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 Carl Neadley on -
Another stunning Autumn morning! (Haven't we been blessed with great weather the last couple of weeks? Port Elliot excluded!). Only 60km this time due to proposed ride with Gully Grinders on Sunday. Thanks for your company Paul; kept me going at the beginning of the ride. Started to feel a little stronger as the ride progressed, and then decided on a little personal challenge - Gomersall Rd on the big chain ring...........which I managed, so was quite chuffed, and very much in need of the rest stop at Tanunda! The return trip was fairly uneventful for me - thanks for pacing me back to Gawler, Frank.
Only my third GW ride and I'm enjoying them more & more each time out - I feel an addiction coming on ! Helllllllppppp!!!!!!
Bad luck Gary - any ideas on the cause yet? Don't say weight because then you'll have me worried about my Merida! Glad to see that you've got things sorted out already - must help to have a couple of spares just lying around.........
Well done everyone who did the 100+ ....................another milestone.
Great pics Frank - really capturing the essence of the morning.
Hope to be back again next week for 4 in a row (damn addiction..................)
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Permalink Reply by Paul Koch on -
Great to hear you are enjoying the group rides. You can alway find someone to chat to or to give you a wheel. It was good riding with you at the start, especially when we can talk about cricket as well, what a brillant mix!
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Permalink Reply by David Thackray on
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Great ride, but a long way. Hit the wall at the 80k mark and fell off again in greenock trying to get the foot out of the cleat. Wilson assures me that you only ever do it twice. Looking forward to the next long ride. 10 speeds is the only way to go.
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Permalink Reply by john mills on
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You're a champion with your ten speeder David. But mate, its not true. Every now and then out there today I had this thought go through my head - 'This must be what it feels like to drive a Rolls Royce'. That's what my 'new' (7 years old actually) bike felt like compared to my old ten speeder. Smooth, quiet, easy to change gears, and . . .
f f f a a a a a s s s t t t :)
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Permalink Reply by Just another psycho-list on -
Lucky Wilson.
I did it three times thoroughly (including blood, pain and holes in brand new "Skins") and numerous other "almosts". Maybe I am just a slow learner...
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Permalink Reply by Paul Koch on
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Not quite an icicle ride, but cold enough to start with, for the 60 km ride.
It was officially a cold morning. I had brought out the winter gloves and the arm and leg warmers. So the autumn weather had set in, but like most autumn days, they turn sunny by mid morning.
To help me get going I found a warm east facing wall to prop my bike up against. I was sure this would warm the bike up for me.
Starts are always a twitchy affair, but when it’s cold you need extra caution before you hit the more open roads. With a bunch start it’s a fun challenge.
We rolled on to the start of Gomersal for the first real test. After riding it a few times, I have found if you find your rhythm, the road just rolls away under your bike.
Tanunda to Lyndoch seemed to zoom by. With Gomersal past us, everyone seemed happier to chat, so the K’s just slipped along..
Lyndoch was the final stop before finally heading home. So up Pimpala, a few turns and back to Gawler
Pimpala is a road, I find that comes out to meet you, but also gives you something back.
After you tackle each rise, quickly drop back on the rear, up on the front, and then push away. I find you then have enough to get you almost up the other side.
Then some twists onto Balmoral Road, which has a section of bitumen, I’m sure was laid by the cycling gods. It’s as smooth as glass. It’s hard not to enjoy the reward from effort across this section, even when you go up a short rise. From this rise, if you have a moment, you can see across to the Gulf!
So from here it was down to Gawler and coffee at Jaspers. It was another great ride with a happy friendly crew. And that’s what it’s all about!
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Was really looking forward to yesterday’s ride, knowing that it would be through some great scenic spots. It lived up to my expectations. I liked the leg between Greenock and the Kapunda road especially, since it had less traffic and allowed for more relaxed views of the surrounding rolling hills, and of the ranges in the distance, north-west of Kapunda.
I had done another longer training ride through the week, on Wednesday evening, just to build up a bit of strength to help me through on the day. Out to Nuriootpa and back – 96km. I reckon it helped.
I was a bit concerned that I would be the only slower rider on the long trip, and would arrive back at Jasper’s to be having my coffee and cake all alone. But Lyndelle came good on her hints that she might come along to keep me company. Thanks for that Lyndelle, it was great riding with you. Hope you are feeling a bit better today. You told me how you were tiring at Greenock, and was thinking about just turning around and riding back to Gawler. Very funny! That will teach you, tearing along between Angaston and Nuri. I had my work cut out to keep up with you along that Penrice Road! Finally caught up just outside Nuri. But it was happy days for both of us when we rolled into Jaspers. It was all worth it. Wasn’t it? J
Hey Lyndelle, FYI the computer said 22.9 km/hr average. That wasn’t too bad, considering I only managed a little more at 25.5 on Wednesday night when I was pushing along pretty hard on a far less hilly route. So I think we did pretty good for our experience.
A great route Wilson. Hope you and Frank will offer that one again not too far in the future. I am sure their will be a few more that will like to come along for the wonderful scenery. Lovely towns to ride through too - not just the glorious country side. And thanks for asking me to be a TEC. I felt priveledged and honoured! :)
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Permalink Reply by Lyndelle Barry on -
I'll take that 22.9! Far, far quicker than what I would have done alone - but who are we kidding, I would never have done it alone. You were a great TEC, I felt very looked after :)
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Thanks for your kind words Lyndelle. Hey, well done on the 100km girl! May there be plenty more to come. The first one hurts a lot, the next one a bit less, . . . Soon you will be like Pete - not worth getting out of bed unless its at least a ton! And thanks for dragging me around most of the course yesterday. I had a pretty good deal as TEC, getting to draft for most of the trip! :)
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Permalink Reply by Keith Davies on -
Reading the report and comments have only made me more cranky about missing this ton up ride. Unfortunately had a late night at Lyell McEwen (nothing personal or family related thankfully) then didnt get going until to late to make GW. Can now only sulk and look forward to Next Friday and Saturday, see you all then.
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Permalink Reply by Ol' Dr. Cadence (Mathew) on
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Wow, Congratultions Lyndelle on pushing through that 100km barrier, legendary! Gotta love GWs and all the different characters along the way. Gary WTF man, after seeing those pics of your broken back A section i immediatly went all over my bike...holy moly- Thats crazy and scary(like a cyclist version of a horror movie). Loved the West End jersey, i want one.
Where was I? cmon dont tell me you dont know, well unlike some people(smarter people than me..)who opted to take this weekend off due to injuries and illness....I went on a HELLRIDE(and it was only hellish to me) to Clare with regular AC member AVO, and good ol GW mate Peter.S and a bonus...Chewbacca AKA Rob! A whole bunch of blokes, minus Juz felt bit segregated, but we had a support driver- Sue. Wasnt the without ya Juz. Chewie got up to his usual shenanigans..meanwhile i was sick as a dog. If ive got one way to sum the ride all up this weekend it would be "ride for devastation", my average kept getting worse and worse and i could not hold onto the fast fellas ie. AVO and Peter.S. Went to sleep early Sat night, noisy country town kept me up a bit..but got some sleep. Woke up, nope no miraculous recovery..back on the bike. Felt bad coz everyone was looking out for me and waited, this is not usually me. Oh well, enough whinging for one weekend. pfft. night night. zzzzzzzzz
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