Brisbane to Gold Coast 2011

[London Boy]

Well... I'm back and I'm alive.

Hell of a run down.... felt like I was flying. 2:44 ride time... avg 36.5. In hind sight.. confusion reigned early on in my group. 2/10 as one of them said for organisation. That was probably a little generous We should have just put the hammer down from the start. If you see the log below you can see how easy we took it at the start. At about 1:20 we just put the hammer down. Will just smash it next year.

See the ride down here.

The ride home was **much** slower for my group. We stuffed around getting away.. had a flat... stopped for a pie at Yatala... etc.

I'm just necking brews watching the GP 209k down.. what a day!

If I'd stopped for a pie at Yatala I might have made it all the way back. As it happens I bailed at Beenleigh, 25k short of the plan (I was going to ride home up through Mt Cotton).

Just shows, if you don't do the training then the knees will fall apart and the thighs will cramp up.

Mind, the way down was 2:53 at an average of 35.15. So I'm happy enough with that.

I'll have to get in better shape for the Tour de Tamborine and the BMW ride, whenever that is....

Did you just see the rugby?

[Crawf]

I rode back to Bris too and there were lots of bikes riding back. I was expecting to crawl back by myself but I got in a good bunch and rode it back to Beenleigh. Then the rot set in and I shared the next 40 km with one other bloke. The total distance for the day was 225, another PB. So that's 2 PBs. Yay!

Were you wearing a gap jersey notwal?

[Comedian]

Mind, the way down was 2:53 at an average of 35.15. So I'm happy enough with that.

I'll have to get in better shape for the Tour de Tamborine and the BMW ride, whenever that is....

Did you just see the rugby?

Mate that's a super great pace for the trip down.

There were plenty of other riders in the pie shop too. None that were riding back though.

Didn't see the rugby... I'm a F1 fan. Great race it was.

It was nice to see you again. Haven't seen you since Noosa.

[winstonw]

What a great day. The weather couldn't have been better, and I reckon we must have had a bit of tail wind.

We had a group of 14 (4 girls), and it was decided to try and stay together. So we didn't get up it for the first half of the busway, and really weren't stretching the whole pack until 50km mark. Then Comedian et al came through all gunz blazin. And we hopped on them. I lasted about 10 minutes before falling off the back and watching them slowly move away, and no fast packs were coming through to help me get back on them. For the last 40k I cat and moused a group, and eventually sat out the front until I caught up with another from our bunch on a fixie. When I slowed to have a chat with him, I realized I had a pack of 40 on my tail. Caught up to them after the chat and the pack averaged high 30s the rest of the way.

I averaged 34kph for 2.56.48. The faster guys in my group did 2.45.
If we'd pushed it as a group earlier, it would have been interesting. As it was though, we lost 3 of the 4 girls off the pack around half way. That was a great effort on their part.

Two of our guys fell and suffered minor abrasions, but bikes and bods were ok to keep going. This happened when a young solo guy in front of our pack didn't move to his right to give a guy on his outside room to get around a parked car. The outside guy eventually moved in and touched the young guy's back wheel, and immediately went down, bringing down two of our guys behind him. I wasn't with the pack at the time and didn't see it happen, but it highlighted why pack leaders have to be extra diligent, and read the play better.

I also saw a few guys today like this young fella who weren't thinking of anyone but themselves, not making room for others when necessary, and not calling danger, and keeping to the right when they shouldn't. Anyway, that's the B2GC. The earlier you start, the more experienced the riders in general. So we'll certainly be looking at gunning it from the beginning next time.

We had breaky at Tedder Av, and TBH and I had a nice walk on the beach....looked very inviting, and next year I'll have a swim....emulate an ice bath. a nice lunch at Northcliffe SLSC with the fat bogans and a walk back, then home to Bris.

Finally, after all that time on the bike, back in Bris we are driving along North Quay - William St CBD to pick up my car, and we're stopped at the Queen St red light. We watched a cyclist and bus come across Victoria Bridge and turn right into William St where the Treasury Casino is. The cyclist was on the green cycling strip, the bus on his outside. TBH and I were commenting about the cyclist and watching him when suddenly he turns sharply left in front of the bus to get onto the footpath. We both audibly gasped expecting to watch the bus run him over as it was right on top of him.....to this moment, we are both still stunned how the bus driver managed to stop the bus in time to not hit him. I am going to contact the Logan bus company tomorrow and commend the bus driver because I think 9/10 drivers would have hit the cyclist. Meanwhile, the middle aged cyclist on a mountain bike was an absolute tosser, and half a dozen pedestrians on the footpath gave him a serve, rightly so.

