second half of the ride. It's funny how the wind always seem to change on this ride - you ride into the wind no matter which way your are going!  One morning we did a cruisy ride from Mingara up to The Entrance and back. The ride itself was lovely - taking us along the bike path for most of the way - however, the start to our adventure was quite dramatic with magpies out in full force attacking anyone with a bike helmet! Luckily resourceful Amanda had plastic ties in her car which we fitted to our helmets! I figure it's ever so much better looking like someone who communicates with aliens, than lying flat on the ground after a successful magpie missile connects with your head!

In the school holidays Tor & I walked with our kids riding their bikes from Long Jetty up to The Entrance and back. It was a fabulous day out and even though we weren't riding we still got to walk at a fast pace with all the 'little' people on 2 wheels :)

This morning Janine and I rode from Gosford Gallery to Woy Woy and back where we had a coffee and another admiring look at the Mad Potters Tea Party (love your work ladies!!!). It wasn't quite as sunny as we'd hoped but still a lovely ride with just one incident with an angry lady and her lead-less dog... Everyone else along the way (and there were a lot of people out for a morning ride or stroll) were all very civil and pleasant.

Here are a few of the photos from the latest rides:

   Coffee spot no:1 in Woy Woy :)

   Mirror surface at the Woy Woy jetty

   Reception appears a little hazy....

   Yippeee! Made it half-way :)

   View over bushland and Gosford from the lookout on Kariong hill

Looking forward to more rides and SPRING which is just around the corner.

Annette :)

End 2010 Ride Wrap-up

Here's a little wrap-up of our latest adventures in 2010... Hope you enjoy the slightly belated photos, and hope to see you on lots of exciting escapades in 2011!

The Gossie - Wossie rides...

Amanda & I went on a few of these leisurely adventures in the last few months of the year. Armed with a good dose of humour, lots of silly laughs and a few hysterics; we cruised along the beautiful waterfront spanning the distance between Gosford and Woy Woy. In Woy Woy we stop for that delicious coffee before returning back the same way.

The stretch of road from just past Truscott & almost all the way to the Woy Woy bridge (not sure if that's the name... but it is a bridge and you can see Woy Woy 'towering' just after it :) ) offers a fabulous sprinting tempter to the ride. We mostly forget to record the exact time we leave Gosford, but always marvel at the 35+km/hour clocked along this stretch, believing we MUST have done it in record time...

Our last ride had an extra treat thrown in at the end: Amanda came up with the great idea that we should finish off with a swim in Gosford pool! Oh that blue, blue water and the sun shining from the blue sky! It was blissful and although I still had the ride up the hill before I could call it a day, it was a fabulous way to 'end' a ride. We could almost call ourselves tri-athletes (a bit of running around in the parking area would have sealed the deal for sure...) after our mixed workout.

     Posing at Gosford pool...

     It's hotting up... time to get out the sun-screen!

    Which way to Woy Woy??

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Tuggerah - Long Jetty - Entrance Adventure

At the end of November bunnies Tor, Amanda & Annette went for a slightly longer bike ride. It was a nice warm day (plenty of water needed) - just perfect for a ride with friends :)

Amazingly we all managed to meet up without anyone getting seriously lost... I caught the train to Tuggerah station planning to meet the girls at the start of the cycleway - but Tor & Amanda (who started from Tor's house in Forries) got to the end before my train got in & so they cruised down into seedy swampland for a hair-raising detour into the desolate forgotten side of Tuggerah. Quick back-track pedalling had them swing out onto Wyong road just behind me... unfortunately though, traffic drowned their excited yelling and obviously I didn't see them... so we all caught up at the Chittaway pub (& had a few beers before continuing in our dreams...).

The ride was lovely - weaving along the waterway on the cycle path to Long Jetty & then all the way up to the Entrance where we stopped for coffee. Fuelled on coffee we rode back the same way & continued on to Tor's house in Forresters beach where we all drank lots of water, after which, Amanda picked up her car & I waved bye to the lovely bunnies and rode on home.

    Someone at the back really wants to be in the photo...

    Tor & Amanda near Long Jetty

    This coffee bunny's got attitude :)

    I am So allowed another coffee - my iPhone says I can!

    It wasn't me...

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Mini Bunny Rides...

The kids and I have been on a few little rides close to home, checking out the horses and ducks across the road & riding to the local library. Ben is definitely due for a bigger bike: at the moment he's riding with his knees up near his ears poor kid, funny how they grow so quickly!

We went on one sunny adventure which involved a mix of road, pathway, roadworks and even some lovely scenery thrown in for good measure. Crossing the Pacific Hwy was precarious to say the least, with roadworks and a new crossing to contend with and lots of traffic. Once we got to the other side things quietened down and even the ducks came out to say hello...

    Crossing the Hwy...

    Cruising down the bike path :)

Apart from a bunch of solo rides this concludes our rides for 2010.

Happy riding to all of you in 2011!

