Brisbane to Gold Coast 2011

Drunkmonkey · Postby **Drunkmonkey** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:34 pm

Good to see Rachel Nolan did an official ministerial media release for the day (well she got her media people to prepare a media release) :mrgreen:

http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/State ... x?id=77030

Comedian · Postby **Comedian** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:46 pm

Drunkmonkey wrote:Good to see Rachel Nolan did an official ministerial media release for the day (well she got her media people to prepare a media release)

http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/State ... x?id=77030

I'm told she is quite a good and regular rider herself. What's more, she was very supportive of cycling while she was in TMR.

winstonw · Postby **winstonw** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:12 pm

Comedian wrote:I'm told she is quite a good and regular rider herself. What's more, she was very supportive of cycling while she was in TMR.

hmmmm.....http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=39673#p596434

Drunkmonkey · Postby **Drunkmonkey** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:57 pm

winstonw wrote:
Comedian wrote:I'm told she is quite a good and regular rider herself. What's more, she was very supportive of cycling while she was in TMR.

hmmmm.....http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=39673#p596434

Its a stupid rule anyway and completely unenforceable....back on topic :roll:

winstonw · Postby **winstonw** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:19 pm

Drunkmonkey wrote:Its a stupid rule anyway and completely unenforceable....back on topic

The majority of road rules are unenforceable unless a policeperson is a witness.
But it isn't the purpose of road rules to be 'enforced' 24/7.
They are there to educate drivers how to make road use safer for all.
They are there also to apportion personal and insurer liability when an accident happens, and is witnessed.
But I appreciate that's a subtle nuance to get your head around.

Comedian · Postby **Comedian** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:03 pm

winstonw wrote:
Comedian wrote:I'm told she is quite a good and regular rider herself. What's more, she was very supportive of cycling while she was in TMR.

hmmmm.....http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=39673#p596434

Well that's just what I was told by an insider. IMHO things did change for the better while she was there. We have another minister now though.

Anyway, maybe you should run for parliament and transform us into the Netherlands in one term. Go on.. I'll vote for you. :mrgreen:

Undertow · Postby **Undertow** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:42 pm

Mostly a good day, first time I've done it non-stop as I decided to ditch my friends who like using the rest stops. Did it in 3:08, mostly solo but tagging on groups whenever I could.

The only annoying part was the start, I was there before the 30+ group was scheduled to start, but was way back along grey street. By the time we'd got to the start (which was about 10min before the scheduled start time for the 25+) I noticed that the 25+ group were being filtered in with the 30+ and everyone was going together. What's the point of having different categories to supposedly separate the faster and slower riders when they are just going to start them all at the same time?

Drunkmonkey · Postby **Drunkmonkey** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:47 pm

Undertow wrote:Mostly a good day, first time I've done it non-stop as I decided to ditch my friends who like using the rest stops. Did it in 3:08, mostly solo but tagging on groups whenever I could.

The only annoying part was the start, I was there before the 30+ group was scheduled to start, but was way back along grey street. By the time we'd got to the start (which was about 10min before the scheduled start time for the 25+) I noticed that the 25+ group were being filtered in with the 30+ and everyone was going together. What's the point of having different categories to supposedly separate the faster and slower riders when they are just going to start them all at the same time?

The only explanation I can think of is that a lot of 30+ riders were in the left hand lane (seen this with my own eyes), not right as per the instructions - and I think thats why they let everyone off at the same time.

Would have been easier to make those in the wrong lane get in the correct lane, or wait until that lane was due to be released.

ValleyForge · Postby **ValleyForge** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:52 pm

Drunkmonkey wrote:
Undertow wrote:Mostly a good day, first time I've done it non-stop as I decided to ditch my friends who like using the rest stops. Did it in 3:08, mostly solo but tagging on groups whenever I could.

The only annoying part was the start, I was there before the 30+ group was scheduled to start, but was way back along grey street. By the time we'd got to the start (which was about 10min before the scheduled start time for the 25+) I noticed that the 25+ group were being filtered in with the 30+ and everyone was going together. What's the point of having different categories to supposedly separate the faster and slower riders when they are just going to start them all at the same time?

