Ride for Pain - ride reports here...
Although there were a handful of comments on the event page last night, and a couple of references to it today, there has yet to be any ride reports on Uni SA's Ride for Pain. A few people have asked for a report, so thought this would do as a starting point.
I didn't really want to spend any more money on community rides, but my mother-in-law suffers chronic pain from numerous conditions triggered by a rare un-named virus that caused chronic fatigue and various pain-related ailments all in the last 6 years. Previously she was an extremely energetic and fit runner who lived a very vibrant life. I know how chronic pain can effect a person and their family, so committed to the cause.
The route I chose was a 100km hills ride which would be challenging for many, but to be honest, a fairly "regular" type of route for me. Therefore, in order to participate in the spirit of the event and inflict pain on myself, I made sure I flogged myself as hard as possible. My incentive was to finish in the top 50 (or was it 60) to the top of the Corkscrew in order to score a Fasta Pasta meal voucher....hey - had to grasp at something!!!
The route totaled some 2250m (or thereabouts) of vertical with Nortons at the start and Corkscrew at the end probably the most significant. Lots of other popular hills of various lengths and gradients in between. The added challenge was wet weather between around Summertown through to around Lenswood which was very tricky for the steep descent down Spring Gully Rd (insert piles of motorbikes here...) and the pitches around Bridgewater.
Despite a PR up Nortons, I didn't feel too comfortable with a bit of a sore tummy at the start, but managed to latch onto a few small groups - doing my share of pulling and resting - here and there through to Gorge Rd when I found myself solo. I stayed pretty much solo all the way up Corkscrew where I thought I would end up being borderline around the 50th person to the top - must...get....Fasta Pasta...voucher. To my surprise I came over in 24th. Jumped on with a few other guys for the run up Kensington Rd to the finish where I may have been around 20th all up.
Nice challenging ride and I pushed myself to find some "pain" for the cause. My left knee is a little sore, but not gonna whinge about that in the scheme of things! Can't complain with 11 strava PRs over the route either!
It was a typically well run Bike SA event. Not sure about overall entry numbers...perhaps a few hundred? The start/finish was a bit awkward with Frome Rd divided at the finish point. So coming into the finish arch you either had to continue past until the divide ended and pull a "dodgy" u-turn and circle back, or you had to pull a dodgy at the pedestrian crossing a bit prior to the finish and come up the 'wrong' side of the road (although there is also a bike path there somewhere). I enjoyed it though.
Thanks to Bike SA, Uni of SA, and all the other supporters. I should add that my Mother-in-Law made it to the finish line to watch me cross after having four cortisone injections in her spine last weekend to free up her joints. Now she is a champion!!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Trent on -
great report Adam and well done on supporting it for your Mother in Law. gotta be happy with a Fasta Pasta voucher too!!
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Permalink Reply by Michael Bland on -
Grand effort Adam .I could tell you were determined at the start . I also enjoyed the ride ,and did a PB up Norton Summit .Then met up with Scott ,rides with Muddies, and completed the rest of the ride with him .We missed the tun off in Lobethal & ended up doing 7 extra Kilometres .My Quads seized up on corkscrew so I walked about 80 metres of it ,but Scott powered up it overtaking people ,,very impressive climb for a big fella ..
We shall meet again corkscrew !!
Wishing all the best ,,to your mother in law
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Permalink Reply by Bekster on -
Well done Adam, top job giving it your all in support of your mother in law!!
Another well organised Bike SA event, I really enjoyed it despite the drizzle through Piccadilly/Crafers/Bridgewater.
Planning to give my bike a well earned clean tonight...
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Permalink Reply by David B.o.R. on -
I enjoyed it too. I would like to know which sod pulled the arrow off of deviation Road. The route I did added about 10 km and 500m climbing to my total. I wonder if it was the ame sod who pinched the arrow in town? Anyway I was not fast but I also racked up 11 prs on Strava Abe despite an ugly cramp managed my 1st go up Corkscrew Rd. I'm looking forward to doing it again next year.
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Permalink Reply by David B.o.R. on
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Also I saw the remnants of a nasty crash. Hope people are ok!?
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Permalink Reply by Ian Rawley on -
Ahaa well at least you were not the only one who suffered David! I quite enjoyed our modified route in the end :)
Share your concern for the guy who didn't make the corner it looked like they didn't want to move him, hopefully he got the right attention and quickly.