Annette :)

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 :)

1st Bunny-ride for 2010

The Ride
18th January 2010 - Gosford Pool to Umina return 


Stats
Distance cycled - 50.2km
Speed - 16.5 km/h average 50.7 km/h max
Heart rate - 113 average 170 max
Calories burnt - 1440
Time - 4 hours 19 min incl stops


... and here's the adventure seen from the saddle of bunny Amanda:

An interesting article prompted me to write about our last bike ride from Gosford Pool to Umina Beach and back –

Extract:
"...It seems to have escaped the attention of a lot of bicycle riders that it is a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. It has also escaped their attention (to put it politely) that pedestrians do not have eyes in the back of their heads…"

I had a chuckle at this because we were cycling along this very path when an older lady (who I may add was right in the centre of the path) shouted at Annette ‘Would you like to cycle over me’ – Annette as usual was totally oblivious to this and had no idea the comment was aimed at her. Whilst I admit cyclists do (sometimes) need to be more conscious of pedestrians the same can be said of pedestrians who think they can take up the whole path and expect us wonderful health fanatics to veer into the grass and wave politely at them as if they were royalty………… there, I have had my whinge – now its all over!!!!!!!!!

This was actually a delicious ride, perfect weather and perfect company – Lou as usual up for a pose wherever she could and Annette laughing her merry way around the track. I surprisingly had a hangover and was not feeling to hot when I started but after a dodgy start I was raring to go (especially at the end when I discovered I had burnt 1000 calories).

Our first giggle of the day started when Lou told us that she wanted to go to the toilet even before we had started riding and that she wanted to go to the bike shop and get a stand on her bike. ‘No way’ I screeched – it will take hours and I was on a time limit. Dejectedly she cycled past the bike shop dreaming of her missed chance.

Posing bunny on our first stop

... more posing :)

Bunny Amanda in Woy Woy


Shortly after, Annette and I chuckled at the most intense cyclist we have ever seen – about 50 years of age with his lips tightly pursed and his eyebrows furrowed doing about 10kms – at least he was giving it a go!

Then we cycled along the beautiful Brisbane Waters to the end of Umina Beach where Annette and Lou both leaned their bikes up against the showers (no stand see) making it virtually impossible for any beach goer to have a shower.

We've reached our half-way mark

Note the bike having a shower...

3 beach bunnies


Acting like little pigs we stuffed our faces and then headed off to Woy Woy for coffee where Lou once again not missing a shopping opportunity headed over to ‘maybe do a little shop’. Annette couldn’t decide whether she wanted coffee here because last time we came, a little child had pooed in the toilets and you could smell it outside – too funny!!!!!!!! And no funny smells this time!

Posing coffee drinkers...

Back on our bikes and off home where I stopped every five minutes to see if I had got my dream job as Web Author at Sanitarium but alas I did not get the phone call til later in the afternoon and it was negative!

The beautiful waterfront ride!

Start gearing up for the 50km cycle from Cronulla to Homebush in the Go Girl Challenge March 6

Amanda :)

A Woy Woy escapade

It's been a week since this lovely Friday morning ride, time ended up running away, but it's never too late to add biker-bunny rides is it? :)

The Ride
31st July 2009

Riding bunnies - Amanda and Annette
Meeting point - Gosford pool

This ride could almost be dubbed "the little piggy ride" given that both of us had been incapacitated for over a week with the flu from hell - originating from pigs, swine, giraffes... in the end it didn't really matter: Being sick is boring enough! So... 2 brave and somewhat shaky bunnies met up at Gosford pool intent on clearing out the cobwebs.

This ride is turning into a bit of a bench mark, as we've now covered the meandering pathway between Gosford and Woy Woy quite a few times. The scenery is lovely, especially along the water, traffic is minimal which gives you more time to look at the scenery. The ride can be a leisurly one - or you can ride against the proverbial clock (some bunnies reckon it can be done in an hour flat ;) ). The pathway has a tendency to offer up surprises along the way; there are the giant puddles (mini lakes), aptly named 'wheel washes' or 'bum washes' depending on the speed you ride across the vast masses of water..., there are also the 5-yearold dare-devils on small bicycles hellbent on out-riding you, but doing so while weaving uncontrollably from one side of the path to the other - all the while looking behind to see if you're catching up (main thought in my head tends to be 'this kid is going to collide with a tree any second'). Apart from puddles and kamikaze bikers, there are birds and soccer players to brighten up the scenery as you make your way along the parkland, not a dull moment, and the lack of traffic makes it possible to have a chat along the way as well :)

So... as convalescing bunnies on bikes, we cruised along in the morning sun, taking things somewhat slower than normal, but still riding along at a happy bunny pace. At one point we even overtook two somewhat older guys on bikes, who referred to us as 'speedsters' - it wasn't the label we were expecting for the day, but we definitely wore it with pride and a laugh :)

A short break at the half way mark in Woy Woy, where we admired the silly fountain & took some photos, before embarking on the return journey. We got rid of the cobwebs and had plenty of sun on our faces, making it a truly enjoyable ride :) At office works we parted ways and Amanda cycled back to Gosford pool, while I cycled on up to Kariong, in waving good-bye we managed to break most traffic rules, including cycling on the wrong side of the road... still we safely made it to our destinations without needing the 'damsel in distress' card :)

The Stats
Riding distance - 24km (34.5 with down & up Kariong hill)
Riding time - approx 1.5 hours to complete the Gosford Woy Woy return
Heart rate - average: 120 max: 168



Stay safe and well and look forward to the next bunny ride :)