Checkpoint - Audax Australia Cycling Club · [email protected] Distribution ... rides within...

CheckpointThe endurance cyclist’s magazine No. 25 Spring 2005

RecumbentsThe new Audax vehicle?

Giro TasmaniaBig effort, big rewards

Checkpoint Spring 2005 3


Wombat Wallow ride cancellationKen Dowling

Please note that the Wombat Wallow dirt ride from Daylesford, Victoria, which was advertised for Sunday 3 December 2005 has been cancelled.

Contents...

CheckpointNo. 25 - Spring 2005

EditorPatrick van [email protected]

ProductionRed Press [email protected]

Brevet EditorStephen [email protected]

Distribution Phil Bellette and volunteers [email protected]

Contributions, especially those accompanied by photos and graphics, are always welcome. Closing date for the next issue is 21 Nov, for publication by 20 January 2006.

Please send to: [email protected], or

Editor PO Box 12144A’Beckett StMelbourne VIC 8006

Cover photo: Peter Mathews, elated at having finished his second Paris-Brest-Paris, the first on a recumbent. See the full story on the pros and cons of recumbents in this issue.

Disclaimer Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the respective authors, and not necessarily those of the Audax Club of Australia Inc.

Borrowing this copy? To receive your own copy, simply join the club at www.audax.org.au/membership.htm or write to the above address.

President’s Pedals .................................. 5

Recumbents as Audax vehicles ............... 6

Committee Talk...................................... 9

Fitz’s Epic versus the Alpine Classic ...... 10

Hunter Valley randonnée ...................... 12

South Australia Region News ................ 13

The Murray Magic A-Series .................. 14

2003 PBP Survey Results ...................... 15

The Argus, South Africa........................ 16

Okayama Brevet 600, Japan ................. 18

Women in Audax ................................. 20

Victoria Region News ........................... 21

Backing up the Giro on four wheels....... 22

World News......................................... 24

Brevets................................................ 25

Time for the Oppy................................ 26

The colossal impostor?Editorial

Astute readers of Checkpoint No. 24 (Winter 2005) reported that the bird shown in the story “The colossal magpie”, by Chris Rogers, wasn’t a magpie at all. Why? Well it was the wrong size and colour, for a start. Despite the Editor’s lack of knowledge of all things avian, it was nonetheless an American maggie, and so was not recognised by the majority of Checkpoint readers, which are not suprisingly, Australian, and used to seeing Australian maggies, both dead and alive.

It’s only through the reporting of such grave errors that Checkpoint can maintain the standard it does. The member that first reported the impostor shall remain nameless, but thanks go to Canola Canter ride organiser Ray Stenhouse of Wagga Wagga, NSW, for pointing out that the bird shown was not aggressive, and therefore the reputation of the Canola Canter would suffer because no one would be attacked. Well, something like that anyhow. Seriously folks, it’s not scary - well, just a little.

�� No. 25 Spring 2005

��No. 25 Spring 2005

��

RecumbentsThe new Audax vehicle?

Giro TasmaniaBig effort, big rewards


��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��


President’s Pedalswith Hans Dusink

The musings of a randonneur

Welcome to another edition of what I like to call “the musings

of a randonneur”.

I have often thought to myself whether anyone actually reads this column. I was actually surprised a couple of rides ago when somebody remarked on an issue I had raised. This perked me up a bit. I would hate to think that I take up space that could be used to educate riders on the intricacies of randonneurring.

I suppose that I start off in this manner because last issue I asked for some ideas for medallion designs for the new awards. Thus far none have been forthcoming. The easiest thing to do would be to give it to our medallion manufacturer and let them come up with a design. But I believe that we, as a club, have the expertise to design our own awards. So I am asking that you put your thinking caps on and come up with a design for the new awards as previously announced.

Rides CalendarAt the time of writing the rides calendar

was not completed. I know that between writing this and when Checkpoint is published that the calendar will be completed. This publication takes a lot of effort to compile. There are many hours on the phone cajoling members to consider organising a ride. I put to you that most of us already organise rides, whether it is a local coffee run or a weekend training ride. It does not take much more to make this into a club ride. So next time, please freely volunteer your services. Just remember that we are a cycling club, we cannot survive without organised rides.

Club ElectionI know that this is early and that it is a

favourite hobbyhorse of mine. The club needs a continuous supply of new blood in its committee structures. I have often stated that a club will only thrive and prosper if it has a healthy turn over of office bearers.

