Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

timbo
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1001
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:42 pm
Location: sydney

Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby timbo » Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:24 pm

Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

The Sydney to Newcastle Challenge is New South Wales' newest single day ride, fully supported by Bicycle Network, Australia's largest bike riding organisation.



27 June 2013: Bicycle Network today announced an exciting new bike ride from Sydney to Newcastle. The ride will be held for the first time on Sunday 16 February 2014.

It is set to grow into one of Australia’s premier bike rides, attracting thousands of riders. The 170km ride is a challenge event, not a race and will be open to anyone who can tackle the distance and the hills.


Chief Executive Officer Craig Richards explained why Sydney to Newcastle is the latest addition to Bicycle Network’s existing suite of challenge rides: the iconic Bupa Around the Bay and the internationally acclaimed SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge.


"NSW riders have been crying out for a testing one day challenge ride. Bike riding is booming as people realise it’s a great way to improve your health. But our roads are often hostile environments for riders in small groups or going solo,” he said.


"To ride from Sydney to Newcastle without traffic management and back up support is taking a big risk. Rightly, only a handful of intrepid cyclists do it. "We’re taking care of the worries so riders can focus on what they do best—pedaling hard and enjoying the camaraderie. They get to enjoy the type of conditions riders should experience every day."


Richards explained that the Sydney to Newcastle ride was chosen because NSW riders wanted an event which genuinely challenged their fitness, yet was accessible and achievable.


"Sydney to Newcastle is a great point to point ride. Newcastle is also an ideal place to finish an event. It has great facilities and plenty of opportunities to entertain the finishers and their friends and family.


https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/gener ... des/95094/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rogan
Posts: 985
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:31 pm
Location: Sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby rogan » Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:34 pm

Saw it, thinking about it, thinking that if I do it, I will try to get to Newcastle by about 1 pm then turn around and ride back home, giving me 320 km or so.
Image

timbo
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1001
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:42 pm
Location: sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby timbo » Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:32 am

It seems NSW Police are having second thoughts, as they do for a lot of cycling events.

Ride hits pause button

Entries for the Sydney to Newcastle Challenge were due to open on Monday. We know you are "champing at the bit" to be among the first to sign up and you wanted more precise details about the route.

But, due to unanticipated issues during consultations with NSW Police and the NSW Department of Roads and Maritime Services about the route of the ride, we are unable to reveal it, or to open entries at this time.

We hope the news is not too disappointing for riders wanting to take on the challenge. We hope to be able to cheer you up soon enough with all the details and get the entries in your hot little hands. For updates as they happen, please follow us via Facebook or Twitter, or check the website periodically.

r2160
Posts: 1192
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:01 pm
Location: Bass Hill, NSW

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby r2160 » Fri Aug 02, 2013 12:47 pm

I just find it unbelievable that NSW is the only state where the Police and RTA make it unbelievably hard to hold an event like this.

cheers
Glenn
-----------
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever" Lance Armstrong

AndrewBurns
Posts: 996
Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2011 2:36 pm

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby AndrewBurns » Fri Aug 02, 2013 1:26 pm

Police and road authorities admit that it's unsafe for a bicycle to ride on NSW roads, do nothing about it.
Image

greatapoc
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:29 pm

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby greatapoc » Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:48 pm

Apparently these events aren't common in NSW ;)
Plotting the route for the Sydney to Newcastle Challenge has been, well, a challenge.

Big community bike riding events are not common in New South Wales and although they operate successfully and trouble-free in other places, authorities in the Premier State are nervous.

So to make it easier for everyone, we have opted for a simpler route in year one.

It's no less of a challenge; the distance is the same and the climbs are just as testing, but we'll start in Gosford in 2014 rather than Sydney.

It's a shame we'll miss the iconic stretch of the Pacific Highway out of Sydney, but the alternative out from Gosford is also fantastic riding.

So let's make Sunday, 16 February, 2014 a great success. Together, we can show the NSW community what a wonderful experience these rides can be. And once we have a successful ride to Newcastle under our belt it will be less of a battle to win route permits for this and other events in future years.

Stay committed and keep spreading the word. Keep turned in for updates on entries opening and the exact route.

timbo
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1001
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:42 pm
Location: sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby timbo » Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:28 am

Latest drama for the organisers is that the authorities want to put a limit on riders doing the event, so any further entries are being put on hold for the time being. Its one drama after another for the organisers thanks to the likes of the RTA and Police.

