200 km Challenge – Group 1

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Report by Julian

The day didn’t kick off too well for me.  Up at 5 am only to discover there was no porridge left in the house and so I had to deviate from my usual Sunday ride breakfast.  I managed to leave the house reasonably quietly at 5.45, only to discover 50 m down the road that I’d forgotten both water bottles.  I also realised that I didn’t my keys with me and my wife was none too pleased to be raised from bed to let me back in!.  Still I figured I had at least 6.5 hours for her to calm down, but one day in the near or distant future I’m sure I’ll pay for my mistake – wives never forget.

Anyway, I made it to the car-park to see about 40 eager/brave/foolish etc souls all ready to go.  We waited until 6.10 am for the stragglers then Peter gave out the instructions.  Group 1 would head out, followed 3 minutes or so later by Group 2.  It was none to warm so we all glad to be moving and the crescent moon above the first of the breaking light provided a nice backdrop along Mill Point Road.  The pace stayed low 30’s through Riverside Drive, Mounts Bay Rd and past the Uni, only to slow up as we hit Steve’s Hill.  It was getting quite light by this stage and soon the sun and Mosman Park Hill would be upon us.  We avoided a towel on the descent into Freshwater Bay and on the hill Mike T set off an attack, followed, by Jono, Gilbert, Danny, Brodie and Ash.  Stu and I tried to go as well but ended up only catching Ashley, as the effects of a recent cold took its toll.  We re-grouped with the obligatory toilet break and set off again just as Group 2 were sprinting towards the line in their KOM competition.

KOM lap 1.  1. Mike T,  2. Jono,  3. Gilbert,  4. Danny,  5. Brodie

Down into North Freo and over the river into East Freo and Bicton followed.  We were all holding together well and doing turns on the front.  Applecross was the next challenge with the new speed humps along the foreshore, sand on the road going down the first hill, a minor traffic jam trying to negotiate a garage sale and Duncraig Rd and finally another sand/gravel patch outside Raffles.  One through it this it was plain sailing up to South Peth and completion of Lap 1.

The second time along Riverside Drive saw and increase in both traffic and pedestrians, with Brodie saying hello to most females within earshot.  Everyone still looked OK and a reasonable pace was maintained, now that we were getting warmed up.  Before we knew the climb for points was on again and it was déjà vu all over again (gotta love tautological references), with the first seven places exactly the same as the first.

KOM lap 2.  1. Mike T,  2. Jono,  3. Gilbert,  4. Danny,  5. Brodie

After an uneventful section Heiko managed to lose his pump going down from Point Walter Golf Course.  Brodie and I waited for him, and this gave us a chance to stretch the legs on Burke Drive as we sought to catch the group.  Once back on we made our way up to Canning Bridge and a small deviation to Peter’s house for replenishments.  Ben and Daniel were there to greet us as we stocked up jam donuts, rolls, Mars Bars and coke.  After 15 minutes were back on the road, and as we rolled out the second group arrived.

Traffic around the Uni was building up and we were wary of parked cars and their occupants opening doors.  At the roundabout there was a minor incident with one rider (can’t remember who it was) clipping the kerb and coming off.  We stopped and checked to see that all was OK, which it was.  By this stage to wind had got up so the push down the river was a bit harder.  Coming up towards the 3rd climb, Jamie managed to come off on a corner but luckily landed on grass.  He ended up with a broken spoke but managed to get back to the car-park.  The front-runners were already winding up for the hill and missed to call to re-group but we soon got back together at the water tower.

KOM lap 3.  1. Mike T,  2. Brodie,  3. Jono,  4. Gilbert,  5. Danny

We were now up to  130 km, which was my previous PB for a ride length.  My legs were still feeling good and I had plenty to eat and I was keen to keep going.  The rest of the group seemed to be in the same boat with Davina, Mike T, Jono and Gilbert in particular were looking strong and pulling everyone along at a fair clip.  The two Johns were also helping out at the front and shielding us from the strengthening winds, especially though North Freo.  Brett and Peter ensured that no one was getting dropped during the trip back to the car park for the third time.

We took the bell when we crossed Coode St and set sail for the final fling.  Jerard and Ryan joined us on Mounts Bay Rd and provided some fresh legs at the front.  The last climb would be interesting to see who would challenge and the usual suspects, minus Danny, set the pace.  Heiko and I tried to stay with them but dropped off towards the top.  Once on the false flat we noted that they had slowed and put in an effort to pick them up.  Just as we joined them, Jono and Mike attacked and I was left behind.  I noted both Jono and Heiko tiring and looking over their shoulders so I made a move before the last corner and got past.  Brodie claimed the spoils at the top.

KOM lap 4.  1. Brodie,  2. Mike T,  3. Ashley,  4. Julian,  5. Jono

With about 25 km to go everyone was now keen to get home.  The pace got a bit quicker with the stronger riders doing increased turns at the front.  Gilbert in particular was doing a great job and the front runners were continuously checking to see that no one was falling behind.  We managed to avoid the gravel sections in Applecross for the last time and then at the wind at our backs for the final stretch.  The car park provided a welcome relief and we re-grouped at the end with congratulations all around.  It was a great feeling to finish the ride with everyone still together.