The national elections are to be held in February. Nominations for all positions will be called for in December. I urge you to consider serving the club. It is not healthy for a club or for the long tern incumbents to remain static.

Now that I have got that off my chest, our membership continues to grow. When I first joined Audax, the base membership was around the 350 mark. The base membership now seems to be around 550 members and growing. This is pleasing. I know that our populaire rides are attracting numerous riders. Our brevet rides continue to attract healthy numbers. It is good to see newer members stepping up to the brevet distances.

Many of us are passionate about our hobbies and pursuits. Randonneurring takes up large chunks of time. Last issue I wrote about making sure that we kept a balance. I plead guilty to sometimes concentrating on my riding and ignoring family and non-cycling friends. For several reasons, I have not been Audax active over the last several months. It became more important to spend time attending to family issues. Suffice to say that hobbies are important, but there is an optimum life, work, hobby, family balance. As we start to prepare for the next riding season, I ask you all to take this into account when planning your riding year. In fact try to involve your family. If a ride takes you out of your home town, consider making it a weekend away. Australia has a lot to offer.

I think I have said enough. Safe cycling,

6 Checkpoint Spring 2005 Checkpoint Spring 2005 7

Recumbents as Audax vehiclesby Peter Weiss and Peter Mathews

With the recent increase, we hesitate to say upsurge, of interest in recumbents among Audax club

members we are urging readers to consider the suitability of recumbents as Audax bikes.

Your scribes have done PBP on recumbents, Mathews on a bike and Weiss on a trike. They were not alone.

So the answer is clear, right? Wrong. Who will forget the rider who did PBP on a scooter in 2003? The question is not the possibility but the suitability of a recumbent for Audax riding. That means doing long rides within the time limit in a fair degree of comfort.

As this article is about recumbents as Audax vehicles, we will consider two questions: Why recumbent, and two wheels or three? We will not write about their use for commuting, for touring or as general-purpose sports bikes.

Why recumbent?

ComfortWeiss: Imagine a club meeting with a

few dozen members present. (Your scribe Mathews not present) The speaker asks all riders in PBP 2003 to stand. A significant number do so. The speaker then asks anyone to sit down if during PBP they suffered from sore wrist or arms, neck pain, back pain, or sore bottom, or who took pain killers or applied creams or ointment to various parts of their body to cope with soreness or chafing. Every PBP rider sits down. That’s right folks, not one rider who did PBP on a conventional road bike escaped pain-free. Your scribe Weiss who did PBP on a recumbent trike remained standing.

There you have it, in one paragraph. Recumbents are comfortable. Your scribe Weiss still remembers the first time he came across PBP. It was in Checkpoint, just after the 1999 edition of PBP. Weiss had just done his first 200 (Around the Bay

in a Day) and he wandered into the Audax tent. He remembers reading an article about PBP in Checkpoint, and thinking that the participants must be mad. They battled pain, tiredness, pain, fatigue, and did he mention pain. They were nothing less than heroic. Weiss didn’t want to be heroic. So recumbent for him.

Mathews: I rode PBP in 1999 on a custom built road bike. A lovely machine, still much treasured but ridden only about half the distance I have so far accumulated on my recumbent. The engine suffered serious pain and lasting physical discomfort in the neck, toes and fingers as a result. I didn’t ride a bike again for several months. In 2003 I finished PBP in a slightly better time, with

much more sleep and longer stops, grinning from ear to ear! Rode the recumbent two days after arriving back in Australia.

The viewHave you ever tired of looking at the road

just in front of your front tyre, especially when slogging up a long steep hill?

Weiss & Mathews: On a recumbent, lie back and enjoy the view. Going recumbent has for both of us rekindled the joys of riding in the country, bird, bee, and bus-watching all take on new meaning!

Weiss: Sure we can’t stand on our pedals, but we don’t need to. The gearing on most recumbents is so low that on steep hill the

Peter Weiss glides along on his Ultra Swift recumbent


rider just twiddles away in low gear until the crest is reached.

Mathews: And with a final gear ratio of about 120 gear inches developed by a 67 front ring and an 11 small sprocket at the back, my bike has serious down hill gears. At the other extreme my great-granny 30 (front) to 32 is so low that it requires fast spinning to stay above “minimum velocity” to avoid falling over – a problem not encountered by tryciclists.

