HAPPY EASTER TO ALL FROM THE GAWLER WHEELERS >> Group Ride Report: Easter Saturday April 7th 2012
EASTER SATURDAY: Gawler Wheelers Ride-ROUTE42-Gawler-Gomersal-Tanunda-Lyndoch-Cockatoo Valley-Gawler-UNDULATING
http://www.bikemap.net/route/1413759
No. of Riders : 46
TO JOIN GAWLER WHEELERS Group click >>http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/GawlerWheelers
*** TODAY's PHOTO GALLERY BELOW ***
Ride Summary
A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE EASTER TO ALL ADELAIDE CYCLISTS MEMBERS, GAWLER WHEELERS MEMBERS AND TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO SHARES OUR PASSION FOR CYCLING
We expected the numbers to be down in view of many people being away. However on a serene Easter Saturday morning, with no sign of yesterday’s wild winds, 46 riders arrived for today’s GW group ride.
They came from everywhere. Wattsy joined us again from the deep south, together with his father-in-law Gavin and mate Corey. Ben joined us fresh from his 600km Audax ride last weekend and he brought along his mate and newbie Brenton. But that’s not all! Other newbies included Ricky who rode all the way from Burnside, Jason from Felixtowe and Scott from Wingfield.
There was a lot of activity prior to ride with Michael unveiling and showing-off the new Gully Grinders jersey. Lee meanwhile arrived with his brand new bike after having his stolen a few weeks ago…he has been suffering from withdrawal symptoms big time and could hardly wait to hit the road! We also had to mention during the ride brief that for the first time we had three generations from the same family riding with us today…(see photo’s below).
We also announced that Gawler Wheelers will be holding another Track Night Event at the Super-Drome in a few weeks’ time. Details are being finalised so stay tuned to AC Events if you would like to come along as the numbers will be capped.
It was a great 60km ride this morning with the conditions being near perfect. For the hardened riders in the group this route can be a ‘walk in the park’. For most of us though it provided a great work-out, especially on the relentlessly undulating (read hills!) Gomersal Road. The leg from Tanunda to Lyndoch was an absolute joy after Gomersal Rd. Following the mandatory break at Lyndoch it was back on the bikes to tackle the short but very picturesque leg to Cockatoo Valley. Then it was the final leg that everyone had been waiting for….sprinting back to Gawler via the brilliant Balmoral Road…it can only be described as “cycling Heaven”!
Jaspers Café was closed today so post-ride we congregated at the nearby Sunrise Bakery for coffees, lattes, hot-cross buns and lot’s of conversation about the ride. (They put on extra staff just for us!). We also announced the winner of last week’s competition….check the photo’s below to see who won the book “It’s all about the bike”. To top it off our generous TEC Mick handed out lot’s of Easter Eggs to everyone….many thanks Mick.
NEXT WEEK: We will be holding two concurrent group rides with the first 30km being common to both. One will be approximately 60kms in length. The other brand new route will be our first GW ride over 100kms! Just take your pick! Details will be posted on AC Events soon. We love newbies on our rides so YOU are welcome to attend. Today’s photo gallery follows:
Ricky rode all the way from Burnside to join us↓
Wattsy's father-in-law Gavin (L) and mate Corey getting ready to ride↓
Michael prancing around with the new Gully Grinders jersey↓
Chris, we know that you think of your bike as "near human".. but mate it won't come down on it's own...you have to lift it off!↓
Lee had his bike stolen but all happy now with his brand new bike on it's virgin ride. A big thanks to Gary Mills from Star Cycles for letting Lee have the bike prior to payment.↓
Terry and John warming up pre-ride↓
Peter (L) and Shayne..all set...all ready to ride↓
The jersey looks good on Michael! (Who designed it?)↓
Ben (L), Audax man, rode 600kms last weekend... grinning and saying to Brenton that today's 60km ride will be just a tad easier!↓
Father and son.....Warren and Scott ↓
Roger (L) with Clive and Wattsy↓
Who was wearing these!!!!!↓
Three Generations. Mitchell with his Dad Peter and Grandad Trevor↓
Dean leads the pack on to Kapunda Road↓
Gavin doing it easy peasy on Kapunda Road↓
Roger and Co...loving the last decline on Gomersal Road↓
Paul introducing himself to Wattsy on Roseworthy Road↓
On Easter Saturday, Colin with his flock in the background↓
Keith and Chris having a jolly time at Tanunda↓
Gary at Lyndoch was really smelling the roses today↓
Matthew was starving and needed a pastie to keep riding↓
Craig (R) at Lyndoch with Pete, Michael and Dave discussing cleat types↓
Regroup at Cockatoo Valley... (where are the cockatoos???)↓
Caroline drawing the winner of last weeks competition↓
..and the winnner is David Hughes. Congrats David!!↓
Relaxing after the ride ↓
Thanks for the Easter Eggs Mick!↓
Finally, one of the beautiful cockatoos at Cockatoo Valley↓
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
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lee Bakes on -
So good to be"in from the cold." Didn't get much sleep last night, so was feeling a bit flat post ride.
