AROUND THE BAY IN A DAY - OCTOBER 16 2005
It's 4.45am on City Road, South Melbourne. The air is crisp and there is no sign of sunrise yet as 22 Toowoomba cyclists and their support team gather in the quiet of a Melbourne morning. Their is an air of expectancy, nervous tension quietly builds as each rider makes final mechanical checks. The jokers in the bunch fire off some jibes to lighten the mood as the support van rolls to a stop beside the bunch. It's time to go!
The mass sound of cleats clipping in pedals disturbs the eerie quiet of the morning and with that it has begun. Down City Road we progress feeling pleased about our decision not to join the mass start at Docklands for Victorias biggest annual Cycle event - the Bay in a Day.
As we turn on to Beach Road with Port Melbourne on our right it becomes obvious that this year the mass start has also begun at 5am and before we know it we are engulfed in a mass of cyclists thicker than the fleas on a dogs back. It is all we can do to stay upright much less maintain our decorum as a team in this conga line of cyclists all out for the days fun.
There are old guys on mountain bikes, young dudes in pacy recumbents, middle aged women dressed in lycra and looking like coffee is the main mission. But mostly their are lean, fit, lycra clad men and women on sleek precision built road racing machines.
And these guys are in a hurry! It can never be said that the Club Bikeline mentality is devoid of a competitive nature so before we know it our bunch has sorted out a place in the pecking order and begun to move like a steam train down the waters edge of Port Phillip Bay.
The support driver come Manager wonders what happened to the Team briefing where we agreed to a sensible pace and suddenly realises the futility of it all and settles back, knocks the support van into overdrive and tries to grab a wheel.
Despite costant red lights and masses of slower riders, before we know it we are through Mordialloc then Frankston and Dromana cruising so far at speeds up to 45km per hour and on an average of around 32km per hour. We take our first comfort stop at the beachside public conveniences which were built before some long ago war. Arm Warmers and jackets are shed and the support van takes on the look of a clothing store (tho the smell id definitely not of new clothes)
We are soon back on the road, and with astounding agility the group begins to overhaul one, then hundreds then even thousands of riders. As the hills begin around the entrance to the Peninsula it is obvious we are from Toowoomba as we power over the "bumps"as though they don't exist. Melbournites and other flatlanders are "spat" from our prescence like yesterdays gum. A brief stop at Marthas Seat allows for the final disrobing while Shane puts on his backpack as the support van and crew turn back for Melbourn in the race to Queenscliff on the other side.
For the riders it is roll on into Sorrrento where we arrive a little after 9am taking our place in a queue of thousands for the next available Ferry across the Bay to Queenscliff.
It becomes obvious this is not going to be an easy crossing and soon the bunch is seperated. Despite an almost 3 hour wait the day is perfect and the Ferry Ride rejuvenates the body if not the soul. (Waiting for Ferries is about as exciting as waiting for aeroplanes.)
With no calculator on hand one can only guess at the dollars racked on deck. In any case a calculator may not have that many zeros.
Finally around noon the first of us roll off the Ferry at Queenscliff, where we are reunited with the support team which has mmanaged the Bay circumference in time to meet us. Then its another wait for the rest of our team on smaller ferries before we resume positions and the pedal begins again.
The weather is perfect, even a little warm, and the slightest tailwind aids us as we begin the Northern run to Geelong. We have so far travelled in relative comfort thogh it has to be said that a couple of steam trains have done all the work at the front of the peleton. Around the 140km mark some of our group are feeling the effects of the day. The group immediately goes into protection mode, the overall pace slows and riders are tucked centre group for most protection. Within a few kms the riders are recovered.
Due to the Ferry delay it becomes necessary for the support crew to lift John and Annie from the road and make a hurried trip back to Melbourne so they can clean up and pack for Sunday evening flights.