Medical conditionsSome riders choose recumbents because

of physical problems such as spinal degeneration or stiff neck. Others may be worried about loss of sexual function, which is said to afflict some men who ride huge distances on conventional bikes. Still others suffer from numb fingers and toes, mostly temporary, but for some riders permanent. We contend, from our very personal experiences, that all of the above conditions are mollified during recumbenteering.

Mathews: I think it important to note that I still get occasional fits of tingling in both fingers and toes.

The noseWeiss & Mathews: Discussing the

content of this article we came to the amazing realisation that when riding their conventional bikes their noses drip. Recumbent, they don’t.

Two wheels or three?Like so much in life, the choice of

recumbents is a compromise. What to choose depends on one’s priorities. Weiss rides a trike, Mathews a bike. Here are our experiences.

Weiss: Trikes are reluctant to fall over. It can happen, but it’s less likely than on a two-wheeler. The story of Raoul Mill’s fall is well known. Wouldn’t have happened on a trike.

Mathews: Trikes don’t lean either. This imposes some skills at least at high speed and cornering. I have certainly come off my two wheeler several times. Most dramatically during the 2004 Alpine Classic a rear tyre blew out while descending Tawonga Gap towards Mt Beauty at speed. After one and a half rotations along the road my knicks had no bum left and I had some holes in my treasured PBP jersey. The bum recovered and I rode again in a week. Had I come off my road bike maybe would I have come off so lightly?

Weiss: One evening well into Paris-Brest-Paris Weiss fell asleep while riding. The first he knew of it was when the rumbling of the wheel on the grass verge woke him. Had he been on a two-wheeler he would have tumbled. Yes, we know that when we are too tired to ride on safely we should pull over and sleep. But on long Audax rides (400 and above) that’s not always possible. With the time limits we subject ourselves to, we sometimes just have to keep going. Eventually our bodies

can have enough, and then we have no choice but to sleep.

One hundred km into a ride, time for a lunch break at the cafe in the town we’re riding through. Pull up outside the cafe, where to park the bike? Cafe owner doesn’t want it leaning against the plate-glass window. Prop it against a tree? Lie it on the road? Lean it against a brick wall out of sight? With a trike it’s simple. Park outside the cafe next to the window, sit down inside

Peter Mathews hugs the corners during Paris-Brest-Paris.


with the trike in full view and enjoy lunch. After lunch, go outside, sit down on the trike and pedal off. A little point? Maybe, but ask Bob Bednarz what can happen to a road bike left out of sight even locked up.

Mathews: I like to get off the bike to walk around, talk to people, and find it very easy to lock the bike to purpose-made or other street furniture.

ConvenienceWeiss: One can sleep on a (stationary)

trike. Sometimes on a long ride you just have to stop and sleep. It’s not always possible to find somewhere convenient to sleep. There may be no shelters nearby, the ground may be hard or wet or stony or dirty. On a trike, just stop, apply the parking brake, pull on a space blanket if it’s cold, and take a nap.

Mathews: On Audax rides I have slept on some of the loveliest concrete you’ll find! Mr Weiss is correct, and during bad weather I have rested on the recumbent seat by leaning the shoulder gently against a wall. I prefers beds!

HillsWeiss: If the going gets too tough (e.g.

climbing Mt Buffalo after 130 km of the Audax Alpine Classic) the trike rider just stops. No need to unclip, no need to balance, just stop and apply the brakes. To go, release the brakes and pedal. No clipping the shoes in, no wobbling until speed is reached.

Mathews: The two wheel contributor to this article acknowledges this advantage. Starting and stopping on any two wheeled machine on a steep hill is tricky. On my two wheeled recumbent I seem to wobble less on starting than my conventional bikes. Why? Perhaps because of less strain on the handle bars. You need to be in the right gear. Getting uphill speed on my recumbent has been a real challenge.

The recumbent bikeThere is little doubt that recumbent bikes

can be faster than recumbent trikes, and faster than most road bikes. Recumbent bikes can be lighter than trikes (only two wheels, no heavy cross-member to hold the two front wheels) and much more aerodynamic. In fact a recumbent bike can combine the speed of a road bike with the comfort of a recumbent trike. Of course it lacks the stability offered by the third wheel, but in this, as in so much in life, it’s a compromise. You have to decide what’s more important to you – speed or stability.

