AUTUMN, A MOSAIC OF THEM ALL >> Gawler Wheelers Group Ride Report: Saturday May 5th 2012
Gawler Wheelers-ROUTE42-Gawler-Gomersal-Tanunda-Lyndoch-Cockatoo Valley-Gawler-UNDULATING
http://www.bikemap.net/route/1413759
Gawler Wheelers-ROUTE34-Gawler-Gomersal-Tanunda-Angaston-Greenock-Freeling-Gawler-UNDULATING
http://www.bikemap.net/route/1362775
No. of Riders : 48
TO JOIN GAWLER WHEELERS Group click >>http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/GawlerWheelers
*** TODAY's PHOTO GALLERY BELOW ***
Ride Summary
What a fantastic way to spend an AWESOME AUTUMN morning…riding through the beautiful Barossa Valley! 48 riders turned up for the Gawler Wheeler events this morning to do just that.
I met today’s newbie, Rob, on the road to the start point when he pulled up alongside me in his vehicle and yelled “ I have been looking for you!” Hmmm…”can’t be the cops” I thought, so he must be a newbie who is lost! I responded “just follow me mate...all roads lead to the Gawler Wheelers”
There were not many there at 7.00am…maybe low numbers due to the very cold weather we thought? Not the case….the numbers quickly built up! There was a big buzz in the crowd as people chatted about whether they would do the 100Km ride or the shorter 60km ride.
We all rode to Gomersal Road as one group. There the final decisions were required, and 17 brave riders elected to split off to ride the 100+km route through Tanunda, Angaston, Nuri, Greenock, Kapunda and Freeling. Whilst some who elected to ride the 100kms were used to this distance, for others it would be the first time riding over 100kms. One of those was a relatively new rider, Lyndelle, who gets a 10/10 for attempting the ride and completing it! A special mention to John Mills who assumed the TEC duties on this route and did a wonderful TEC job from all accounts. Those who rode this route will tell you more about the ride when they comment later however this comment from Darren may best summarise it: “the first 50km was great, the last 50km was hard!” More detail later!
The 60km group had the luxury of time as we took it a little easier and meandered down to Tanunda, Lyndoch, Cockatoo Valley and back to Gawler. Even a broken frame was not enough to stop Gary (Star Cycles) from completing the ride!
Both groups had fantastic surreal rides today. Surreal because accompanying us all morning was the awesome autumn ambience….aka the MAGIC AUTUMN MOSAIC.
NEXT WEEK: On Friday night we will be holding our second Gawler Wheelers Track Night at the Super-Drome. Due to the Track Night and today’s long ride, on the Saturday we will be holding one big group ride over a shorter, but still challenging, distance. Full details will be posted on AC Events soon and YOU are welcome to attend both events. Today’s photo gallery follows:
Newbie Rob finally gets to the start point↓
Mark: “It’s cold, it’s dark and I should still be in bed!”↓
Love the bike David!↓
All of the GW girls love Barry↓
Darren….what is your favourite colour?↓
Pete signing up for the 100km ride↓
Entering Kapunda Road↓
Lyndelle looking slightly spent at the 5km mark….but she did go on the complete the 104km ride in fine style!↓
Kapunda Road Regroup↓
Gritting the teeth on Roseworthy Road↓
Michael (L) with newbie Rob who is really enjoying his first GW ride↓
Clive (R) with TECs Mick and Richard. (Richard is that THE WHISTLE in your mouth?)↓
Regroup under the awesome autumn sky ready to tackle Gomersal Rd↓
100km riders split off from the main group at Tanunda↓
Family bonding. Brothers John (JB) and Tony↓
The GW young ones: Brendan, Gundi, Jonah and Carmen↓
100km Group Peloton entering the Nurioopta to Angaston Bike Path↓
Pete’s workshop at Angaston on how to change two flat tyres in two minutes↓
Gary at Lyndoch rings the Helpdesk about his broken frame↓
Juz, back on the bike after her big crash last week on the Port Elliot ride, runs into two friends at Lyndoch (Denise and Phil).↓
Mark and Daniel chasing down Pete on the 100km ride. Get him??↓
Basking in the autumn sunshine at Cockatoo Valley↓
Tony holding up a 1966 newspaper article about him winning a race in a Gawler Junior Cycling Club event↓
Article close-up. By the way….46 years later Tony still always rides at the front of the bunch! You can see him in action at Friday's GW Track Night Event↓
Wilson and Pete arrive back from the 100km ride↓
What an awesome autumn ride! 104kms and 30.8kph average! (Darren).↓
Gawler Wheelers is all about comradeship, fun, fitness and chasing our dreams. Join the GW group on AC. Come on our rides. Contact details below. Until next week >> Cheers for now...Frank.
http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/GawlerWheelers
Next Gawler Wheelers Event Details (check the following links) :
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lee Bakes on -
Another awesome ride. It was nice to see Gomersal Rd and even nicer to see it disappear. Feels like the hills are getting smaller!
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Permalink Reply by terry heney on -
How's the seat going Lee ???
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Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on -
Well done guys!
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Permalink Reply by Gary Mills on -
Was really enjoying that ride today until the climb out of Rowland Flat. I think my bike is telling me something - lose around 15Kg. I've changed my avatar to remind me.
Thanks to Frank and his patented frame repair kit, I made it back to Gawler safely albeit a little slower and more cautiously up the hills.
Frank's Patented frame repair kit - why he had a garden tie in his bag I'll never know but I'm happy he did!
Frame without Frank's repair kit
Just as well I had my new frame ready to go and all is well. Components all swapped over and ready for Gully Grinders tomorrow.
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Permalink Reply by Lee Bakes on
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Tough luck, Gary. I don't think your frame was telling you to lose 15kg. I think your components were telling you they wanted to be on the new frame and broke this one in protest. ;)
Hope the new frame goes well!
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Permalink Reply by terry heney on
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Bloody hell Gary.. Glad the frame didn't totally collapse when you were on it.. Didnt you have that bike serviced Monday ?
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Permalink Reply by Gary Mills on
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Rode around 20k with the frame broken at around 25-30k on flat but slow in lowest gear up any hills.
I've had the new frame for nearly two weeks and just hadn't had a chance to swap the parts over.
Now I'll have two new frames. I'll give the guys at Merida a call on Monday and get a warranty replacement. Was planning to build the old one up with some old parts and use as a work ride with carrier and guards for winter but may change my plans now.
Rebuilt bike all ready to go
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Permalink Reply by terry heney on
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Clever bugga.. Now go loose some weight LMAO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! joking Gary....
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Permalink Reply by Craig on -
Looks very nice for a red bike. Lucky you just had one sitting around the shop haha
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