Freeway Bike Hike - Sun 24 March 2013

[ColinOldnCranky]

Whose riding? Where from? Team or individual?

[Redbull]

2 of us from Mandurah

[jaseyjase]

Me and 3 mates, full hike.

[ColinOldnCranky]

2 of us from Mandurah

Watch out for Dan and Catherine Talbot - they'll be easy to recognise. They will do the Mandurah to Perth on penny farthings. Going on last year they will then turn right around and head back home along the shared path.

[HLC]

I'll miss it this year, interstate.

Was freakin' scary and downright dangerous in some points last year, saw one crash happen, a mate was in another, and I had 2 or 3 near misses from idiot's who obviously had never ridden in a group before pulling dick moves.

[cintamami]

This will be my 2nd time riding, will be doing the full hike, on the take it easy group.

Will try to stay safe out there and not cause too many issues for the other rider but I will give it a go at the same time!

[paulz]

I'm in with my 10yo son. Departing from Currambine for the 30km journey to the City.

Will be in the take it easy group.

[lowros]

I'm doing the full hike solo in the take it easy group on my flat bar. First time for me.

Are there any tips from the more seasoned riders on group riding etiquette?

The only thing I'm concerned about is making the Thomas road cutoff by 8:30 I think it was? That's like a 24-25km average speed requirement for the first 37km, unless I am misinterpreting it entirely!

[ColinOldnCranky]

I'm doing the full hike solo in the take it easy group on my flat bar. First time for me.

Are there any tips from the more seasoned riders on group riding etiquette?

The only thing I'm concerned about is making the Thomas road cutoff by 8:30 I think it was? That's like a 24-25km average speed requirement for the first 37km, unless I am misinterpreting it entirely!

The requirement is that people riding slow ride to the left and if having to stop for a while pullover on the left. This was fine when everyone adhered to that but in the last couple of years riders have been stopping anywhere. Just don't be one of them.

Other than watching for random stoppers, just be cautious at the congested start and try and scope the start pinch point in case any ramps or anyting are set up badly, or curbs and bollasrds in inconvenient places (easily missed when in the initial crush). After clearing all that the amount of room is massive.

Oh, and it is a given that you should show the utmost consideration for unicyclists. Offer them your water, your wallet, your watch, your hot girlfriend, your...

BTW be aware taht while it is a beaut wide smooth path there are raised lane markers to avoid. And maybe more of bolts and shrapnel on the road - there was lots on the Kwinana Freeway last year.

[ColinOldnCranky]

I'm doing the full hike solo in the take it easy group on my flat bar. First time for me.

Are there any tips from the more seasoned riders on group riding etiquette?

The only thing I'm concerned about is making the Thomas road cutoff by 8:30 I think it was? That's like a 24-25km average speed requirement for the first 37km, unless I am misinterpreting it entirely!

The cutoff times, in my experience, tend to relate to further back in the route and then they wind i tup forward of that. So you get extra time to clear off at the finishing end. How much I could not hazard a guess, maybe a too-slow rider from previous years can advise.

I did, however, talk to a couple on penny farthings who were cleared off well before the stated time so who knows what you have to contend with. (The PF riders still finished but had to use the RSP.)

[Thoglette]

Are there any tips from the more seasoned riders on group riding etiquette?

Number one - stay well clear of any groups that start to "concertina".

Number two - there's too many people who have different ideas on "etiquette" to make any meaningful statements on etiquette. Other than get to the left (or right) before spitting or stopping!

[inline_online]

Yep, will be skating it again this year. Did the 30km from Currambine last year.
I got some great comments from the cyclists that passed me (and also disbelieving comments from those that I passed ).
Not sure where i'll start from yet though. It depends on the wind direction. I'd like to do the 70km route if the wind is blowing towards the city.
See you at the finish Colin, same as last year.

[Tornado]

Hi

Full hike for me. Have had a few practice runs up the shared path in recent weeks. Looking forward to it. Hopefully I will see less stacks this year. Hopefully people will keep left a bit more this year.

[ColinOldnCranky]

See you at the finish Colin, same as last year.

I am not sure that unicyclists are supposed to be seen with anyone who uses 10 ten wheels. We do have standards after all!

But if we do meet up, perhaps I can introduce you to Dan if you have not yet met him. Tall guy who blasts past cyclists on the ramp over the Narrows. Some skaters so some serious speeds.

Where 30km is concerned I guess I have to add serious distances too.

[lowros]

thanks guys, I'll just keep my eyes up paying attention It seems as though there's a lot of stuff that happens that you can't predict!

I am just wondering what food to bring along to keep me going. I have some museli bars and gels etc but may pack a sandwich or something as well.

[cintamami]

Sandwich after the finish line - yes

I would recommend a banana or two 1 hr - 1.5 hrs before the ride. If you must eat something heavy, at least 2 hours was the rule when I was a swimmer, however my tummy would still a bit heavy even after 2 hours, so perhaps 3 hours.

I went on a 15kms ride yesterday, had 2 timtams just before the ride, I felt like my tummy was turned upside down. But your tummy could be different.

[lowros]

hmm alright. I always smash a mule bar as I'm preparing my bidons for a ride and off i go. Not too keen on eating so much at like 4-5am to give me enough energy with enough time to digest. Looks like its going to be a day of learning.. hopefully not the hard way

[RoFlmaTiC]

Full hike in the fast wave. I didn't do this last year but rode in the 2 that took place before that. Hoping there won't be too many accidents in this wave? In the years that I've done it in the past it hasn't seemed to be that bad?

[Iceman]

theres a group of about 50 of us from CKJV Gorgon, I'm from Bassendean and will be doing the full hike

[MrDerrickC]

First event I'm participating in, will be doing the half hike from Kwinana. Going to start riding from the city to the start point to do a round trip.

[ramp]

Notoriously messy start, perhaps the hour of holding gets too much for most. 2 top tips:

- ride in your own space, do not join a paceline or group with strangers
- keep leftish but not in the far left against the barrier (you will be riding north on the south bound lanes) The left lane is full of glass and debris, punctures await

Enjoy that you will ride faster for longer than likely you have ever done.

[Iceman]

Is there any type of "seeding" ramp? or is it a free for all line up where you can type of deal?

I would imagine just a fairly broad system of say those that do 200+k's a week off the front, then the 100+ and so on...............

[ColinOldnCranky]

Be careful that you do nor assume the start point is as it was last year. The bull creek mini has been shifted well away from what's it was last year. While it is still titled Bullcreek, the station to get there is now Winthrop and the actual start point is a couple of kms from there. The old 10km run is now around16km.

So check the web or your ride pack.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[ramp]

Ice, the plan is for 3 groups - fast, medium and slow. Ideally riders align themselves to the section of the carpark that matches but it is self seeding and everyone seems to want to be away first. last year there was a lot of jostling to squeeze out onto the road and then the first 5 k's were about passing or being passed. After the initial flurry it settles and is an enjoyable roll.

[Bakks]

First time for me this year. I will be doing the full hike. I am also considering riding down from the city rather than catching the train, but suspect it may be a very dark, lonely ride!