The only explanation I can think of is that a lot of 30+ riders were in the left hand lane (seen this with my own eyes), not right as per the instructions - and I think thats why they let everyone off at the same time.

Would have been easier to make those in the wrong lane get in the correct lane, or wait until that lane was due to be released.

Also the distinct lack of realism & humility in a lot of the >30 group. Still - I passed lots of cannon-fodder with red numbers. Feel good factor +++

Waza · Postby **Waza** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:58 pm

ValleyForge wrote:
Drunkmonkey wrote:
Undertow wrote:Mostly a good day, first time I've done it non-stop as I decided to ditch my friends who like using the rest stops. Did it in 3:08, mostly solo but tagging on groups whenever I could.

The only annoying part was the start, I was there before the 30+ group was scheduled to start, but was way back along grey street. By the time we'd got to the start (which was about 10min before the scheduled start time for the 25+) I noticed that the 25+ group were being filtered in with the 30+ and everyone was going together. What's the point of having different categories to supposedly separate the faster and slower riders when they are just going to start them all at the same time?

The only explanation I can think of is that a lot of 30+ riders were in the left hand lane (seen this with my own eyes), not right as per the instructions - and I think thats why they let everyone off at the same time.

Would have been easier to make those in the wrong lane get in the correct lane, or wait until that lane was due to be released.

Also the distinct lack of realism & humility in a lot of the >30 group. Still - I passed lots of cannon-fodder with red numbers. Feel good factor +++

i was only in the 20-25 group and not a strong rider myself. and even i was passing many 30+ riders. would of been the usual that they wanted to leave earlier or they thought they were better riders than they actually were.

winstonw · Postby **winstonw** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:37 pm

Comedian wrote:Anyway, maybe you should run for parliament and transform us into the Netherlands in one term. Go on.. I'll vote for you.

Hmmmm.....nope that won't work. I don't have that je ne sais quoi that instills faith amongst the GPS chattering class.
Gee even Rachel is an Ippy Grammar old girl, and no nasty public school for Annastacia either.

Anyway, Labor have got it figured - increase the population of SE Qld 50% and that will supply the additional tax revenue to build more cycling infrastructure, just as it is doing for water supply. It'd be an uphill battle competing with candidates that can swing an electorate with stuff like that.

Besides, reversing 50 years of Mad Max culture amongst the electorate and its elites is a harder call than anything the Dutch have done.

London Boy · Postby **London Boy** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:55 pm

Waza wrote:
ValleyForge wrote:Also the distinct lack of realism & humility in a lot of the >30 group. Still - I passed lots of cannon-fodder with red numbers. Feel good factor +++

i was only in the 20-25 group and not a strong rider myself. and even i was passing many 30+ riders. would of been the usual that they wanted to leave earlier or they thought they were better riders than they actually were.

I think a lot of that is that you get a lot of people not regular riders and they just don't get how hard you actually have to work to maintain pace. Especially when you get a bit of an incline.

30+ doesn't sound like much, but when it's all your own work it starts sounding a bit more impressive.

All of which said, Cav's average over the 266 km world championship distance was 47kmh. Even buried in a friendly peleton that takes some work, and shows the difference between us mere mortals and the professionals.

marsbe · Postby **marsbe** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:06 pm

London Boy wrote:
All of which said, Cav's average over the 266 km world championship distance was 47kmh. Even buried in a friendly peleton that takes some work, and shows the difference between us mere mortals and the professionals.

I've got a bit of work to do.

Overall I had a great day, my first 100km ride completed in 3:11 averaging 32km/h including rest stops. This was mainly just a mate and I pulling ourselves along. Couldn't be happier!

Any idea when ride photos are out?

Hamster · Postby **Hamster** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:32 pm

i was only in the 20-25 group and not a strong rider myself. and even i was passing many 30+ riders. would of been the usual that they wanted to leave earlier or they thought they were better riders than they actually were.

