Gully Grinders Ride Report: GG > Chain of Ponds > Kersbrook > One Tree Hill > GG
Thirteen riders braced the foggy morning for our assault on the north eastern hills. Again, it was wonderful to see so many new faces, as well as our regular riders! A bit of a reversal of our usual routes saw us slogging up the Seaview/Range Rd's rather than careening down them. The ride around Chain of Ponds was spectacular and moody with some low lying fog. A refuel and pitstop at Kersbrook was in order before tackling the challenging Col de Kersbrook. Paul was the first to be visited by the puncture fairy on the descent from the Col. The evil little sprite struck again just at the top of Blacktop Rd, where she also tested my patience - fixed the puncture, only to rip the top off the presta valve removing the pump - doh! Another tube change and we were once again on our way. Another slog up the Grove Way and we were back at Prices to warm up. Thanks to Terry for letting me know it was John's birthday today just as we disbanded, Happy Birthday John - I enjoyed our chat at the bakery! I hope you had a lovely ride and rest of the day today!
Gearing up at the start...
I'm sure there is joke here somewhere... :-)
Birthday boy John and Carl back at Prices. Sorry I forgot to take a group shot back at the bakery!
Edit: map of today's route :-)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by terry heney on -
Great pics... great to be able to actually see the country side and relax... I see I wasnt in any pics? reason being I was too far up the front riding :) hahahaha YER AS IF...or maybe I was trying to find a Roo behind a tree ? LMAO. In any case we had a great group ride..
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Permalink Reply by Mr. Mapei on
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Pete and I were discussing bottom brackets - and associated problems. I've never had any problems with Shimano DA - but FSA is becoming a somewhat different experience... <sigh>.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Bland on -
Check out these ,, HSC (Australian) ceramic bearing ,bottom bracket kits : http://www.hscceramics.com.au/HSC-Bike-Ceramic-Bottom-Bracket/onlin...
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Permalink Reply by Michael Bland on
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I missed the start today ,due to waking up to a flat ,but after riding out to GG I thought I might as well head to the hills & try & find them.Not really knowing where I was going I went up One Tree Hill Rd and thought I'd try a right into Seaview Rd & then I was ecstatic to see Gemma & Paul coming at me just as they were about to turn onto Range Rd .(what a jag that was !!)
Glad I got on to the bunch as this route is great ,,stunning scenery & yes riding through the fog made you feel alive..
Sorry I couldn't hang for a coffee ,I peeled off @ Bridge Rd ,,I couldn't be stuffed tackling that last hill , I think the first 20km of my ride trying to catch the bunch took it's toll ..
Looking forward to the next one..
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Permalink Reply by Carl Neadley on -
The ride up The Grove Way to the start showed me that my legs were still in reasonable condition after yesterday's Gawler Wheelers ride, so was feeling quite good as we set off. The group soon split up (it was one of those weekends!) and with Lee struggling a bit on the uphills Terry & I stayed with him to encourage him along to the next regroup. Really enjoyed the ride through to Kersbrook (wonderful scenery and even the four-wheeled-wallys were well behaved today). The hill out of Kersbrook was hard work but a bit of huffing and puffing saw me through. After the puncture faerie's visits we headed off down Williams Rd (still no GW sticker in evidence - see the GW ride report if that doesn't make sense), Blacktop Rd, Main North Rd (not my favourite on a bicycle), and up The Grove Way back to Price's Bakery.
I learnt something today - I stayed with Gemma on the final ascent and was interested to note how quickly I tired not pedalling at my own natural rhythm. I've ridden this section of road many, many times but usually on my own and at my own pace - a very different proposition riding at someone else's pace.
Thanks for a good morning everybody.
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Permalink Reply by john mills on
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Thanks everone for the birthday wishes. Yep, had a great birthday weekend. Very busy still doing b...y schoolwork Friday night. And a very busy Saturday, after first zipping out to GW to put in my apologies for 'wimping' out (two weeks in arow have missed out now). But a great night listening to a sixties cover group - For Your Love - at the 'Gove' on Saturday night. Too bad my ears are not quite up to the punishment they dish out there. ( Way too loud, and sometimes distorted as a result. Or is it just me?) But a pair of ear plugs helped me through the night. The 'battery fairy' visited my wifes new car at about 11.30pm and we had to wait an hour for the RAA to fix us up with a new battery, before we could drive home.
So with only a few hours sleep I was wondering how I would manage the hills today. And in the end it was OK. Managed to get the heart rate up to max climbing the mountain out of Kersbrook, and again on the climb up the Grove Way to the 'finish line' at the end. So plenty of good exercise for the body after two weeks of heavy, boring and tedious computer work.