Now some acknowledgments to those who helped make the day.  Thanks to Kate for again hosting a breakfast and for preparing the food and keeping the donuts topped up.  Thanks to Nathan and Johnny for providing support on the route and I look forward to seeing the photos.  Thanks to everyone in Group 1 for looking out for each other, giving plenty of warnings and sharing the load.  Thanks to Vanessa my wife for letting me out for 7 hours and I promise I’ll remember the water next time.  And finally a big thanks to Peter for coming up with the idea for the ride and his organisation of the whole day.

16 thoughts on “200 km Challenge – Group 1”

  1. Will get the photos up later this week.sorry to say most are of group 1 as it was difficult to catch everyone. Group 1 really were flying and I only had like a minute or two each time getting my busted ass in and out of the car setting up the camera then try and leap frog them again.if I had borrowed a megaphone I would have been yelling out to pick up the pace (so easy to say when you only need to push the pedal on the right) 🙂

  2. nice write up julian. thanks to all – it really was a team effort by all to get around 4 times. i can see this becoming a regular fixture perhaps? thanks to pete and kate for opening their house once again and organising everthing. those last 25 kms hurt…in fact they still hurt right now. 🙂

  3. I want to add my thanks’ for another great event organised by Pete and Kate and for all the work and effort, you guy’s put in.

  4. I’ve added some photo’s Julian. Unfortunately they’re pretty rubbish. I kind of ran out of hand’s handing banana’s out and taking photo’s at the same time. Passed some other photos to members of the other groups so hopefully we will see some more soon. Good effort from Daryl pulling a wheelie up Mosman Hill on his fourth lap !!!
    Not happy I couldn’t join in. Still live in hope that one day someone will figure out what’s going on with my hamstring / glute / back and let me ride without worrying about an injury.

  5. Well done to all who did the 200kms. 200kms would have been the furtherest alot of you would have ridden at one time. If I had not done the 5 dams earlier in the year, I definately would have given it a bash to say I had ridden over 200kms in one sitting (so to speak).

    Jumping in with you guys on the last lap was good, you were all still in high spirits (albeit, a few pairs of tired legs out there) and the pace was still respectable.. I enjoyed my armchair ride out back, helping a few people now and then when they were seperated from the bunch and I also got some extra camera time being out the back of the bunch 😉

    Great idea Pete and good execution as per usual.. See Lennie, I did not tell anyone I pushed you up a hill 😉

  6. I don’t know what you’re talking about …. are you sure it was me you pushed?? You are fantasizing again. I didn’t feel anything like a push – it must have been a very weak and puny type of push you delivered. And are you quite sure it was a hill and not just a teeny weeny rise??

  7. Were you pushing her or was she pulling you up ? I heard you were holding on and being dragged up. Have to give her credit though I offered to push her up Mosman Hill on the fourth lap and she wouldn’t let me.

  8. Wow, congrats to all that endured the 200Ks, quite an achievement.
    Still under negotiations with wife about riding rights on Sundays, but keen to participate at least once if this becomes a regular 6-monthly event or something.

  9. Well done to all that took part. I’d loved to have joined in the fun, but having ridden 155km from Northam to Cottesloe on Saturday into what felt like a headwind for much of the day (when I probably should have been resting from my Painathlon efforts), my legs were utterly smashed.

    Sunday morning around 8.00am I considered the 100km option for about 5 seconds or so, before opting for a casual stroll down to the coffee shop instead.

    Next time…

  10. Lennie some very flash sunnies there… Jonny, you got your new wheels yet?? I hear new wheels help sort out any hip/glute issues one may be suffering 😉

    Lennie, you may have a point, it was more a rise than a hill.. I think you were feigning fatigue so you could get a push from the Flying Fynn.. Mwuah ha ha..

    Well done for doing the full 200kms..

  11. Well done to all of you who finished. How did the rest group 2 finish up? After a slow first round with two puncture stops, things picked up nicely. The group split at the end of the second round. After failing to catch up with the group ahead of us, and four riders leaving after round 3, Wally and I finished the 200 around 2pm.

  12. Couldn’t think of a better way to spend the whole day with the stayers from Group 2 (plus extras on Lap 4). I couldn’t remember how many people actually finished the 200km ride but I’m guessing about 6-7 in our group.

    Jen was the dark horse KOM entry and thanks to Jordan and Chris for a big effort up front (and a great new hand signal from Daryl on the bikepath). I was hoping the tortoise and the hare story would come true on the KOM but alas no luck this time ! By Lap 4, my strategy of making other riders laugh on Mosman Hill failed me, and I couldn’t speak anyway.

    Thanks to Pete and Kate for organising refreshments.. A welcome sight after 100km is a food full of sugary food. Found it with help from Meg after I figured out how to spell Riley like a Korean dictator.

    Looking forward to the next SPR Challenge, but can we something without repetition ? The brain was playing games with me after Lap 3.

  14. Awesome day everybody!!! Good skills all round. Big thanks to Pete and Kate as usual doing a splendid job. Great way to spend a Sunday. BTW, slight discrepancy with the results on the 2nd climb. John was (unbeknown to me) on my tail and whipped around to nab 3rd, with me coming in 4th. Sure Mike T and Jono got 1 and 2…… But who’s countin…. (me, damn!) You’d say hi to all the girls if you weren’t tied up, Jules.

  15. Great effort by everyone and a big thanks to Pete and Co for the organizing…BTW hows the penis Brodie? haha..I tell ya what 200km is a great way to grove your balls and ass into a bike seat ,now the seat fits perfect thanks Pete again..:-)

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