PBP

Weiss: Recumbent bikes are easier than trikes to carry inside or on top of a car. They are usually lighter and easier to lift and carry.

Mathews: Not much! And I suspect Mr Weiss’ trike probably weighs less than my bike (stark naked). I think we both suspect that once you add lights, water bottles and recumbenteering paraphernalia the differences are not great. Rider power to weight ratio has been one of the most influential factors contributing to improvement of my cycling performance. And is independent of the type of machine I ride.

Disadvantages of recumbentsWeiss: Because ‘bents are low-volume

articles, they are generally dearer than road bikes1. Because they lack the strength of the diamond frame they are generally heavier than road bikes2.

Mathews: Not sure about either of these assertions Peter. $4000 gets you into a good Audax recumbent two wheeler (2 wheeled Flying Furniture of very recent manufacture) and plenty of road bikes cost more. Not sure about strength – my engineering ain’t quite good enough to make that assertion.

Trikes are slower than bikes. How much slower? That varies from trike to trike. Weiss has tallied up his brevets, and finds that on average on his trike he takes around 30 minutes more for 200 km than on his road bike. That’s slow enough to be last, and to lose the sociable aspect of Audax rides. Does that matter? On shorter rides, maybe yes. On longer rides, safety and comfort are paramount. At least to Weiss.

Mathews: finds that overall his times are at least as good as on his road bike. Never world beating, but its not a race, eh? Terrain always plays an important part. On a hilly course I am always slower. Always have been. On flattish courses – like the Irene Plowman very credible times are common. Comfort, more specifically lack of pain in hands and wrists makes riding the recumbent a joy which was disappearing from long rides on conventional bikes.

ConclusionPeter Marshall (an Englishman who did

PBP in 1999 and again in 2003 on different trikes) has written that for rides below 600 km he chooses the road bike for its speed; for longer rides he chooses the trike for its comfort. Weiss thinks that he might prefer a recumbent bike for rides below 600 and

a trike for longer rides, but money is a consideration. Mathews is happy with his ‘bent bike for all distances.

Footnote on pricesRecumbent trikes in Australia start below

$3,000 while ‘bent bikes start just below $2,000. As with good road bikes, lighter is dearer, and you can easily pay $5,000 for a lightweight trike or a fast recumbent bike.

Footnote on weightSome Dutch makers like Optima and M5

make (expensive) bikes weighing under 10 kg. But most bikes weigh more. Mathews’ bike, for example, weighs 13kg. Trikes are even often heavier. Weiss’ trike, a lightweight in the trike world, weighs about 12 kg stripped down, but ready to ride Audax, considerably more.

Re-run of the

2003 Paris-Brest-Paris Australian Team

Jersey

If you participated in PBP in 2003 and are interested in obtaining another Australian team jersey, please contact Greg Cunningham as soon as possible.

Greg will forward you the details and prices and how you can order. He will be finalising the orders by the end of October, if it is to proceed. So be quick.

Greg’s contact details are as follows:

[email protected]

Phone: 02 6288 6997 (ah) 0438 249 112 (m)


2006 World Cycling

Adventures

March 2006 Join in the worlds largest one day timed sporting event on the Cape Argus Cycle Challenge, Cape Town South Africa

May 2006 Come with us to Italy for the 2006 Giro d’Italia.10 days of great racing, scenery, culture and “la dolce vita”.

July 2006The Tour de France is the greatest cycling event in the world and you can be part of it on one of our 3 tours for 2006. Our 10 day Roadforce tour takes in the first half of the race including the charming villages and mountains of the Alsace region. Or join Phil Anderson on his 10 day premium tour of Provence, Alpes and Paris. If you want to see the works join our popular 16 day Roadforce tour giving you the chance to ride in the Pyrenees, Provence and the majestic cols of the Alpes. Book early to secure your place on our Tour de France trips for 2006.

For further details on these tours contact Howard Duncan at

The Adventure Travel Company Tel: 03 9696 8400

[email protected]

Join us on one

of these great rides!Committee Talkwith Barry Moore, Vice-President

The most recent National Committee teleconference was held

on 25 August 2005. In the absence of Hans Dusink, I chaired

the meeting.

