MS Gong Ride 2022 (Postponed 2021) - New Date: 06/11/2022

[Retrobyte]

Thanks for the information, no comms yet

You should have got an email yesterday - myself and others I know who are registered for the event all got an email around 2pm

[peter]

You should have got an email yesterday

Thanks for that info. Maybe due to un-subscription, because Fleur kept emailing me.

[caneye]

At that distance, I wonder why the organizers don't consider making it a loop, returning back and finishing at Tempe.
eg 79x2 = 158kms, is not unreasonable.

I suppose it would have been a logistical nightmare to do so.

[AndrewCowley]

Would be great if they could find a way to make it at least 100km. Shortening it, albeit by only a few km's, is a bad look.

If they could keep a permanent cap on the numbers, I wonder if that'd give them more options with the routing of the course?

[familyguy]

At that length it's almost ride from home then do the Gong Ride then back to Thirroul and a hot shower. About 110 all told. A grand day out.

May 1 will mean the start date is in at AEST (as opposed to usual November schedule and AEDT) which likely means anyone starting before 6:45 is riding in the dark. So maybe I won't leave home at 5:45.

[queequeg]

Would be great if they could find a way to make it at least 100km. Shortening it, albeit by only a few km's, is a bad look.

If they could keep a permanent cap on the numbers, I wonder if that'd give them more options with the routing of the course?

When I did it in 2012, it was still advertised as a 100km ride. This was before I had a GPS and they didn’t publish a GPX of the route (just a mud map). When I finished I was on 83km so I thought I had missed a large section of the ride somehow. I emailed the organisers and was told the ride used to be 100km, but over the years the route has been changed to be safer etc, and it whittled off the km, but they kept it advertised as a 100km ride.

79km is barely even a coffee ride for me. I’d be at the finish by 9am.

I am actually doing the Newcastle Overnight next month (Nov 20th), the riding home via gravel. 420km in under 24 hours. Looks like it will be a big night. There were close to 150 people registered when I checked last week

[peter]

May 1 will mean the start date is in at AEST (as opposed to usual November schedule and AEDT) which likely means anyone starting before 6:45 is riding in the dark. So maybe I won't leave home at 5:45.

That's a good point. It will be a not so warm and very dark start.

[Retrobyte]

Today's email from Fleur mentions roadworks in Wollongong is the reason why the ride stops at Fairy Meadow now

[peter]

Is there an explanation for 1/May? Can't find a Sunday before that?

[AndrewCowley]

May 1st might be them pushing it as far out as possible, so as to lessen the chance of another cancellation, but not wanting to go deep into Autumn / Winter. Basically, as late as practically possible.

[peter]

Yeah, and not too close to the next one. Exactly 6 months apart.

[peter]

Less than a month to go.

With all this rain, didn't ride much, totally lost the momentum.

Probably not riding the whole way.

[familyguy]

Less than a month to go.

With all this rain, didn't ride much, totally lost the momentum.

Probably not riding the whole way.

Won't need to worry. Off again until November 6, 2022.

[trailgumby]

Less than a month to go.

With all this rain, didn't ride much, totally lost the momentum.

Probably not riding the whole way.

Won't need to worry. Off again until November 6, 2022.

'
Not seeing that on the official gong ride website?

[familyguy]

On FB this morning. Emails/website update probably incoming.

[Retrobyte]

I got the email about an hour ago

[AndrewCowley]

Somewhat frustrating ... It's not clear from the email if you get a refund if you choose not to take part.

Will have to email Fleur ...

[timbo]

Somewhat frustrating ... It's not clear from the email if you get a refund if you choose not to take part.

Will have to email Fleur ...

There was an Insurance option where you could take out a policy if you could not take part in the event due to differing circumstances.
Surely the policy fee will be refunded if the organisers change the event date and you cannot make the event due to the date change.

[peter]

Probably a better outcome than starting at 6am in May.

[trailgumby]

Somewhat frustrating ... It's not clear from the email if you get a refund if you choose not to take part.

Will have to email Fleur ...

'
Doesn't need to be clear, Consumer Law already deals with it, and they cannot contract out their obligations. The Australian Consumer Guarantee means they are obligated to refund if you cannot make the rescheduled event, as the date of the event is an essential term of the contract.

[peter]

Counting down, about 2 months to go.

[peter]

Finish line moved back to Stuart Park, totalling 81km. Not sure if it was due to feedback or venue availability.

When they did advertise 90km ride from St Peters to Stuart Park it was never actually 90km, it's harder to bluff now due to apps and devices.

[andrei]

Finish line moved back to Stuart Park, totalling 81km. Not sure if it was due to feedback or venue availability.

Got this update last week.

This year’s historic 40th MS Gong Ride route has now been finalised - a new finish location at Thomas Dalton Park!

The start location remains at Tempe Recreation Reserve. The new finish site does mean the route distances will be slightly shorter - now 79km and 52km.

First MS Gong Ride for me, only a month to go, hopefully weather improves by then.

[peter]

Planning hasn't been easy, so many changes for the 40th.

Will probably ride to the lighthouse anyway for photos.

[peter]

Was in the Nasho taking photos and thought this could be me next week, which reminded me to go to McKell Ave take a look, the road work around National Falls is still there, along with many pot holes. Will be a slow descent next week.