At Geelong the riders join the Freeway. Wide shoulders make this bearable but the pleasantness of the ride abates as the traffic noise of three and sometimes four lanes of fast moving traffic eliminate any possibility of even having a conversation. It comes as a surprise and somewhat a relief when our directional signs send us off the Freeway through the small village of Werribee where, Mercy Dash over, the support vehicle is lying in wait for us..
At 170kms, and with the high rise of the City appearing on the horizon, we have our first and only mechanical for the day with a puncture for Sean. Home is in sight.
On just one day of every year the Westgate Bridge is open to cyclists. The effort of the long steep ascent is well rewarded by the most spectacular view on the descent and the sight of Telstra Dome and the finish.
After about 8 hours in the saddle we roll in to Telstra Dome as a unified Club Bikeline Team. Justifiably proud of our efforts and relieved to be home we pause briefly for congratulations, photos and even interviews for some. The girls head straight to the massage tables while at least a couple of boys head for the bar. Then it's time to remount for the ride back to our apartments.
225 kms after our departure, showers are welcomed and by 8pm we are looking for Cabs to the annual feast and celebratory drinks at 1 Fitzroy Street.
We sit , rather quietly taking in the views across the Bay we spent some time conquering. A magnificent meal is enjoyed by all but the rigours of the day prevent any thought of wild debauchery. We are home in bed early. No rocking required.
Another great Bikeline day to dream about.
Club Bikeline Riders
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ABDY, MICHAEL
ARCHER,DAVE |
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BRUTNALL, ED |
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COSGROVE, DONNAMAREE |
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DILLON, TIM |
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DORE, BERNARD |
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DOYLE, SHANE |
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DOYLE, TRACEY |
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ESLER, LEAH
ESLER, JOHN |
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FIEDLER, ROB |
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FRANKS, LEX |
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HENDERSEN, DAVID |
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KROEMENHOEK, JANET |
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LYONS, DAVID |
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MILLS, ROD |
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MCLEAN, DANETTE
MCDONALD, DANNY
ROONEY,SEAN
SNOW, ANNIE
WOODS, PAT
WYCHE, MARK
TEAM MANAGER/SUPPORT
COSGROVE, KERRY
PICTURES WILL BE ADDED TO THE GALLERY AS SOON AS I WORK OUT HOW!!!!!!!!!!
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WEEKEND RIDES JANUARY15 & 16, 2005
Pictures added to the gallery.
SATURDAY
Saturday morning 6.25 am and all is quiet in Railway Street. Within minutes the quiet scene is changing.
Like flocks of seagulls at the MCG, lycra clad cyclists descend upon the Bikeline storefront. By 6.30am we number over 60...yes 60..is that amazing????
There are all shapes and sizes, new bikes, old bikes, faces from the early days and faces for the first time. Most importantly threre are females and juniors. At last Club Bikeline is diverse in every aspect.
The ride departs with apprentice shotgun driver Joe behind the wheel. Our normal town loop progresses without incident and all seems well when things become interesting. Two mechanicals, one for newcomer Frank and another for regular John and for the first time in a very long time the support Van is being put to use.
With so many riders ahead a snap decision is taken to run both passengers home. Never a better decision was taken. By the time Joe and I catch up to the bunch we come across the remains of a small traffic misunderstanding with evregreen Smithy on the receiving end (later to establish a broken rib but this guy is tuff!!)
Onward, and at the Uni the exuberance of youth and the not so young, but frisky chaps, bring out their competitiveness and in the scramble for a sprint finish Kent finds himself unseated but luckily unharmed (well a sore hip, some skin removed and a sadder looking steed) To his absolute credit Kent accepts the incident in wonderful spirit and we load him amnd his not so handsome conveyance into the van.
Onward and for coffee, but not without incident with old friend and regular Lochy joining the van when he finds a crack in his frame. The man has no idea of his own strength!!!
Turning the corner we find ourselves waved down as Hugh has punctured. Suddenly the van takes on a bubble look as we now are carrying5 bicycles and5 passengers. Together the crammed travellers begin their own silent prayers for no more incidents. Already the ride is uncomfortable and the morning has been warm. There is alimit to how many hot cyclists one can fit in a van.
