Audax Perth 25th Anniversary Ride

I want to sincerely thank Perry and all his volunteers who organised a fabulous ride to celebrate 25 years of Audax in Perth.


It was my first ride that included support at each check point. What a great way to get through the 200km. The volunteers were friendly and cheerful when Glen and I rolled in. This gave me extra incentive to get to the next checkpoint. At Chidlow, food was saved for us, the kettle had just boiled and there was still plenty of pumpkin soup and fruit cake.

The ride itself was brilliant. The Gazelles bolted and Glen and I settled into a comfortable pace. A couple of buddies cruising along on recumbents catching up on the latest, sun shining and the scenery picture perfect. In some sections it felt like I owned the road as there was no traffic at all. Glen is very strong up the hills as I struggled to maintain the same speed. Brilliant when you realise how effortlessly he floats the 17kg trike uphill as if was a sub 9kg roadbike.

The challenges of the day were of course completing within the time limit, the long climb out of Bindoon and Toodyay. I had never done the Bindoon hill before and it wasn’t until I was half way up it that I realised… this is it…and with a nice high cadence got over it and into Dewar’s Pool Road.

The last time I crawled out of Toodyay it was 35+ degrees, on my own and I only just made it with a mechanical issue on the rear wheel. This time riding with Glen, we paced ourselves up the steep inclines and they seemed to flatten under my pedals with no hint of distress.

There is no shoulder on the Great Eastern Highway section and I was very happy to get off it into Coates Rd. Into Werribin Rd, the Checkpoint crew waved as they drove past and I mistakenly thought Wooroloo was the Chidlow checkpoint. How my heart sank and mind played games with me. I really struggled on the last section into Chidlow.

Refreshed after the compulsory checkpoint stop, my Ayups lit up the road and it was very reassuring to see so far ahead. Out on the country road without any street lighting, those lights showed their brilliance.

The shoulder on Great Northern Highway is very wide and smooth with little debris along the way. Trucks and cars could be seen in the rear view mirror long before they could be heard. And finally the last checkpoint with all those wonderful people congratulating us and feeding us. It had been a super long day for them and without their cheery support the ride would have been very tough indeed. So once again, many, many thanks to Perry and all the volunteers for such a memorable ride.

First No Cycling Week

No cycling this past week as I took the family on a Bali holiday.
Very relaxing and lots more bicycles in and around Kuta than ever before. Cycling is even taking off over there. Next time I will hire a bike and ride along the beach paths which are long and smooth.

Now I have the flu pretty bad and so will have to wait for that to clear up before riding.

Cadel fell and broke his elbow while I was away. He won't win the TDF this year either. :(

Canning Bridge to Claremont and return

I joined Rob and we did a loop ride, staying with the Freowheelers Thursday group.
Pace was very solid and we slowed after major hills for the not so proficient hill climbers to catch back on.
Very pleasant and dry but very cold.
We peeled off at the roundabout at Christchurch Grammar.
On the way back we did a loop of Kings Park. It was dark and colder than near the river.
Very happy as no pain in my right ankle and my right leg is getting stronger. Evidenced by the again higher gear used to climb hills in Kings Park and the ease at which I stayed with the group.
Half an hour after finishing a very big storm hit Perth.
No more riding until it blows over.

Sunday ATTA marshall

I did not ride but instead marshalled in the zero Celsius condition while over 100 cyclists challenged the 20km course a Champions Lake.
Good event with the fastest in the high 40s.
Again I did not ride and came home and relaxed, happy to watch the football.
The next two weeks I have lots of time, so am planning to ride everyday, no matter the weather.

If my ankle gets better and better I may have a chance of starting the PAP in October, but must do at least one 600km first.

Saturday chills

I missed the Freo Wheelers ride because I was absolutely tired and it was freezing cold.
Instead I did and afternoon ride upto Christchurch Grammar.
The river and surrounds were picture perfect.
What I planned to take 90 minutes was only about 70 minutes.

I am happily having some new treatment on my ankle and have found some new power and speed.

Bragging Rites

Just have to post as I am really pleased with myself.
This morning's ride was an OMO (On My Own) ride. The others didn't show.
The Shelley loop was the usual, but instead of finishing at Canning Bridge, I chose to cross the river at Mt Henry Bridge and ride down the East side of the River, under Canning Bridge to the Narrows.

Time going under Canning Bridge was 6:50am
Time at the Narrows turnoff was.........6:58am !!

Amazing! :) I did bridge to bridge in under 10 minutes, very still conditions, no tailwind!!
You little ripper! That is a 37.5kmh average. I have been smiling all morning. :) :)