Great Perth Bike Ride (Santos)

[Tornado]

Who's in? I'll be doing the 53km version.

[zh_302]

Yep, doing the 53k aswell. Hope the wind stays away this year..

[_mike_]

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/wa/perth/ ... d-forecast" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
looking a little breezy again

[Lizzy]

Hrmn, yes, 18-20kts SSE by the looks.

I'm not in the ride but I do have to ride into the city for 8ish, for a work thing rrrright by Langley park, promises to be interesting!

[fixed]

Too many numpties, too many of my friends have been brought down by ignorant riders, never again.

[Tornado]

Good luck Lizzy. Hope you don't have to push too hard against the flow.

@Fixed Yeah there can be a fair few numpties. I'll just be cruising with a few mates. The MS ride saw plenty eat the road. Saw plenty of bark off bodies that day.

[hondaboy]

Only saw one bloke smashed up along on the freeway this year.

[Parker]

Apparently a girl got taken out and then her head was run over by a bicycles...

I was helping out the club It was lovely not to ride

[Tornado]

Thought with that girl. Hope she is ok. It was my first Santos. Some of the courtesys I take for granted riding witj experienced people were really missing yesterday. Too many trying to lay down a hot lap at any expense. Hopefully most people avoided strife.

[Dobo]

I got taken out from behind at about the 18km mark. lost some bark and have bruised hip and ribs. Far too many inexperienced people weaving all over the road. I don't think I'll dot it again next year. might try doing some of the Audax rides instead.

[Aphexchefpusher]

Was in the second group off for the 106km, managed to get round 7 mins before the 53km started and finished in 2:48 at an avg of 37kph. The faster groups (fortunately) appeared to be full of more experienced riders, lots of calling and a mainly tight double paceline ridden all the way around. However a couple of mates who rode slower said there a few nasty spills , that ride's off the tick list now, glad to get round alive......

[Baalzamon]

I got taken out from behind at about the 18km mark. lost some bark and have bruised hip and ribs. Far too many inexperienced people weaving all over the road. I don't think I'll dot it again next year. might try doing some of the Audax rides instead.

Sorry to hear that, but this is why I flat out refuse to do the Great Bike Ride and the Freeway Bike Hike. Too many inexperienced people who don't know how to ride in a group. Will be good to see you trying a few Audax rides

[Karati]

Was a pretty good ride. Saw two crashes. Both due to going too hot into corners or roundabouts. Not too many dumb moves but I seemed to be on my own between groups a lot of the way. Was trying to get a bit of a pace line going but one guy obviously just had no idea and would push back into the group every time rather than running in a line.

Funny watching all the "fast guys" suddenly not being so fast when they hit the hill at Mosman Park.

[dougalh]

Was in the second group off for the 106km, managed to get round 7 mins before the 53km started and finished in 2:48 at an avg of 37kph.

Ditto 2nd wave and same time, we mustve been in the same group for most of the ride, I got 2:48:51 as I got dropped by the group going through south perth.

[_mike_]

Was in the second group off for the 106km, managed to get round 7 mins before the 53km started and finished in 2:48 at an avg of 37kph. The faster groups (fortunately) appeared to be full of more experienced riders, lots of calling and a mainly tight double paceline ridden all the way around. However a couple of mates who rode slower said there a few nasty spills , that ride's off the tick list now, glad to get round alive......

I started in the 4th group. Finished in 2:52 which im happy with. Was with a small / safe fast group for the last 2/3rds of the first lap. The 53km started shortly after we crossed the start / finish line. The first wave literally flew past us!! Joined in with the 2nd wave and it very quickly became a large peleton. Good for a tow but was a dangerous 2nd lap with a few close calls & a few accidents!!! Enjoyed the day but can get nasty quickly

Mike

[roller]

had a great day and got around in 2'45-ish for the 106km.

looking forward to next year

[Lizzy]

Good luck Lizzy. Hope you don't have to push too hard against the flow.

Well it turned out to be so easy I ended up with time on my hands for a breakky stop, nice! Gave the PSP a miss for the most part and took Labouchere/Mill Pt, and must have come across the foreshore between waves or something.

Have been tempted a couple of times to sign up for these big rides, but have thought better of it mainly for fear of being one of the numpties described here

[Phil]

Last Sunday was a great day to hit the Kalamunda MTB circuit - forgotten how much fun it is. Had not been since the last Santos Bike ride but will hit the trails every couple of weeks now I have a bunch of roadies turned to the dirty side

[Trepidious]

Was in the second group off for the 106km, managed to get round 7 mins before the 53km started and finished in 2:48 at an avg of 37kph. The faster groups (fortunately) appeared to be full of more experienced riders, lots of calling and a mainly tight double paceline ridden all the way around. However a couple of mates who rode slower said there a few nasty spills , that ride's off the tick list now, glad to get round alive......

I started in the 4th group. Finished in 2:52 which im happy with. Was with a small / safe fast group for the last 2/3rds of the first lap. The 53km started shortly after we crossed the start / finish line. The first wave literally flew past us!! Joined in with the 2nd wave and it very quickly became a large peleton. Good for a tow but was a dangerous 2nd lap with a few close calls & a few accidents!!! Enjoyed the day but can get nasty quickly

Mike

Nice to do these rides from time to time, makes riding on the road feel a lot safer . Think I ended up in the same group as you did Mike as the 1 lappers caught me at the Old Swan Brewery.

I did the 2 lapper - turned out to be good fun for the first lap as we managed to form a nice little group after going through Osborne Park. Lots of signalling, swapping the lead etc, not too bad. On the second lap though the single-lap riders caught up pretty quickly and things started to get scary with the lack of indication and people knowing the route. Sure enough when we got to South Perth turning into Mends Street I saw my first off and nearly saw plenty more down the back of McCallum Lane where those damned speed humps were. Still, good to know that my brakes are in good working order...