Great event....lots of volunteer marshalls out, and the earlier start time was great traffic and wind wise.

My garmin data if interested.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/120035030

[winstonw]

If anyone knows anything about this

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/nasty-fall-lands-female-cyclist-in-surgery-after-gold-coast-cycle-challenge-event/story-e6freoof-1226162325565

Nasty fall lands female cyclist in surgery after Gold Coast Cycle Challenge event
A 44-year-old woman is undergoing surgery at the Princess Alexandra after she reportedly fell from her bike during the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge on Sunday morning.

Police said about 6.20am the woman was riding between Klump and Kessels Road, Mt Gravatt, when she fell and landed on her head.

She was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition.

A police spokesman said there was no indication that any other rider or vehicle was involved in the crash.

No other major injuries have been reported from the 100km ride from South Bank to the Broadwater Parklands, which is run by Bicycle Queensland.

Anyone with information that could help police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via http://www.crimestoppers.com.au .

[Waza]

If anyone knows anything about this

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/nasty-fall-lands-female-cyclist-in-surgery-after-gold-coast-cycle-challenge-event/story-e6freoof-1226162325565

Nasty fall lands female cyclist in surgery after Gold Coast Cycle Challenge event
A 44-year-old woman is undergoing surgery at the Princess Alexandra after she reportedly fell from her bike during the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge on Sunday morning.

Police said about 6.20am the woman was riding between Klump and Kessels Road, Mt Gravatt, when she fell and landed on her head.

She was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition.

A police spokesman said there was no indication that any other rider or vehicle was involved in the crash.

No other major injuries have been reported from the 100km ride from South Bank to the Broadwater Parklands, which is run by Bicycle Queensland.

Anyone with information that could help police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via http://www.crimestoppers.com.au .

yeah i came through just after it happened. she didnt look to good. it was on the down side of the large long hill along the busway there. she would of had some speed going.

[jasonc]

Anyone with information that could help police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via http://www.crimestoppers.com.au .

are they seeing it as a criminal event?

[notwal]

I rode back to Bris too and there were lots of bikes riding back. I was expecting to crawl back by myself but I got in a good bunch and rode it back to Beenleigh. Then the rot set in and I shared the next 40 km with one other bloke. The total distance for the day was 225, another PB. So that's 2 PBs. Yay!

Were you wearing a gap jersey notwal?

That depends. Did I get in your way or something?
What the hell. Yes I was

[Mustang]

My first Bris to GC, I thought the whole ride was a hoot Av 30.10 km for the ride (PB), the start was a farce with every group leaving together, but what the hell what a great day.

[winstonw]

Anyone with information that could help police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via http://www.crimestoppers.com.au .

are they seeing it as a criminal event?

I think they want to rule that out. They probably think at least 1 out of 10,000 riders must have been close at the time.
Three angles:
- did she appear unwell before the fall? meds? cardiovascular event?
- mechanical failure? and if she had the bike recently serviced, the LBS's liability insurance will be in the firing line.
- interference by other riders?

[Dave R32]

If anyone knows anything about this

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/nasty-fall-lands-female-cyclist-in-surgery-after-gold-coast-cycle-challenge-event/story-e6freoof-1226162325565

Nasty fall lands female cyclist in surgery after Gold Coast Cycle Challenge event
A 44-year-old woman is undergoing surgery at the Princess Alexandra after she reportedly fell from her bike during the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge on Sunday morning.

Police said about 6.20am the woman was riding between Klump and Kessels Road, Mt Gravatt, when she fell and landed on her head.

She was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition.

A police spokesman said there was no indication that any other rider or vehicle was involved in the crash.

No other major injuries have been reported from the 100km ride from South Bank to the Broadwater Parklands, which is run by Bicycle Queensland.

Anyone with information that could help police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via http://www.crimestoppers.com.au .

We also came through very soon after the fall, she looked pretty bad.

My wife overheard a conversation later at one of the stops that it was not the result of collision, just high sided over the bars for some reason....don't know as we didn't see it happen.

Otherwise I thought it was a pretty good ride, weather was about perfect, finish area was a lot better. My only complaint was there appeared to be a lot less marshalls and police on duty (those that were did a great job as always), I dont remember having to stop for as many red lights in prior years.

Cheers
Dave.

[dclnmurray]

Have to commend the police and marshals also, I was in a largish pack that finished around 2:43 and as we were a large group tearing down the road we had a cycle cop guide us in and stoping the traffic at the five or so lights prior to the finish. It was cool and such a blast to be in a group of about 80-100 and gunning it through red lights with traffic halted.
Be nice to have that sort of escort all the time.

