Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
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Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby timbo » Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:24 pm
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;
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby rogan » Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:34 pm
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby timbo » Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:32 am
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.
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby r2160 » Fri Aug 02, 2013 12:47 pm
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
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby AndrewBurns » Fri Aug 02, 2013 1:26 pm
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby greatapoc » Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:48 pm
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.
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby timbo » Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:28 am
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby Le Mong » Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:33 am
http://www.strava.com/activities/98867033" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby simonn » Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:49 am
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.
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby Le Mong » Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:55 pm
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby queequeg » Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:36 pm
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.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.
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"?
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby simonn » Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:14 pm
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.queequeg wrote: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.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.
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"?
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby biker jk » Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:38 pm
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby rogan » Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:54 pm
So yes, the limit is 200 riders.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.
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.
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby Le Mong » Fri Dec 20, 2013 5:21 pm
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby WyvernRH » Tue Dec 24, 2013 8:11 am
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....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.).
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby petie » Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:02 am
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby timbo » Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:33 pm
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.
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby Le Mong » Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:01 am
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby queequeg » Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:12 am
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".
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby r2160 » Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:36 pm
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
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby queequeg » Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:09 pm
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.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
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.
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Re: Sydney to Newcastle Challenge
Postby simonn » Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:20 pm
2. Say "lets ride to Newcastle"
3. Ride to Newcastle
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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
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