The Freeway Bike Hike - very different this year

Today I joined my colleague, friend and riding partner (for rides before work), Andrew Foster, as we, again, did the Freeway Bike Hike.

We've usually opted to do the "full" hike (or longest distance). This year the "full" hike was from Mandurah to Langley Park in Perth, as it was last year, but with some minor differences to the start point which was the car park at the railway station.

Weather conditions for the ride were excellent but it was quite cold waiting for the start and there were a number of people (me included) who stood shivering. The cold temperatures and extended wait (the start was supposed to be 7am but the first riders didn't get away until 7:45 am) effected many riders in other ways and it was quite funny to see a significant number of men taking "nature stops" alongside the road within the first few minutes of the ride.

The organisers stated that were over 10,000 people riding in the event this year.

Here are the plots using my Garmin GPS.

Via Garmin Connect:-

and via Strava (where you can compare against others who also rode the same route) ...

In summary:-

• We rode the 69 kms in 1 hour 41 minutes.
• Average speed - just over 40 kph (last year our average was 42 kph)
  
• This year's ride was very different:-
• The start from Mandurah was delayed by 45 minutes to accommodate participants who hadn't been able to get on earlier trains and were therefore still to arrive and then there was a wait for confirmation that the freeway was clear of cars.
• Unfortunately groups doing the shorter distances were not delayed to the same extent and they presented a hazard particularly since many of them adopted position in the middle lane. This often caused sudden slowing of the faster groups.
• There seemed to a far greater number of fast riders, many were well ahead of us
• Last year Andrew and I rode at or near the front of the (front) pack for much of the ride. This year we couldn't even see the front riders.
• Riding was very disorderly, riders all over the road, with riders passing left, right or in between.
• The ride was very much more dangerous than previous rides (quite frightening at times). 
• We witnessed the aftermath of a few accidents but didn't witness accidents as they occurred.

Robert

Saturday March 30, 2013 - Friendly Freo

Ride Organiser: Terry Dowling
Organiser's email: Please don't email - respond via sms
Organiser's mobile telephone no: 0414 730 970
Ride style: Social
Terrain: Mainly Flat
Estimated Distance: 65 kms+
Start Point: Maylands, Narrows - North Side
Start Time: Maylands 8:00, Narrows 8:30

Terry has suggested a Freo ride to increase the chance of finding an open cafe on what will be the Easter long weekend.

Terry has also offered to be the Ride Organiser but has requested that people respond to him via sms as work commitments mean he can't be sure that he'll get chance to check his email.

We'll do the old familiar "Friendly Freo" with the usual obligatory coffee stop (in Fremantle). We'll have the usual Maylands Railway Station start at 8:00 am then hook up at the Narrows. The ride will start from the Narrows Bridge (North Side - where the bike path goes under the freeway bridge) at 8:30 am.

Cycling and the Law

I understand that some other cycling groups such as the Over 55's are circulating this excellent publication amongst their members.

As a group I think we have a responsibility to ourselves and those around us to ride safely, responsibly and with consideration for others. We can also do our bit to improve harmony between cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

Take the opportunity to have a look through this publication Cycling and the Law and feel free to discuss.

Easter weekend ride?

The Easter weekend often sees a number of our regulars (me included) away for the weekend... but that doesn't mean there is no ride.

Are there any suggestions for a ride (Saturday March 30) and volunteer to be the nominated Ride Organiser?

Let me know so we can post a ride on this blog.

Saturday March 23, 2013 - Heritage Trail

Ride Organiser: Robert Hind

Organiser's email: Robert@robert-hind.com

Organiser's mobile telephone no: 0417 934 502

Ride style: Social

Ride type: Mountain Bike - non technical
Terrain: Steady Climb then Good descent
Estimated Distance: 45kms
Start Time: 8:30 am
Start Point: Darlington Tennis Courts

**** NOTE: Return to normal (non-summer) start time ****

We'll do the easy mountain bike ride on the Heritage Trail. We'll meet and start at the tennis courts in Darlington then ride down the track to Pechey Park then up the track North of Great Eastern Highway up to Sawyers Valley. This a fairly easy, steady climb. We'll cross the highway and return on the south side with a finish at Darlington for coffee / food.