Cheers

Dave

[Crawf]

That depends. Did I get in your way or something?
What the hell. Yes I was

You were initially in front of me on the return leg, I was going to say g'day, but I took a wrong turn, by the time I got back you had disappeared into the distance.

[armyduck]

Thanks to all the police, organizers, marshals, volunteers and fellow riders. My first gc 100 and I averaged 29kph. Didn't encounter any problems and all the cyclists around me in the 25-30 group seemed well behaved. The odd slow rider on the right but other than that it was a fantastic day and I really enjoyed it.

[Drunkmonkey]

What a great event - perfect weather for a ride. Big thanks to the organisers and volunteers.

I am always dumbfounded every year when a lots of riders overdress for the ride. Long sleeved kits, leg & arm warmers and wind vests - its 18c at 5am......you dont need to rug up like its the middle of winter

They only negative for me is the amount of riders who are on poorly maintained bikes, unable to hold their line or clip in without wobbling all over the road seems to be increasing every year.

[colaiacw]

Had an awesome ride. This was my second round and i was looking for a sub 3 hour time, my time was 2 hours 59 minutes!

The weather was perfect and all riders i was around were great. Did not see any stacks this year which was good. I saw a guy on a fixie and i was trying to keep up!

Looking forward to next year.

[hosko]

Anyone see Channel 7 news last night and the short 3 mins they did on the event?

What time did they get there to do the story I have to wonder?

Someone was riding with a kids chair up front (who was in the footage) who I passed on my way back to the Coomera station so I am going to guess most of us had gone home by the time they arrived.

[Mustang]

My first Bris to GC, could some one explain the start to me???
Supposedly the fastest start first? instructions sent where to be? then every colour is with everyone else at the line up, they blow the hooter & its every rider for themself?
Had a great day, just confused?

[ClownBoy]

It was a nice ride.

I did the first 80km by myself.

Then I tagged onto a group hitting about 42km\hr.

8-9km after taht I foolishly decided to 'break out' and hammer it to the finish.

It turns out I didn;t have a 'break out' left in me and I ended up dragging that group with me for the same speed. I finished buggered and my reward was about 6 guys patting me on the shoulder and saying thanks for the pull!

2:38 I think - Avg speed of 35.6km\hr

[DaveOZ]

My first Bris to GC, could some one explain the start to me???
Supposedly the fastest start first? instructions sent where to be? then every colour is with everyone else at the line up, they blow the hooter & its every rider for themself?
Had a great day, just confused?

It's Queensland - what else would you expect.

[winstonw]

I was in a largish pack that finished around 2:43 and as we were a large group tearing down the road we had a cycle cop guide us in and stoping the traffic at the five or so lights prior to the finish.

Great time DC.
Does anyone know what time the fastest guys do the ride in?

Just did a comprehensive google for news re the event, and there's stuff all.
Just this from the Gold Coast Bulletin, which featured lots of pics of the ride causing traffic jams
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/10/09/355801_gold-coast-news.html



and the Courier-Mail article mentioned above about the woman with the head injury.

No doubt about the media's view on cycling.

[jasonc]

Just did a comprehensive google for news re the event, and there's stuff all.
Just this from the Gold Coast Bulletin, which featured lots of pics of the ride causing traffic jams
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/10/09/355801_gold-coast-news.html
No doubt about the media's view on cycling.

gold coast 600 is on in a few weeks causing more traffic snarls that what we did for 5 hours....

[winstonw]

gold coast 600 is on in a few weeks causing more traffic snarls that what we did for 5 hours....

yeah I thought about the comparison.....but watch the media play it up positively.

As it was we had breakfast and lunch and coffee on the coast = $130...and most of our group had breakky at least, several had family down for lunch, and a couple stayed overnight. We also had a look at a few beach front high rises to consider a 4-5 day stay in the near future, something we hadn't contemplated before. But I suppose our money is worth less than rego paying petrol heads.

[A_P]

i wonder if the full weekend road closure at Queen & Nerang St had a greater impact on traffic than the B2GC.
http://goldcoastrapidtransit.qld.gov.au/workspace/assets/uploads/resources/pdf-southport-queen-nerang-street-intersection-closure-7-october-2011-4e8412e4.pdf
Cant expect much more from the Bulletin these days

[the grid]

Yes the Bulletin is a kneejerk paper. look at there recent crap coverage of the "bat" problem. I think the Gold Coast deserves something better.