Great WA Bike Ride 2011, 19-27 March

[just4tehhalibut]

Just got an email from Bicycle Victoria (no, not the CycloSportif lot) with the dates for next year's event. Bookings will open in July so we should have a route promulgated by then. If, like me, you have to book your holidays well in advance get to it. The Great Escapade was 9 days of fun, so I'm interested in the GWABR.

More details to follow (obviously)...

[Double-Gee]

"2011 Rider Route update
Friday 18 March MANJIMUP (pre ride, camping)
1 Saturday 19 March PEMBERTON 51kms
2 Sunday 20 March Karridale 105kms
3 Monday 21 March MARGARET RIVER (via Augusta) 73kms
4 Tuesday 22 March MARGARET RIVER (Rest Day) 0kms
5 Wednesday 23 March DUNSBOROUGH 63kms
6 Thursday 24 March BUSSELTON 70kms
7 Friday 25 March BALINGUP 100kms
8 Saturday 26 March NANNUP 43kms
9 Sunday 27 March MANJIMUP 56kms (finish site)
Total = 561kms

We are busily working with Councils to confirm the Route as soon as possible so please stay tuned to this page where we will announce the next exciting town shortly!

We are busily working on the daily cycling distances so please stay tuned!

Entries open in July 2010 and you can pay a $200 deposit to reserve your spot."

Edit - Route updated 20/05/2010
Edit - Route updated (again) 21/05/2010
Edit - Route updated (again) 10/06/2010

[just4tehhalibut]

There be hills in that lot.

[just4tehhalibut]

And now they have day 2 blank, Nannup is now day 8. That'd be a bitch of a ride on the last day, doing Nannup to Manjimup and trying to meet the coaches and box up the gear for the trip home. I saw enough panic at the end of the Great Escapade last year, on a short last stage. I'd guess that they'd want to keep off the SouthWest Highway even if the bit between Bridgetown (once you survive the climb out of Nannup) and Manjimup is relatively smooth and easy going, however the reverse of the stage we did on the GE from Pemberton to Nannup had some ripper hills, as did the side roads between Bridgetown and Manjimup. Not the sort of thing to have when you're panicking to get the bus home. Stay tuned on the calendar.

As like the last GWABR they're offering a free bike to WAers who sign up early. These were okay, basically set up with standard components so the on-hand mechanics on the ride (the WARBYs) had less range of tools and spare to carry, okay later as an entry-level commuter bike and there are still on a few I see on the Kwinana Freeway in the morning but I saw one go straight away into the local Salvo's front window. Me thinks I'll have something better to ride anyway.

Anyone here ever volunteered for the previous GWABR or GE? If you did as a WARBY I'd be interested as to how it went.

[John Lewis]

All I can say is don't be a volly on the Sleep easy or whatever it was called. We were short of workers I think about 9 of us for lord knows how many tents. Later they got some back packers to help and offered refunds to riders who helped.

Wouldn't mind being a WARBY though.

Regardless it was all a great experience and we went on to be riders in the great Tassy ride.

John

[lrjhM3]

Heya,

I've been a WARBY on the WA GE 2009 and the GVBR 2009. Loved it and would volunteer again in a heartbeat.

It is an extremely busy and at times significantly taxing job, not much time for site seeing or enjoying the view! As an idea of the likely workload, the WA GE 2009 had around 2300 riders and 10 WARBYs, and the GVBR 2009 had over 5,500 riders and 18 WARBYs.

Long days out on the road, up before the sun and back in the late arvo, sometimes sunset. LOTS of punctures repairs (you get real good at them!) and much simple mechanicals type stuff. Generally some light volunteer duties within camp if you're one of the early WARBYs into camp (putting up WARBY tents etc).

The WARBY teams I've been on have been fantastic - everyone assists everyone else, great sense of camaraderie, and fun. The Volunteer support crew (the volunteers who support the army of volunteers) is fantastic. The events are run pretty much like clockwork - BV is an extremely professional operator in this arena.

It's not a picnic - it can be tough, tiring and testing. DON'T expect it to be like taking a payed tour where you are the paying customer.

It's all about supporting the riders, ensuring they have the best, safest and trouble-free time they can. If you love riding, meeting people, and assisting them to keep going whether mechanically or mentally, then you'll eat it up. It's extremely rewarding!

[Double-Gee]

Previous post updated.

All towns now listed and kilometres added. 2 x 100-ish km days.

[Baalzamon]

Previous post updated.

All towns now listed and kilometres added. 2 x 100-ish km days.

Are you doing any training for this Double-Gee? I'm gearing up for the Audax Perth - Albany - Perth ride in under 4 months and will be continue doing long rides after that, but focusing more on hills.

[just4tehhalibut]

And they call this a stunning route
http://www.bv.com.au/file/image/GWABR11 ... 1-High.jpg

The bit from Pemberton to Karridale will be brilliant, the bit travelling through Donnybrook around the back to Balingup has the monster hills of the Great Escapade route and the Balingup to Nannup bit is short but memorable (and hell for any of the motorcyclists who frequent that stretch, coming the other way that day). Rest day is Margaret River, time enough for the chocolate factory.
And they've started taking some bookings.

[GrumpySmurf]

Personally, I'm annoyed that they only give the free bike to new members. I had joined up as a member for the Cyclo Sportif so now I miss out on the free bike.

[just4tehhalibut]

Well if you were thinking of doing the ride anyway perhaps you can register as your cat or something, including with the BWA, just for the bike. Would the extra $95 be worth it? Would having your name on all your luggage and id as 'Tiddles' be worth it?

[stang1]

The University will not allow me 1 week off