That was my experience as well. I was on a 26 year old bike powered by a very old engine that is in desperate need of a major overhaul and as a blue rider I was catching and passing orange and red riders with them to be never seen again.

It is however humbling to be on an old but fairly good road bike and to be struggling up a hill and to be overtaken by a green rider mounted on a god-awful mountain bike. There is a lot to be said for having some really low gears.

schurms · Postby **schurms** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 8:44 pm

I also saw people starting at the various bus stations, obviously skipping the start to try and get a headstart. Whats the point it is not a race?

dclnmurray · Postby **dclnmurray** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:03 pm

schurms wrote:I also saw people starting at the various bus stations, obviously skipping the start to try and get a headstart. Whats the point it is not a race?

That is their loss and also saw it as well but weren't bothered by it.

As for 30km riders in left lane I admit I was one of a number that did this. Had to because when we turned up the marshals had dumped everyone in the right hand lane so we were behind lots of blue and orange. We thought screw this and meandered up the left hand side to jump in which we did without any problems. This was well before the start time by the way.

Cheers

Dave

themerlin · Postby **themerlin** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:04 pm

Waza wrote:i was only in the 20-25 group and not a strong rider myself. and even i was passing many 30+ riders. would of been the usual that they wanted to leave earlier or they thought they were better riders than they actually were.

I was a bit worried about going in the 30+ group, but some you could passed on foot

Max · Postby **Max** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:05 pm

schurms wrote:I also saw people starting at the various bus stations, obviously skipping the start to try and get a headstart. Whats the point it is not a race?

Maybe they were trying to avoid getting caught in the thronging masses at the start. We were lucky. We were running late and rolled in just as the very last people were leaving. It was fantastic. No stop-go-stop-go, no sudden stops because a noob in front of you near clipstacked, no having to get past a swarm of slowpokes. It was easily the best GC start evah. :mrgreen:

Max

Drunkmonkey · Postby **Drunkmonkey** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:11 pm

themerlin wrote:
Waza wrote:i was only in the 20-25 group and not a strong rider myself. and even i was passing many 30+ riders. would of been the usual that they wanted to leave earlier or they thought they were better riders than they actually were.

I was a bit worried about going in the 30+ group, but some you could passed on foot

Some of those slower riders were sponsors i noticed.

schurms · Postby **schurms** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:13 pm

Oh I wasn't bothered about people skipping in at the sides on the way down - it was there loss. I was in the first bunch to get to the Gold Coast. Police escort the entire way. 39.6kph average.

ldrcycles · Postby **ldrcycles** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:27 pm

schurms wrote:Oh I wasn't bothered about people skipping in at the sides on the way down - it was there loss. I was in the first bunch to get to the Gold Coast. Police escort the entire way. 39.6kph average.

If that was the average, what were you doing along the busway? :shock:

ldrcycles · Postby **ldrcycles** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:29 pm

Oh and does anyone know if Anna Bligh did the ride this year? Dunno if it's just my memory playing tricks on me but didn't she do it a few years ago, and everyone was joking about wanting to chuck a stick in her spokes.

schurms · Postby **schurms** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:41 pm

ldrcycles wrote:If that was the average, what were you doing along the busway?

First group took 2.35 hour to roll from the start to end at Gold Coast. Busway is only a short distance in the overall journey. So no matter how fast you go down the busway it counts for little unless you can maintain above your average through all parts of the ride - to cater for the slower turns, going uphill, thru that horrible mud transition at stop 1 ...

winstonw · Postby **winstonw** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:16 pm

schurms, I am in awe. You are next year's rabbit. watch out.
I averaged 34kph when 17% overweight. I'll be gunning for ya in 2012.

schurms · Postby **schurms** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 5:01 am

winstonw wrote:schurms, I am in awe. You are next year's rabbit. watch out. I averaged 34kph when 17% overweight. I'll be gunning for ya in 2012.

I went no faster or slower than the bunch I rode with. The trick is get the bunch and hang in there. Get in early to get up the front - 4.30am. BTW i am 50 so anyone can do it.