GO FOR BROKE! 2016

A great ride with 17x determined Randonneurs from Berowra to Broke in the NSW Hunter Valley. This event raised over $10K for Beyond Blue in the fight against depression. Check details of my ride and pics on Strava. Donate to Beyond Blue to help in the fight against depression at my fundraiser page. Click here for the 8min YouTube video

SICBUG rides Sept 2016

SCC Ride for a Reason 2016

6am start at Centennial Park means the alarm goes off at 4am! B2 bunch this year left with 18 riders lead jointly by Fran and Sam. With Sam on the front it was a brisk pace along Southern Cross Dr and down to Sutherland. Sam punctured at Sutherland shops. Then he punctured again at Ingleburn. Then he broke a gear cable at Helensburgh. Time to pull the pin! After a brief stop at Stanwell Tops the bunch motored along Seacliff Bridge and the rolling climbs through Thirroul and Bulli. Another puncture stop at Bulli Beach. Terrific food and coffee at North Wollongong although the wait for food was a nuisance.  After a solid clip through Wollongong to Dapto and Albion Park. On to the big climb of the day  at Macquarie Pass. Motor Cycle left the road on one of the tight hairpins. A lady had to be winched out of the bush and helicoptered out. Pies and coffee were popular at Robertson and vests and jackets were needed for the remaining 30kms into Bowral. Temperature dropped from a pleasant 22 degrees in Wollongong to 15 at the top of the Pass. A beer and sausage on a roll at Bowral capped off a great day on the bike. Check out my ride on Strava

SICBUG Ettalong (via Kariong)

Today was an excursion into the northern parts, and a test for the "mustard" riders (as in "Keen" as...). The 6am off was probably a limiting factor as most SICOs were probably still ensconced under their doonas. Leader Lefty Wright delivered the ride briefing with a warning that lack of bike kms in recent weeks could require the group to "carry" him up the final climbs. Fortunately this didn't eventuate and our group of 6x all managed to stay aboard our bikes and survive the fairly testing course. Lefty, Sam, Craig, Bro Pete, Ian (AKA Roger Wilko) and myself cruised to the top of the first climb at Mt White. Speed at the front provided by Ian meant that we were running ahead of schedule. After leaving Ian at "Old Road Cafe" (he returned on the same course) we set out for Calga and Kariong via Mooney Creek gorge. And what a beautiful part of the world it is! Early morning sunlight (and not too many motos) plus the ringing of the Bellbirds made for a most enjoyable climb. After descending on the new "improved" surface of Kariong Hill it was Sam who led us at speed along Brisbane Waters Drive with Lefty leading the way through the back streets of Woy Woy to the ferry (and coffee) stop at Ettalong Beach. After coffee and (rushed due to slow service) breakfast we joined the ferry for a pleasant cruise across to Palmie. A quick regroup and water stop at Church Point prepared us for the final climb to Terrey Hills. Beer and lunch at Papas St Ives capped off a perfect morning on the bike. Thanks to Dave for his organisation and lead, and to all of our small band of bikers for their company. Check ride details and pics on Strava

SICBUG Cottage Point Church Point

All the SICBUG fathers were busy attending their Fathers Day activities today, so the ladies almost outnumbered the men on todays ride. 7am St Ives at the "off" were Ride Leader Anne, Jill, Caroline, Jane and Sophie  (Craigs daughter) along with the men including Sam, Craig, Neil, Mustafa and yours truely.
A quick trip out to the Cottage Point turn-off and the girls were happy to assign the climbing duties to the men. Craig and Sophie opted to miss the joys of clambering out of Cottage Point in favour of a trip to West Head. The four remaining males went to the bottom of Cottage Point to sample the delights of the 23% 300m ramp. After a slight mechanical halfway into the steep section I got going again after walking 150m. At the top the 4 waiting ladies offered their encouragement as we each sweated our way over the crest.
After a brief attempt to split the ride into two parts - the girls "soft" option to head straight back to St Ives versus the mens "lets stay on the chosen path" option, we all stayed together and cycled out to the scenic turnaround at Church Point. At the top of McCarrs Ck Rd we met Craig and his daughter Sophie again and ambled back to Eden Cafe while Sam and Neil did their lap of the Terrey Hills Golf Course. Weather conditions were perfect and announced the start of the spring cycling season. Check out my ride and photos on Strava