Fortuneately there are no more incidents and we arrive at Bikeline for Coffee.
Our setting runs the entire length of the store front and our lycra clad prescence adds a dimension and flavour to what was once a tired and nowhere street.
Tales of derring do abound and discussions fall on what the Sunday ride may hold. To find out one must attend as Kerry always plays those cards very close to the chest.
By 9.00am, with a morning workout, a social gathering and a future plan under all of our collective belts the scene is quiet, all but deserted and the business of encouraging more and more cyclists to join us begins in earnest in Bikeline.
SUNDAY
6 Bells and here we are back in front of Bikeline. This morning our number is lower.
Could it be that the secrecy keeps the numbers away?
One hopes not, as the Sunday ride is all things for all men, women and juniors. This can be attested to by the fact that indeed amongst the twenty are Damien, Rachel and Daniel all under 17, Rachel and Connie, both female and a smattering of allsorts after that.
We leave for Goombungee and the ride is incident free until Wayne joins me van side with yet another wounded frame. Lochy is with us, on a Mountain Bike!!! Somewhere up the road, rider or riders unnamed, are setting a cracking pace with litle thought for his handicap. Most unBikeline like and reprimands are soon handed out.
A fuel stop at Goombungee store and we are on the road again, heading back to town to return some of the riders to the waiting arms of loved ones with time pieces!!!
For reasons unexplained our regular haunt has chosen not to open Saturday mornings so we adjourn up the road to the Engine Room where our hosts treat us well and with a fan!! Breakfast over, laughs had, it's time to move on to the more mundane duties of our weekend existence.
And we can dream of future rides, the first on Monday morning and thereafter every other morning of the week - oh and now the ladies rides on Wednesday and Friday at 6am from Bikeline. That in addition to the 9,30am Tuesday ladies ride from the same spot. Ahhh cycling is vbliss isn't it???
See either Kerry or myself for the new 2005 forms.
Club Bikeline Inc. / Cycling Queensland Membership Fees - 2006
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Full Licence |
CQ Fee |
CB Fee |
Total Fee |
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Men & Women |
$198.00 |
$ 20.00 |
$218.00 |
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Junior Under 19 |
$168.00 |
$ 20.00 |
$188.00 |
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Junior Under 17 |
$102.00 |
$ 15.00 |
$117.00 |
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Junior Under 15 |
$ 92.00 |
$ 15.00 |
$107.00 |
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Junior Under 13 & 11 |
$ 78.00 |
$ 15.00 |
$ 93.00 |
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Masters – Under 65 |
$184.00 |
$ 20.00 |
$204.00 |
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Masters – 65 and over (Masters 8 & 9) |
$122.00 |
$ 15.00 |
$137.00 |
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Non Competitive |
$ 65.00 |
Nil |
$ 65.00 |
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Non Competitive 65 & over |
$ 60.00 |
Nil |
$ 60.00 |
BREAKING TOUR DE FRANCE NEWS - THANKS TO SUE CLUB OUTFITS
While toddling along riding shotgun behind the bunch I often get time to muse on all manner of things. One thing that has struck me of late is the lack of uniformity we present as an overall Club on our group rides.
This set me to thinking as to why every rider doesn't have and wear the Club Strip when out on Club events.
After a lot of consideration I decided that it couldn't be quality, design or price so I figured I had just not taken enough time to bring you the
opportunity to get kitted out and fly the Club Flag
So...what better idea for Xmas gifts then a Club Kit (Photos attached)
Prices
Jersey $95.00 Normally $115.00 Save $ 20.00
Nix $79.00 Normally $125.00 Save $ 46.00
Bib $89.00 Normally $159.00 Save $ 70.00
You would be crazy at thiose prices not to order two sets!!!!
Get your orders in this week to be sure of supply
Saturday - 6:30am