On a positive note I followed the circuit back down to North Freo and heads back home via Cottesloe and Scarborough which was far more relaxing the third time around. Plus it's nice when they leave all the traffic cones out for you allowing you and the traffic marshals still stop cars to let you roll through

[ColinOldnCranky]

Too many numpties, too many of my friends have been brought down by ignorant riders, never again.

As always, people need to ride to the conditions. It is one of those community-events sort of things we have every weekend these days. And a rare opportunities for "numpties" to stretch themselves out a bit.

Anyone more serious should be aware of that already. It is unfortunate if that precludes you from the event, I'd be in it if I could be accomodated.

[_mike_]

Was in the second group off for the 106km, managed to get round 7 mins before the 53km started and finished in 2:48 at an avg of 37kph. The faster groups (fortunately) appeared to be full of more experienced riders, lots of calling and a mainly tight double paceline ridden all the way around. However a couple of mates who rode slower said there a few nasty spills , that ride's off the tick list now, glad to get round alive......

I started in the 4th group. Finished in 2:52 which im happy with. Was with a small / safe fast group for the last 2/3rds of the first lap. The 53km started shortly after we crossed the start / finish line. The first wave literally flew past us!! Joined in with the 2nd wave and it very quickly became a large peleton. Good for a tow but was a dangerous 2nd lap with a few close calls & a few accidents!!! Enjoyed the day but can get nasty quickly

Mike

Nice to do these rides from time to time, makes riding on the road feel a lot safer . Think I ended up in the same group as you did Mike as the 1 lappers caught me at the Old Swan Brewery.

I did the 2 lapper - turned out to be good fun for the first lap as we managed to form a nice little group after going through Osborne Park. Lots of signalling, swapping the lead etc, not too bad. On the second lap though the single-lap riders caught up pretty quickly and things started to get scary with the lack of indication and people knowing the route. Sure enough when we got to South Perth turning into Mends Street I saw my first off and nearly saw plenty more down the back of McCallum Lane where those damned speed humps were. Still, good to know that my brakes are in good working order...

On a positive note I followed the circuit back down to North Freo and heads back home via Cottesloe and Scarborough which was far more relaxing the third time around. Plus it's nice when they leave all the traffic cones out for you allowing you and the traffic marshals still stop cars to let you roll through

Yeh swan brewery is where the first wave passed me. If its the same little group I tagged on with 2 strong riders along mc cabe st ---> a fellow bhp billiton sponsored rider and a guy wearing a red jersey (powerhouse who did a lot of the work). Group got larger as we progressed and everyone worked well 2gether / good signalling etc .

Wasnt far behind when that rider went down on mends st. I 4got how severe those speed humps are along mcCallum lane, landed a little crossed up hitting the first one on the exit of a corner Nice new rims weren't too happy though! a little out of true now.

Pics are up btw, going to have a look in a bit

Mike

[ColinOldnCranky]

I chased the ride from Applecross to the end. I did the same last year and it seemed, to me, that there were a lot less riders this year. Or was it just that I was out at a different time?

[Trepidious]

Apparently there was record numbers this year so can't imagine they'll be dropping prices or changing things for next year's event.

Yeh swan brewery is where the first wave passed me. If its the same little group I tagged on with 2 strong riders along mc cabe st ---> a fellow bhp billiton sponsored rider and a guy wearing a red jersey (powerhouse who did a lot of the work). Group got larger as we progressed and everyone worked well 2gether / good signalling etc .

Wasnt far behind when that rider went down on mends st. I 4got how severe those speed humps are along mcCallum lane, landed a little crossed up hitting the first one on the exit of a corner Nice new rims weren't too happy though! a little out of true now.

Pics are up btw, going to have a look in a bit

Mike

Haha, sort of an odd way of doing this but "Hi Mike". I was wearing my red Castelli jersey that day, definitely remember you and your mate in the BHP jerseys. Was good that we built that group + picked up the chap with the tri-bars, I wasn't going to survive another lap.

[Tornado]

I did the 2 lapper - turned out to be good fun for the first lap as we managed to form a nice little group after going through Osborne Park.

Ozzy Park? Did you get lost. Was it Mosman Park?

Nice work whipping out 2 laps by the way. After a close call with pneumonia a few weeks back I nearly died doing one lap. I was 15 mins off my Ocean ride time from just over a month back.

[_mike_]

Apparently there was record numbers this year so can't imagine they'll be dropping prices or changing things for next year's event.

Yeh swan brewery is where the first wave passed me. If its the same little group I tagged on with 2 strong riders along mc cabe st ---> a fellow bhp billiton sponsored rider and a guy wearing a red jersey (powerhouse who did a lot of the work). Group got larger as we progressed and everyone worked well 2gether / good signalling etc .

Wasnt far behind when that rider went down on mends st. I 4got how severe those speed humps are along mcCallum lane, landed a little crossed up hitting the first one on the exit of a corner Nice new rims weren't too happy though! a little out of true now.

Pics are up btw, going to have a look in a bit

Mike

Haha, sort of an odd way of doing this but "Hi Mike". I was wearing my red Castelli jersey that day, definitely remember you and your mate in the BHP jerseys. Was good that we built that group + picked up the chap with the tri-bars, I wasn't going to survive another lap.

haha small world.....
I had a chat to the bloke with the t-bars/ after the race. No way would i had survived another lap either, bad cramps towards the end / after the event.

tornado: nice work