For those of you who haven't done much mountain bike riding this is an excellent way to get accustomed to MTB rides.

Whether you're a member of the Ride_Group or a guest please let us know if you're planning on joining us for the ride. (Members - remember our ongoing competition!)

Ride from Perth to Melbourne in prevention of Teen suicide

At our coffee stop in Fremantle today, Patrick Quigley, a frequent guest rider of the Ride_Group and supporter of Life Cycle for CanTeen joined us with a friend of his, Ian Egginton.

Ian is shortly to depart on a challenging, mostly solo, ride  from Perth to Melbourne in prevention of Teen suicide. The ride is described as a 21 day adventure and all funds raised will be donated to Mission Australia and Reach Out Australia.

Ian will have a number of speaking engagements along the route and is hoping to have other local riders join him for different section of the ride.

If you or someone you know are interested in joining Ian, he can be contacted by email at: egginton.ian@gmail.com.

Visit Ian's fundraising page:-

http://mycause.com.au/page/ridefromperthtomelbourneinpreventionofteensuicide

Freeway Bike Hike - Jersey Sizes correct after all

In the previous blog posting under the heading "Jersey sizes a joke?" I complained that the organisers of the Freeway Bike Hike were likely to have a lot of problems with Jersey sizes.

As my good friend, Terry pointed out "I know some companies give the flat width of the jersey, therefore 45cm would translate to 90 cm circumference.". He also pointed out that there should be a sizing guide to explain this.

Terry is, of course, right on both counts and I was wrong to suggest the Freeway Bike Hike had got it wrong. Further inspection of their web site shows not only have they got it right, they had actually included a very good sizing guide.

To the organisers of the Freeway Bike Ride I apologise.

My only remaining valid cause for complaint could be that they haven't answered my online query and email on the subject and the RAC haven't called me back "in about an hour" as indicated. It is possible though that they decided to ignore me knowing they were right!

Freeway Bike Hike - Jersey Size's a joke?

This year I've again registered for the Freeway Bike Hike. I've probably done the ride 5/6 times and really enjoy the opportunity for a fast ride on the Freeway.

This year RAC members are entitled to a free cycling jersey and I've ordered one too.

Take a look at the sizes... 

If the sizes are in any way right there are going to be a lot of very disappointed people ...especially since there is no ability to change jersey if the size is wrong.

I sent an email off to the organisers about this as soon as I'd registered ...but I haven't had a reply.

Saturday March 16 - Sculpture by the Sea

Ride Organiser: Robert Hind
Organiser's email: Robert@robert-hind.com
Organiser's mobile telephone no: 0417 934 502
Ride style: Social
Terrain: Mainly Flat
Estimated Distance: 65 kms+
Start Point: Maylands, Narrows - North Side
Start Time: Maylands 7:00, Narrows 7:30

For the weekend after Life Cycle ....Since the 9th annual Cottesloe "Sculpture by the Sea" is on from Friday 8 to Sunday 24 March 2013 we'll combine a Freo Ride with a stop at Cottesloe for Sculpture viewing. 

We've viewed the Sculptures for the past few years and there are always great shapes to look at on the beach ...and some of them are sculptures! Seriously these are usually great exhibitions by very talented and imaginative artists.

*** I've heard mention of a gold coin donation as admission fee ... so be prepared for this ***.

After the viewing we'll go on for the usual obligatory coffee stop (in Fremantle). 

We'll have the usual Maylands Railway Station start at 7:00 am then hook up at the Narrows. The ride will start from the Narrows Bridge (North Side - where the bike path goes under the freeway bridge) at 7:30 am (don't forget to let me know if you're joining the ride)

Saturday March 9, 2013 - Pt Walter

Ride Organiser: Graham Hay
Organiser's email: gwh@grahamhay.com.au
Organiser's mobile telephone no: 0432 978 733
Ride style: Social
Terrain: Fairly Flat
Estimated Distance: 40 kms+
Start Point: Maylands, Narrows - South Side
Start Time: Maylands 7:00, Narrows 7:30

**** Graham Hay is the ride organiser for this ride - please respond to him ****

We'll have the usual starts (Maylands and Narrows South) and coffee stop on the way back in Ardross Street, Applecross 

Let me (Graham Hay) know if you're planning to join us.