And what a way to do it. Love doing these routes along the roads I have always loved driving for the views. It 'tastes' even better from the vantage point of a bike saddle! I said to Gemma at one point near the end of the best views; 'I wished I had brought my camera'. And Gemma obliged by snapping a pic of a lovely stand of gums (second last pic of her ride report). But silly me. I did have a camera with me. My brand new phone I bought a couple of weeks ago actually has an inbuilt camera. Its amazing what you can buy these days if you know where to look! It was sitting there in my tool bag all the time. Maybe it was best I hadn't twigged. I like to snap landscapes almost as much as I like to chat!
So thanks for answering all my questions about your travels around the world Gemma. I reckon you could write a damn good book filled with a thousand amazing adventures. And nice to talk to a real scientist. I don't often get that opportunity.
And those four or five guys that started their day by riding to the starting point! I saw Pete on the Main North Road, just before the Old Spot. Felt sorry for him as I cruised on by, knowing that he still had to climb up the big hill before even starting the designated route. Then half way up the Grove Way there was Carl making it look easy. And later Michael joined us at the top of the mountain. He explained that he had wandered all around the hills and valleys of the neighborhood, after first riding a good ten or fifteen km through the suburbs, before eventually finding us. Not to mention Darren, and I think Andrew, who also rode in instead of driving. Champions, all of you. Well done.
And bad luck Lee about having to cut your ride short today. But at least you gave it a red hot go. It must have been hard for you to have to turn back early. But you did make it to the top of that mountain. That was an achievement in itself. I think we all felt for you out there today. But one thing is for sure, as Gemma explained, with patience and time and lots of fun rides as you go, you will be able to beat this route one day. And it will feel so good when you do. I hope I am there on the day. There will be celebrations for sure.
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Permalink Reply by Keith Davies on -
John sorry I missed. Hope you had a good day Happy belated birthday
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Thanks Keith. Hey, your are not too far behind - I think I will pull over and wait for you to catch up (age wise I mean). lol. I do admire how fast and how far you can ride your bike. I am thinking there might still be a bit of hope for me to improve, and maybe be able to see you not too far up the road every now and then.
And if Gary sees this, happy birthday to you too! Some one told me they thought you were in your mid forties and I believed them. You are hiding your age very well! (Hope that's good for a few more discounts when I come shopping lol.)
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Permalink Reply by Keith Davies on
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You just do what you can do and enjoy the ride. Pity I didn't take up riding 30 years ago
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Permalink Reply by Gary Mills on -
Thanks John and all others for your wishes. Mid forties - I wish!! You know I always give good deals here. :)
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Permalink Reply by Darren on -
Forgot to ask John, how did you recognise Pete on Main North Rd without his flouro yellow booties?!? lol
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Permalink Reply by terry heney on
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Hey!!! I think I have turned into a Mountain Goat LMAO...
WOW Gemma a truly fantastic route today. I feel I have turned the corner regarding my mental ability to cope with hill climbing which I feel has come from just the last two GG and Sat.GW rides that I have attended. The biggest thing for me today (apart from smashing that damn Grove Way) was to see pretty much all the faces at the bakery looked as they tooo had been working hard on their bikes as well.
Michael.... I thought you had caught a taxi to the top of the mountain mate ? I bet you did :)
Thanks Carl for hanging around with me and Lee to help him to the top. take my hat off to Lee though he really tried hard and gave all to stick at it as far as he did..I know Lee pretty well and I can assure you all he doesn't give up to anything easily so for him to say enough was enough you can be sure he gave 110% effort.. Good stuff Lee...Gemma... I am sure you were feeling the pain a few times today. Take my hat off to you madame on your great effort. Even the puncture fairy didnt fluster you ? OR DID IT ? hehehehe...SASSIN FRASSIN CASSIN bloody valve..I half expected to see that wheel go flying through the air at one stage :)
Where's the Millsy bugga ??? oh yer mate. Happy BIRTHDAY you old fart!!!!!!!!! was great once again riding those mountains with you mate. wont be long now and we will be heading a pack instead of being the TEC mob hahahahaha... yer righto as if !!!.
Carl...I am learning much of how you ride young fella. Patience and calmness you are full of. past 3 weeks now I have been watching you and listening closely as to where your at regarding riding a bike .very helpful indeed physiologically Carl.Your very similar to Paul in mindset on hills.
Darren.. Andrew and Pete.. I take my hat off to you fellas.. YOUR ALLL BLOODY FREAKS!!!!!! include yuself also Michael hahahahaha... but it's really great that even though you guys can streak all over us mere mortals you STILL help us out and wait for us at rest stops..I can ONLY hope some day to have the same will power and legs to keep up with you lot one day..
NO KANGAROO"S TODAY :) :)
catch you all at the next ride...
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