HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, AND A FLASH MOB >>> Gawler Wheelers Group Ride Report: Saturday June 9th 2012
Gawler Wheelers-ROUTE32-Gawler-Gomersal-Tanunda-Angaston-Lyndoch-Gawler-UNDULATING
http://www.bikemap.net/route/1344187
No. of Riders : 47
TO JOIN GAWLER WHEELERS Group click >>http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/group/GawlerWheelers
*** TODAY's PHOTO GALLERY BELOW ***
Ride Summary
We dedicated today’s GW ride to Queen Elizabeth in honour of her Diamond Jubilee, and Birthday.
A zero degree temperature greeted the 47 ride starters and many wished that they had the fur on that the Queen is wearing in the photo!
It was by far the coldest morning that we have experienced on our rides and it took a good hour before the rising temp provided some relief.
Our 87km ride today took us up the undulating Gomersal Road, through Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Angaston and Lyndoch. It was a bit of a stop/start affair and took us longer than usual due to factors such as:
- A slower speed at the start due to the wind chill
- Couple of punctures (one of which took 3 tubes to fix!)
- Search party having to go out and look for riders who took the wrong turn
- Craig taking it slowly due to lower back problems
- Pete having mechanical issues when his cranks came loose from the bottom bracket (after a $360 bike service this week!)
- Terry having a groin problem over the last few kms
- The 87kms taking a few of the riders to their pain limits!
- Riders taking time to admire my new Avanti Team Quantum DI2 bike
Notwithstanding the above it was a nice leisurely ride and everyone was in a “long weekend” relaxed mood. We had plenty of time to chat at the stops which is important to us as the social aspect of our rides is what we value the most. We also had the pleasure today of welcoming GW newbies James and Shane.
In addition to celebrating the Queen’s birthday we also celebrated the birthday of Terry, a GW regular. Terry’s partner, Christene, was waiting for us at Jaspers with a superb birthday cake which was decorated with a photo of Terry’s bike. Happy birthday Terry!
NEXT WEEK: We will be holding one FLAT 60km ride via the Stuart O’Grady Bikeway. Details will be posted on AC Events soon and YOU are very welcome to come along.
Before we move to today’s ride photo’s we leave you with the QUEEN song, “Bicycle Race”, and a Flash Mob putting on a live unexpected performance at the Brussels Central Station:
RIDE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW
The weather at 6.00am….and it did not get much warmer!!↓
7.15am..still zero…..Chris trying to warm his ears!↓
I think Sue ended up riding with those boots to keep warm!↓
Newbies Shane (L) and James….nice to meet you guys!↓
Huey on Kapunda Road↓
Helmet View on Kapunda Road↓
Craig and Others on Roseworthy Road↓
More riders rolling down Roseworthy Road↓
Newbie Shane doing it easy on his first GW ride↓
Magic views on this route↓
Guys having a chat on Gomersal Road↓
Brett dressed for the cold weather↓
..and so was Colin!↓
Tanunda. Can’t tell who this is!!↓
Regroup at Tanunda↓
Frank’s new bike↓
Angaston Bike Path↓
Cruising to the end of the Angaston Bike Path↓
Back at Tanunda now…where is Wilson they cried!↓
We always stop at the lovely Lyndoch↓
Terry’s birthday cake, decorated with a photo of his bike↓
Christene and Terry putting the candles on the cake↓
Everyone saying “Happy Birthday Terry!”↓
Hmmm….Warren dressed as a “queen”. Others can comment!!↓
Cheers! Gawler Wheelers rode today where the Queen visited in 2002.↓
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) :
- ➨ Gawler Wheelers Group Ride Calendar
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gary Mills on -
Or Helmets. Should have found one on a penny farthing Frank. Then I might have believed you.
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Permalink Reply by Pete Roberts on -
This is the pic that Frank meant to post...
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Permalink Reply by Juz on -
I'm glad you went there Pete! I was going to ask why there were no dinosaurs roaming around in the background... Thought that might get me into trouble though. :-D
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Permalink Reply by Frank (GW) on -
Good observation Juz re the girlfiend! The fact is I have riden this route 3 times and each time I have asked her for her phone number....she just looks at me and says nothing! Well I can take a hint....her loss!
I don't often talk about my personal life, but Juz you should know that I have now moved on to the lady below....will keep you informed re how I go.
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Permalink Reply by Frank (GW) on
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NEXT WEEKS RIDE DETAILS HAVE NOW BEEN POSTED. EVENT LINK BELOW.
This is an absolue FLAT ride....no ascents at all. Will suit beginners. Will suit those who want to try a group ride for the first time. Hardly any traffic and most of the irde is on the Bike Path. Will also suit experienced riders who want a fast paced ride. 60 kms so will be back at Jaspers between 10.00 and 10.30 (promise).
COME ALONG!
http://www.adelaidecyclists.com/events/gawler-wheelers-route01-gawl...