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Permalink Reply by lisa degregorio on -
Hey all. I am a newbie cyclist. Actually got on my bike this Sun for only the 2nd time in nearly 3 years(long story.. glandular fever..). I did the 35km ride for pain and to be honest I found it frustrating. I am an anxious sort so I read the guidelines meticulously but I found that when we got onto the cycle lanes that people were still riding two a breast or riding one infront of the other with the back rider slightly to the right meaning you had not much room to pass. Now as I said I am very new to cycling and group rides but as I am generally fairly fit(gym, korfball, running, yoga, pilates etc) I wanted to just push it and see what I was capable of. Do people normally ride like this on group rides? I was reluctant to do the 45km hills as I am a newbie but I can't help thinking people would have been sticking to the rules a bit more.. Help me out here..
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Permalink Reply by Dean Malden on -
Your right there Lisa, Its amazes me how ppls can do this. One thing is, that most people ride with a friend or group so they are usually talking not giving a hoot on others trying to pass. I rode to and from a few stage finishes and to see ppls doing this and then interstate visitors commenting how bad we are. one saying "Adelaide the only place you can take up the whole road if not the other-side too". To me if ur slow or in a group and u know there are faster ppls then single file untill the thick of it passes. Dont know how much we need to say but this never changes.
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Permalink Reply by David B.o.R. on
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It can be frustrating, especially in the hills when you need to hit the hill at your own pace & you get caught doing someone else's thus loosing momentum. I guess the main thing is to stay safe and be patient. Congratulations on completing your ride, 35km is a big one for a second ride.
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Permalink Reply by Ian Rawley on
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Well done to all who entered the ride, I enjoyed it very much. It seemed like everyone was fired up to do a PR on Nortons must be the group ride adrenaline buzz kicking in. The drizzle failed to turn to real rain so wasn't too bad although it did claim at least one victim on that long steep down hill to the blind RH bend somewhere just before Bridgewater. I remember suddenly thinking maybe I was going a bit quick for the conditions, noting the dodgy surface, adverse camber etc. then finding the brakes not working due to the wet and then seeing a young guy lying flat on his back 10 meters off the road and directly in line with my present course..bit of a moment there. It looked like he was being looked after so I concentrated on not joining him...we made it round.. just and I hope no serious injuries were sustained by the unfortunate victim. I think a number of us were lucky to get away with that corner on the day. Later on I somehow ended up following a group and we all missed the Deviation Road turn off and followed Greenhill all the way out to Balhannah where surprise surprise at the junction with the main road there was no route marker. Luckily we all knew where we were and turned left and made our way out towards Lobethal. It wasn't until we were heading back up towards Lenswood that we saw the rest of the field going in the opposite direction LOL! Committed to our cause we carried on up the hill and then turned right on Coldstore Road and eventually caught back on to the main field as they turned right at the Croft Road junction at the top of Fox Creek Hill. Back on course and stopped at the Kangeroo Creek Dam for not one but two bananas and two pieces of fruit cake, using the impending Corkscrew Challenge to excuse my gluttony I waved goodbye to the friendly volunteers and made my way unfortunately well off the pace and having covered a few extra kms there was no Fasta Pasta dinner waiting for me but no matter it was reward enough just to ride all the way up without cramping...too much...and from the top of the 'screw' it was nearly all downhill to the finish. Well done to all and the coffee at the end was most welcome. Cheers.
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Permalink Reply by Dario Gautama on -
I was in leisure ride group which is quite challenging for starter cyclist / occasional cyclist.
Could be better if it is more close event, because in leisure ride we must get through an unrelated event behind convention center.
We must get through one of the tent there which is quite dangerous to crash into someone.
If there is another "Ride for Pain" I am aiming to participate in 45 km hill. XD
Hopefully I can improve my climbing skill.
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Permalink Reply by Dean Frost on
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I also rode in this event, I have never ridden up Norton Summit rd of throught the hills apart from the BUPA ride. I found the first 40km hard going and it caught me by suprise. But the rest stop where well stocked a nd we organized. I found riding in the wet a bit of a challenge and nail biting at times my brakes are now well worn. I had a ball. I had signed up for the Corkscrew but by time I had got there I had nothing left in the tank... will be ready for it next year. A new bike is coming this will make a difference on a carbon bike. I went in this ride because I have suffered shoulder pain for year and have had 3 ops also I did a Pain managment course through Flinders and made alot of friends, Did it for them as well. This is my 3rd big ride since starting riding 12 months ago, I ride alne all the time because I work most weekends and nights(Chef) I am getting used to the group thing but have to get more confident. Great to read your story Adam great work.
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