Gong Ride 2012

[Xplora]

Hi all, who is planning on doing this ride? I'm feeling keen to attempt the return ride - 90 there, and then 90 back. Any advice, other interested participants? The 180 sounds like a great badge of honour to pick up

[Kuufu]

I'm keen on the way there but not really on the way back. The site says that you can ride back, but you're unsupported. I wouldn't want to ride back up that hill anyway... But I am definitely keen on riding this year. I can do 50 in one stint pretty easy. Just have to build some extra tolerance to the seat

[familyguy]

Once entries come on stream I'm in. Wont be doing a return, but may be doing a few extra to get to the start line in the morning.

Jim

[bigfriendlyvegan]

If you plan your route back right, you're never more than 5k or so from a train station. I tried riding back a couple of years ago (when I was a lot less fit) and managed about 60km back before the cramps got me. I went to the nearest station and waited half an hour for a train and went home that way. It's good to have the bail out option.

[SmellyTofu]

Well, in place of the Spring Cycle, I've booked myself into this ride. Will definitely be carrying a camera for the day. Will decide to ride back later but Mrs Tofu will be picking me up and going home.

[purple]

I have purchased a pre-paid train ticket. I will try to do a return, until i think i cannot do it, then i will go to the nearest train station.

[bossonbike]

may do it if no hills...

[SmellyTofu]

Then I guess you won't be doing it.

http://www.gongride.org.au/themes/image ... on-Map.pdf

[AndrewBurns]

The descent from Bald hill looks pretty fast. I think I could do 180km but I don't think I want to after last weekend but I'd be up for an easy 90.

[Xplora]

Actually the return journey looks like absolute murder... slow climbs and fast descents means heartbreaking climbs and less entertaining descents

Wonder how the throng of bikes copes with the big descents?

[find_bruce]

Actually the return journey looks like absolute murder... slow climbs and fast descents means heartbreaking climbs and less entertaining descents

Wonder how the throng of bikes copes with the big descents?

when I last rode it a few years ago, they had cop cars descending at regular intervals to keep the speed down - about 40km/h if I remember correctly.

[AndrewBurns]

when I last rode it a few years ago, they had cop cars descending at regular intervals to keep the speed down - about 40km/h if I remember correctly.

40 :S Sounds like a good way to cook your brakes.

[trailgumby]

The year I did the 55, we were paced down by motorbikes, which we were not allowed to pass. Slow as wet weeks. 40 would have provided some relief.

I had severe arm pump by the time I got to the bottom of RNP ... and I had hydraulic discs.

In the organisers' defence, though, there were a *lot* of people crashed on that descent who needed medical help. I wondered at the time about people's competence but when I caught up with the tail end of the next bunch up the climb, the number of people making like road-going windscreen wipers without bothering to check behind them provided the explanation.

I've been wary of doing the event since.

[AndrewBurns]

I could ride my CX bike with BB7's, would provide some arm muscle relief but I don't want to glaze the pads from going so slow...

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Of course, the cops aren't always there. They are for the main bunch, but not for the tail enders, such as certain mobile support riders who frequent these forums. These mobile support riders definitely did not travel down the RNP hill at speeds in excess of the speed limit. Brakes? Never needed them (allegedly).

[grantw]

You need your wits about you to be sure in that group. I rode it in 2007 and have never been so alert, lots of inexperienced riders, pushing their limits in a variety of unpredictable ways, I did enjoy the ride though.

Could talk myself into doing it again, but would ride up from the gong and come back with the circus for the 180. Riding through the park at 4am, should be interesting.

[Mugglechops]

I am will be doing it again this year. Last we rode onto Kiama then got the train to Nowra. This year I plan on riding all the way back to Nowra.

[mudrat]

I'm going to have a go at this again this year, will be my first time since 1994 as a teenager, started back on the bike this year so this is the goal I am aiming for.


Choose Tapatalk.

[Ozkaban]

I've registered for the ride for the first time. Not worried about the distance or hills so much but I wont be doing the 180

I will do a few extra k's before the start to make it a century at least, but I'm not sure how best to ride to St Peters. I'm coming from up Hornsby way and will drive/train at least part of the way. Not keen on riding through the city. Is there a good way to get there? Cooks River cycleway looks like a pretty round-about way of getting there (after driving to Homebush).

How do most people get there? Just train to St Peters stn?

Cheers,
Dave

[SmellyTofu]

I'm thinking of riding down via Cooks River but I want to go with the early group (arrive 6:30?) so as to avoid the newbies as well as getting it done sooner.

[Xplora]

Honestly, the idea of being paced the whole way down the hills is a huge turnoff... I WANT to burn down at 70+. If I can't, why bother doing the Gong Ride? Why not just go for "a ride"? I don't need an event to do fundraising for charity

[baralah]

if anyone is keen to sponsor me
http://register.gongride.org.au/2012-Sydney-to-Gong-Bike-Ride/baralah

[Addictr3]

Honestly, the idea of being paced the whole way down the hills is a huge turnoff... I WANT to burn down at 70+. If I can't, why bother doing the Gong Ride? Why not just go for "a ride"? I don't need an event to do fundraising for charity

lets start our own group

[silentbutdeadly]

In 1986, I remember loosing a rear brake shoe on the descent from Stanwell Tops after realising that doing 60 plus km/h through the bottom curve whilst avoiding turning vehicle traffic was untenable on a basic Graecross roadie.

In 1987, I remember getting kicked off my pannier loaded MTB (for an onwards journey to Jervis Bay) when someone decided that I wasn't allowed to hold my line whilst passing parked cars in Rockdale because it slowed them up for a tenth of a second whilst they decided to cut through empty spaces...

The ride is lovely but a few of the people suck...the Gong ride is up there with one of the least pleasant non-competitive mass rides in the country. But then what's my opinion worth, eh?

[Mugglechops]

The ride is lovely but a few of the people suck...the Gong ride is up there with one of the least pleasant non-competitive mass rides in the country.

Got to agree with you there. The pro peleton of wayne kerrs are out in force