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Permalink Reply by Caroline Cuthbert on
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Missing my GW rides and gatherings... still not well enough to go out let alone ride. But I will be back!
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Permalink Reply by Juz on
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We're missing you too Caroline! I hope this lurgy gets the right knock on the head soon & you are well again soon.
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Permalink Reply by Corey Busbridge on -
Very eventful day starting with the chill in the morning, the punctures, the hills and did I mention the chill.. after about 15km of trying to warm the legs up, I thought it was the best route I have ridden with scenery fit for a queen.. I have never ridden that far so am pleased to have finished and look forward to doing it again and one day even topping the 100km mark.. definatly going to be getting something to keep the toes warm, but did discover that the freezer gloves from work do a top job on the fingers..
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Permalink Reply by Don Plush on -
Great ride today on a great route with a great group of cyclists...Thank You!.
I notice that the official minimum temp at Roseworthy was -0.9 at 7:07am, now I know why my fingers were frozen!
The route through the Barossa is a great ride - Frank, you say you have ridden it 3 times but still you get lost on it (was that a left off South Tce onto the Crescent) maybe you were too busy playing with your DI2 to see the turn off!
The other good thing about today was that I finally picked up my GW Jersey - now I feel part of the team.
Thanks also to Mark for the ride back up Main North Rd - you dragged me most of the way home.
Final stats for the day was 153 km @ 28.5 km/hr, average temp for the ride was probably about 6 degrees!
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Permalink Reply by Alan Hornsby on -
Good ride today - and a right royal freeze to begin with or a touch of English weather.
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Permalink Reply by terry heney on -
Todays ride ???? fantastic... myself = Totally and utterly knackered... will report more on the ride when my fingers stop tingling LMAO...
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Permalink Reply by john mills on
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Well I am having a real Queeny night tonight! Spent 10 minutes rummaging through all the free to air channels on the tele - nothing. Another 10 minutes flicking through my favourite Fox channels - still nothing worth watching. Just about to give up and Jenny says - try the ALL CHANNELS search. Huh? What's that? OK - struck gold instantly. Some channel called STUDIO had one of my favourite groups - QUEEN. All night! Still watching and listening. Queen at Wembley, Queen the Magic Years, Queen this and Queen that, . . . . I finally took a break to read the ride report and found your video Frank. Fantastic! I think we are all impressed with your video/photo search skills. And you have done it again. First time I have seen a Flash Mob. They did a great singing/ dancing routine. And what amazing riding skills. Not to mention the crowd reaction.
And I really enjoyed myself out there today. Had a nice chat with Shane and James at Tanunda. Was teased by Carl as my naked arms turned to popsicle sticks on the way out to Gomersal road. He just kept talking about ice cream and ice blocks. And all I could do was counter this psychological warfare by mumbling "hot meat pies and mugs of hot chocolate". I think it worked because for the rest of the ride I was dripping with sweat - as usual! Was well and truly dehydrated by the time we reached Lyndoch. Went for a wee and produced almost nothing! Time for a drink!
As far as my ride went, I had a ball. Pushed pretty hard along Gomersal, but then relaxed from Tanunda to Angaston to take in the ambience and the views. Also enjoyed a short chat with Barry in the back streets of Angaston, reminiscing on the 'royalty' of SANFL football back in the sixties. My eyes lit up when he mentioned Bob Shearman. I was priveldged to witness Shearman send a drop kick clean across Adelaide Oval, not more than 6 feet above the ground, when I was about ten years old. Barry said he had seen him do it many times!
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=829
Then I pushed the little ticker along again from Angaston back to Gawler. Knocked up my third ton ( 112km ). A modest distance and average speed compared to Don's impressive figures; a 25 point something result for the first 100km from home, to Gawler, and around the route. And then a little faster with a 27.5 for the last 12km back to Elizabeth East.
But it felt good for most of the ride, unlike poor Terry who was obviously struggling on the undulations on the way home. Not good on your birthday Terry. Hope the rest of the weekend works out better for you! But well done to both yourself and Lee for bettering your previous longest rides with the GW.
Also marvelled at how Wilson went flying past not far out of Tanunda, as he sped back to the front of the pack to lead us home after our mighty crusade. A bit later I noticed how he had stopped to help with puncture repairs just out of Lyndoch. All this after doing route marshall duties in Angaston, and then herding Lee around the 'off route' by-ways between the vineyards. I hear that he had to try hard to catch up to him. I was told that Lee is very fast when let loose from the top of a hill! Great work Wilson.
A bit later I came across Frank gently shepherding Lee towards Sandy Creek. "You go on John" he said, "I've just got to help Lee home". We mere mortals just chugged along through the beautiful Barossa, while Wilson, Frank and Mick flew around trying to keep us all together, helped repair our bikes, and helped us complete the journey!
Thanks for all your efforts today. We are forever your loyal and grateful subjects!
© 2013 Created by Gus K.