Still managed to get home ok. I guess riding 80kms (20km round trip from home to Gawler) isn't too bad after not having ridden much more than 30 km for 2 months.
New bike seemed to love the ride after a few components started to "wear in." Thanks everyone for your support. Another fantastic ride!
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Permalink Reply by Pete Roberts on -
Happy Easter every one !
Looking forward to our first 100km + ride next week :) It might be a tad further for some riding in from out of town...
After yesterdays wind, we were very lucky to have near perfect riding weather. Lets hope it continues for a few more weeks yet.
I was impressed with the coffee and settings at our coffee stop. Nice to have our own 'private' area to socialise in after the ride.
Stay safe over the Easter Break :)
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Permalink Reply by Juz on -
I have to second the comments about the Bakery. I reckon we should put it to the Sunrise Bakery folk that they should purchase Jaspers, move over to the 'restaurant' with toilets, save Amanda and Phil the continued angst of trying to sell, all while providing us with awesome bakery goods (and fresh sandwiches), Frank with his scotch and most importantly, that fabulous coffee! We may need to suggest they bake bacon and egg pies though. Frank, do you reckon you could have a word with them? :-)
Today was a lovely day for a ride - I'd been nervous that the weather would be windy like yesterday and figured it was our fate to hit up Gomersal with stupid winds, but as I drove out to Gawler, I could see the Barossa Valley Ballooning, hot air balloon in the sky so I knew the weather was perfect.
It certainly is the blessed life to be out riding a bike is such glorious weather, on such pleasing roads, with such fabulous people. Quietly, I kind of love Gomersal Road now, after my rude introduction to it last August. I'm quite happy to say it's one of my favourite stretches to ride now; not too easy, not too hard, entertaining when there is a headwind, glorious when there is no wind. The adjusted return leg, bringing us back via Balmoral road, is fantastic too. LOVE that road surface.
Have a wonderful and safe Easter all. And make the most of Monday's public holiday and watch the Paris-Roubaix tomorrow night! :-)
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Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on -
Happy Easter to Gawler Wheelers!
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Permalink Reply by Ol' Dr. Cadence (Mathew) on
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Oh! Happy Easter to all Gawler Wheelers and have a very fun, but safe Easter season! B00YAH!
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And boy was it a good pasty!!
Had a great day out on Easter Saturday and got to take on Gommersal road which i havent done for a while, Awesome! Good weather is always a good blessing and i managed an avg of 31.0km/h avg spd for the whole day, checked it when i got home and thought SWEET! It probably helped that as soon as the GW peleton hit Gommersal road Me and Craig were inching away, and i decided to floor it(been watching too much UCI track cycling!) and boy did we fly through that "silly ol road". Then it was fun having mini-sprints with Craig, Pete and Peter as we were coming into towns, made me feel like i was "back on tour". Then i pushed it all the way home and am now moaning on the couch...LOL.
Alls good, its a long weekend(possibly very long for me!).
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Permalink Reply by Craig on -
Yer was great while it lasted hey mat lol think we made it half way before wilson and Peter caught us ;) an I must be getting fitter cause yes we did kill that lil road.
And the sprint at the end to top it off. Don't know where that came from to. Just had to beat you there matty :).
I got home with an avg speed of 30 something to. My legs where feeling it to. Bring on the ton next week
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Permalink Reply by Jase "Flatty" C on
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Perfect day for my first GW ride. Good to see some familiar faces and plenty of new. South Australia has some amazing scenery and it's great to take it in from the saddle. Coming down Gommersal Road and seeing the Barossa spreading out before me was fantastic. The pace felt good for me too ... although I started to lag on that last hill on Gommersal.
Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome. I'm going to have to do a lot of dishes / cooking to see if I can get in another ride next weekend before the kids start all their football / ballet lessons on a Saturday morning again.
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Permalink Reply by Frank (GW) on -
Great tpeet you Jason and glad you enjoyed the ride. Coming for a ride this weekend again?
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
A Red-tail Black-Cockatoo which are declining in numbers (removal of habitat). You asked where the cockatoos are, I want to know where Cockatoo Valley is.
Frank, well done on creating and building up the Gawler Wheelers. Notice that you invite new members and every week produce a report with colour and photos. A successful approach.
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Permalink Reply by Pete Roberts on
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You want to know where Cockatoo Valley is ? Come for a ride with Gawler Wheelers and find out !
You will have fun Heather ! There are no Galah's out here :)
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