We had a lot of items on the agenda and managed to cover them all. The meeting ran for about an hour and a half. Items discussed included:

• Our membership fee for 2006 has to be set before 1 November 2005. Garry Armsworth will approach Cycling Australia to get an indication of our affiliation fee.

• Our Membership Secretary (Lorraine Allen) reported that membership numbers have fallen just a little since last year. She also reported that administrative arrangements with Cycling Australia were working smoothly, after some minor initial problems.

• Stephen Chambers, our Treasurer, reported that our financial position is sound.

• Stephen has also examined our GST status. The result is that National will register for GST, as our annual turnover exceeds $100,000 which is the threshold for not for profit organisations. The net result is that the Alpine must also register but none of the regions will need to. Registration will be effective from 1 July 2005.

• We have another issue with our Constitution. When our Public Officer (Ian Boehm) attempted to register the February 2005 changes with Consumer Affairs he was told that the proposed constitution did not comply with the requirements of the Victorian Act. One issue was a technicality on postal voting vs proxies. The other was lack of a disputes resolution mechanism. We were aware of this one and had intended to address it in the next set of amendments. When we dug a bit deeper with CA, we found that the last Audax Australia constitution they claim to have registered was in 1987! This did surprise us as we have made some

major changes since then. The effect of this is that we have to quickly validate the current (February 2005) Constitution, with the amendments required by CA. This is in hand and a Special General Meeting will be called for this purpose. The structural changes we still need will be put to members in a separate exercise.

• A decision was made to move to regular meetings of National Committee, every two months. Up until now, we have had meetings as the need has arisen.

• All Regions will consider whether there are local requirements which apply to Audax events (such as the Victorian Guidelines for On-Road Cycling Events – under consideration by the Victorian Committee) and what response is required.

• We agreed to investigate holding a planning meeting, to consider how we should take the club forward. The best time for this would probably be in association with the Alpine.

VELOSMITHFINE

HANDMADETOURING BIKES

OFF-ROAD TOURERWITH ROHLOFF HUB,

CLASSIC FRENCHSTYLE TOURER ANDFOR THE 2007 PBPTHE RANDONNEUR

WWW.VELOSMITH.COM.AU


Fitz’s Epic: a comparison with the Alpine Classic by Greg Cunningham

Pedal Power ACT will be hosting the 18th edition of the ‘Fitz’s Challenge’ non-competitive randonnée

event on Sunday, 20 November 2005. The 2004 edition drew just over 500 riders for four distances

on offer of 50km, 100km, 160km and 210 km.

All four rides start at the attractive village of Tharwa near the south-western edge of Canberra, and follow ‘out & back’ sealed road sections through the foothills of the scenic Brindabella Range, covering roads used in the prestigious annual ‘Canberra Tour’ race.

While this is not an Audax event, the format is very similar to the annual ‘Audax Alpine Classic’ event conducted by Audax Australia from Bright, Victoria in late January. A brevet card is issued to riders for verification at checkpoints along the course, and the aim is to complete the chosen distance within a target time. For the longest two options of 160km and 210km, this target time is tighter than the usual Audax time limit.

The large number of riders and the use of Tharwa as a ‘hub’ for the four rides produces a great atmosphere, with significant numbers of riders on opposite sides of the road during the event. This is particularly so on the northern part of the course when returning riders from the shorter distances pass those on the longer hauls heading out to tackle more hills after completing the southern segment.

Features of ‘Fitz’s Epic’ The ‘Fitz’s Epic’ 210km option was a

welcome and successful addition to the event in 2004, with a very encouraging turnout of 43 riders, nearly all of whom finished successfully within the 12.5 hour target time. The Epic makes for short but pleasant (and demanding!) excursions into the higher reaches of the Namadgi National Park.

The Fitz’s Epic course includes most of that for the shorter 160km ‘Fitz’s Challenge’, which has an estimated 2600m of climbing. This includes the tough climbs over Fitz’s Hill (10.4% over 2.6km), the steep section after Glendale Crossing, and Pierces Creek (8.8% over 1km), amongst lots of other hills.

To this already challenging course the Fitz’s Epic course adds 3 tough ‘out & back’ sections – the series of short hills in the Orroral Valley and the longer steep climbs up to Honeysuckle Creek and Corin Forest. The elevation profile illustrates the consistently ‘up & down’ nature of the Epic course:

‘Fitz’s Epic’ elevation profile There is an estimated 3830m of climbing

on the 210km Fitz’s Epic course, virtually identical to the 3810m scaled during the 200km course of the annual Audax Alpine Classic. This takes in the very long climbs to Falls Creek and Mt Buffalo in the Victorian Alps, as well as the shorter and steeper sections over both sides of Tawonga Gap.