Le Mong
Posts: 720
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:15 pm

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby Le Mong » Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:33 am

Just DIY it ;)

http://www.strava.com/activities/98867033" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

User avatar
simonn
Posts: 3763
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:46 am
Location: Sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby simonn » Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:49 am

"To ride from Sydney to Newcastle without traffic management and back up support is taking a big risk."

No it's not. It is about the easiest long distance ride to do. Once you get to Calga it is comparatively flat and you are never that far from a train station for bail out and shops to refuel.

Le Mong
Posts: 720
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:15 pm

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby Le Mong » Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:55 pm

Exactly. I did Morisset - Brooklyn return. Only 2-3 idiots. Cramped horribly from the 43deg day and just sat at a servo drinking powerade and eating salty chips till my legs cooperated at the 150km mark. I'm tempted to do Morisset - Hornsby return on friday and if the legs are ok change kit and take on more water/food and add a lake loop with a newcastle CBD onto it for 300kmin a day.

User avatar
queequeg
Posts: 6477
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:09 am

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby queequeg » Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:36 pm

timbo wrote:Latest drama for the organisers is that the authorities want to put a limit on riders doing the event, so any further entries are being put on hold for the time being. Its one drama after another for the organisers thanks to the likes of the RTA and Police.
It is nuts. I don't see RTA or police putting limits on how many people can drive to work over the harbour bridge, but they get spooked by more than 1 cyclist heading somewhere.

I reckon everyone should just do the Sydney to Newcastle route an let the RTA and police figure it out. Why does riding a bike from a to b need to be "special event"?
'11 Lynskey Cooper CX, '00 Hillbrick Steel Racing (Total Rebuild '10), '16 Cervelo R5, '18 Mason BokekTi

Le Mong
Posts: 720
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:15 pm

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby Le Mong » Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:49 pm

Because Gumbyment

User avatar
simonn
Posts: 3763
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:46 am
Location: Sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby simonn » Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:14 pm

queequeg wrote:
timbo wrote:Latest drama for the organisers is that the authorities want to put a limit on riders doing the event, so any further entries are being put on hold for the time being. Its one drama after another for the organisers thanks to the likes of the RTA and Police.
It is nuts. I don't see RTA or police putting limits on how many people can drive to work over the harbour bridge, but they get spooked by more than 1 cyclist heading somewhere.

I reckon everyone should just do the Sydney to Newcastle route an let the RTA and police figure it out. Why does riding a bike from a to b need to be "special event"?
It is because it IS a special event. If a few hundred riders happened to ride the same route at the same time, then it would not be.

User avatar
biker jk
Posts: 6998
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:18 pm
Location: Sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby biker jk » Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:38 pm

NSW Authorities will only allow 200 riders to participate. :shock: Please join the Australian Cyclists Party since political representation is the only way cyclists will get a fair deal in this country.

rogan
Posts: 985
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:31 pm
Location: Sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby rogan » Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:54 pm

timbo wrote:Latest drama for the organisers is that the authorities want to put a limit on riders doing the event, so any further entries are being put on hold for the time being. Its one drama after another for the organisers thanks to the likes of the RTA and Police.
So yes, the limit is 200 riders.

Thanks to the NSW police, RMS, and all others involved in this debacle. Great to have you guys looking out for our safety.

I don't agree with everything BN says and does, but they're much more effective advocates than the equivalent NSW body (BNSW aren't even quoted in news reports on the 20 year NSW master bike plan issued yesterday. Is there at least some response on the BNSW website? No, not that I can find.).

Speaking to Max Stevens (CA high performance manager) a few weeks ago, he reckons that the Tour Down Under experience has made SA police and road authorities much more cooperative with racing events such as NRS (and I'm guessing cycling events generally). Here in the most populous state, we just get to battle on with outdated "it's too hard" thinking from state and local government of all colours, and their agencies and authorities.
Image

Le Mong
Posts: 720
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:15 pm

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby Le Mong » Fri Dec 20, 2013 5:21 pm

Just ride it with mates? Its not even a decent ride now it just leaves from Gosford.