The profile below for the 200km Alpine Classic course illustrates that despite a similar amount of climbing, the two courses are vastly different, with the many short sharp climbs of the Fitz’s Epic contrasting with the less steep but very long hauls uphill of the ‘Alpine’ course:

Fitz’s Epic versus Alpine Classic: anecdotal comparisons

The introduction of the Fitz’s Epic led to a healthy though inconclusive debate amongst Canberra long distance cyclists about which of the two events is the hardest. Observations by several riders experienced in both events are set out further below. However, the final word probably goes to Michael Carden, a veteran of many Alpine Classic rides, who commented as follows regarding the inaugural Epic in October 2004: “…En route we tried to work out whether the Alpine Classic or the Fitz’s Epic is harder and I concluded that the ride you’re doing on the day is harder”.

Michael’s comment implicitly recognises the widely different nature of the two

‘Fitz’s Epic’ elevation profile

There is an estimated 3830m of climbing on the 210km Fitz’s Epic course,virtually identical to the 3810m scaled during the 200km course of the annualAudax Alpine Classic event. This takes in the very long climbs to Falls Creekand Mt Buffalo in the Victorian Alps, as well as the shorter and steepersections over both sides of Tawonga Gap.

The profile below for the 200km Alpine Classic course illustrates that despite asimilar amount of climbing, the two courses are vastly different, with the manyshort sharp climbs of the Fitz’s Epic contrasting with the less steep but verylong hauls uphill of the ‘Alpine’ course:

‘Audax Alpine Classic’ elevation profile

Fitz’s Epic v Alpine Classic: anecdotal comparisons

The introduction of the Fitz’s Epic led to a healthy though inconclusive debateamongst Canberra long distance cyclists about which of the two events is thehardest. Observations by several riders experienced in both events are setout further below. However, the final word probably goes to Michael Carden,a veteran of many Alpine Classic rides, who commented as follows regardingthe inaugural Epic in October 2004:

Fitz’s Epic: lots of little hills


courses, and the need to tailor preparation for the type of terrain that will be encountered on these long hard rides: short, steep hills for the Fitz’s Epic, and longer mountain hauls at lesser gradient for the Alpine Classic.

Michael’s other observations are interesting:

“Prior to taking on the Epic I thought that the planned route was madness and couldn’t be completed in the time allotted. I discussed this with a number of other riders and most thought that it couldn’t be done, but we decided to give it a go anyway. I was quite surprised when we managed to complete the course in well under 11 hours”.

‘Fitz’s Epic’ elevation profile

There is an estimated 3830m of climbing on the 210km Fitz’s Epic course,virtually identical to the 3810m scaled during the 200km course of the annualAudax Alpine Classic event. This takes in the very long climbs to Falls Creekand Mt Buffalo in the Victorian Alps, as well as the shorter and steepersections over both sides of Tawonga Gap.

The profile below for the 200km Alpine Classic course illustrates that despite asimilar amount of climbing, the two courses are vastly different, with the manyshort sharp climbs of the Fitz’s Epic contrasting with the less steep but verylong hauls uphill of the ‘Alpine’ course:

‘Audax Alpine Classic’ elevation profile

Fitz’s Epic v Alpine Classic: anecdotal comparisons

The introduction of the Fitz’s Epic led to a healthy though inconclusive debateamongst Canberra long distance cyclists about which of the two events is thehardest. Observations by several riders experienced in both events are setout further below. However, the final word probably goes to Michael Carden,a veteran of many Alpine Classic rides, who commented as follows regardingthe inaugural Epic in October 2004:

Alpine Classic: just a few big hills

Fitz’s Epic and the Alpine Classic are both rides which reward solid preparation. The weather on the day will also play a big part in the outcome.

Both rides take place in some of Australia’s most picturesque alpine environment, and are worthwhile goals for their sightseeing potential if nothing else.

The Alpine has been a must-do for me every year since I first rode it in 1998, and I expect that the Fitz’s Epic is destined to be the same.