User avatar
WyvernRH
Posts: 3175
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:41 pm
Location: Newcastle NSW

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby WyvernRH » Tue Dec 24, 2013 8:11 am

rogan wrote: I don't agree with everything BN says and does, but they're much more effective advocates than the equivalent NSW body (BNSW aren't even quoted in news reports on the 20 year NSW master bike plan issued yesterday. Is there at least some response on the BNSW website? No, not that I can find.).
BNSW still exist? That's news to me.. as a regional NSW resident (Hunter, not that regional) and an ex-member I thought they had all curled up and died in their new offices from caffeine overdose....

petie
Posts: 725
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:16 pm
Location: The Ice rink, bring skates

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby petie » Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:02 am

Wow, I hadn't even heard of this till now. No surprises though, way to go "authorities"....

timbo
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1001
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:42 pm
Location: sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby timbo » Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:33 pm

For those who pencilled in this ride for 2015, get the eraser out. Its not happening.
It would make a good weekend ride actually. Sydney to Newcastle one day, and the return trip the next day.

I received this email today,

Hi Timbo

We wanted you to be the first to know - we will not run the Newcastle Challenge in 2015.

We’ve exhausted every possible avenue to improve this event. Our research shows that the route between Gosford and Newcastle is not the best option for riders and our thousands of members and friends deserve better.

We haven’t given up. Now we are even more committed to delivering world-class mass-participation events in NSW.

We know that riders want great rides – and we’ve proved that it’s possible.

Our office in NSW is open for business and with your support we’re pedalling hard to improve conditions for all bike riders.

Stay tuned for updates.

For more information about the work we're doing in your state, visit our website.

Le Mong
Posts: 720
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:15 pm

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby Le Mong » Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:01 am

Not the best? I ride all of those roads regularly... And CBD to CBD is actually a pretty good ride.

User avatar
queequeg
Posts: 6477
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:09 am

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby queequeg » Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:12 am

It's all the red tape in NSW. You can ride the route any time you like, just not with closed roads. The amount of paperwork is horrific.
Hopefully the Sydney to Newcastle Overnight will run again this summer. It is amazing what you can do when 200 people coincidentally want to ride to the same place at the same time on a public road. Apparently they call it "traffic".
'11 Lynskey Cooper CX, '00 Hillbrick Steel Racing (Total Rebuild '10), '16 Cervelo R5, '18 Mason BokekTi

r2160
Posts: 1192
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:01 pm
Location: Bass Hill, NSW

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby r2160 » Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:36 pm

Ah NSW, the only state that makes it almost impossible to provide organised rides . . .

Its a shame. I had a mate working in that division a little while ago. The attitude by the police was reject everything and see what happens.

cheers
Glenn
-----------
"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever" Lance Armstrong

User avatar
queequeg
Posts: 6477
Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:09 am

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby queequeg » Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:09 pm

r2160 wrote:Ah NSW, the only state that makes it almost impossible to provide organised rides . . .

Its a shame. I had a mate working in that division a little while ago. The attitude by the police was reject everything and see what happens.

cheers
Glenn
It's also why there is no Sydney Tweed Ride this year. Instead, people are being encouraged to coincidentally ride to Centennial Park at the same time from a few key locations, but unsupported.

No doubt this is also why events like Ride to Conquer Cancer can't (or won't) publish the ride route, so you only have a rough idea where you'll be riding.

I suspect it easier in NSW to get a Casino approved than it is for a bike ride.
'11 Lynskey Cooper CX, '00 Hillbrick Steel Racing (Total Rebuild '10), '16 Cervelo R5, '18 Mason BokekTi

User avatar
simonn
Posts: 3763
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:46 am
Location: Sydney

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby simonn » Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:20 pm

1. Get some friends who cycle
2. Say "lets ride to Newcastle"
3. Ride to Newcastle

User avatar
leximack
Posts: 3400
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:14 pm

Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge

Postby leximack » Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:33 pm

simonn wrote:1. Get some friends who cycle
2. Say "lets ride to Newcastle"
3. Ride to Newcastle

syd to newcastle, stay overnight, ride back the next day is on my Cycling bucket list.
I will do it before years end.
For long rides i invite a few mates, sometimes everyone turns up sometimes i end up going solo, its all good.
If you want to do a ride, then do it, you dont need someone else to organise it for you.

Don

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users