I think that rather than trying to define one or the other as ‘harder’ or ‘better’ or anything else, riders should be encouraged to attempt both so they can join in the perpetual debate.”

Christophe Barbaret suggested that “On a hot day, the Epic will be the toughest of the two rides” and added:

“In my experience I think both rides are complementary to each other. You have the friendly gradient of the Classic long climbs and the punchy short climbs of the Epic. If you combine both that makes a good introduction to hill rides.

If I had to compare them in terms of difficulty I think the main thing for me is something that has nothing to do with the course: the weather. The hotter it gets the harder it is for many of us. Therefore the classic is hard because of the afternoon climb to Buffalo at +30 degrees.

The Epic was run for the first time last year, and I always find a ride harder the first time, but I remember thinking on the day that I was happy that it wasn’t too hot and

that if it was run more into the summer time it would be ‘tres dur’ (very hard). So I guess with the Epic being in late November we are entering new horizons with a potentially hotter day that would make it harder.”

In conclusion I think the Epic is harder if you have the same weather conditions (heat) as the Classic.”

Tony Carmichael, an experienced bunch rider who is a relative newcomer to rides of this distance, commented as follows:

“…the only 2 rides over 200km I have completed are the Classic and the Epic. I found them both very difficult rides, but the Epic is more difficult to me because of the undulating nature of the ride makes it more difficult to get your rhythm.”

Bob McHugh has experience with these rides and with challenging ‘cyclo-sportiv’ events in Europe, including the ‘Etape du Tour’ edition that scaled the ‘Giant of

Provence’, Mont Ventoux, in bad weather conditions. Bob contributed the following comments and advice:

“Much to my surprise, I completed Fitz’s Epic in almost exactly the same time as the Alpine Classic (on the same bike). Then I was amazed to find that the two events have the same gross elevation gain. I think the similarities are probably more important than the differences.

In both cases, the climbing is moderate provided it is tackled in a measured way. Each of the Epic’s sharp hills is short and completed fairly quickly. The long ascents of the Challenge and the Epic’s climb to Corin forest are never really steep. However, the combination of two hundred kilometres and almost four thousand metres of ascent makes these demanding rides, particularly in nasty weather. Compare this to the single-day alpine events in Europe which have much, much harder ascents but tend to be shorter than two hundred kilometres.

The psychological demands of the two events are similar. The dog-bone shape fractures the courses into two halves requiring strong motivation at Tharwa and Bright to get back on the bike. (I also think that the fractured routes steal some of the satisfaction at the finishes, compared to an out-and-back or loop course). Don’t count on inspiring scenery to keep you going in either the Epic or the Challenge. Only on the final climbs does the uniform forest yield to spectacular views.

Both rides are high on enjoyment but this comes from the riding itself, from working with the bike in spinning or pushing up each climb and twisting and weaving down it. I think it’s probably better to approach each ride with a sense of play rather than trepidation, but that’s easier said than done on the morning of the event! “

Alpine Classic 2006 Newsflash

The ride is almost fully booked. If you are attending, ensure your

accommodation is confirmed.

Stay tuned to the Audax website at www.audax.org.au

for updates on the ride.

Enquiries: [email protected]


Hunter Valley randonnéeby Chris Rogers

It was mid-Winter, and my wife Judith wanted a holiday. While she played on the net looking for

possibilities I scanned the Audax calendar. Malcolm Rogers had a new ride from Gordon in the north

of Sydney into the Hunter Valley, and the end of financial year sales were starting early. That seemed

to be perfect conjunction, so we booked into an apartment in central Sydney for four days.

A quick look at the map indicated that it was about 15km from the apartment to the start of the ride at Gordon station. I decided to ride the distance. I was more worried about leaving Judith with the car and the credit cards than the traffic at 5am. There is a great bike path on the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but it was a bit fiddly getting onto the Pacific Highway without a map, though after that it was straight forward to get to Gordon.

At the start I met Malcolm. We were yarning away when Pat Dorey and Tim Laugher from Victoria rode up. Garry Armsworth from Sydney arrived just before the starting time. Pat, Tim and Garry were riding the 400, but I was riding the 200. The weather forecast was for clearing showers. The starting time was 6am, which to my mind is ideal for a city-based ride. There is almost no traffic at that hour on a Sunday, and I would rather ride in the dark on deserted roads in the morning than finish in the dark in heavy traffic.

The four of us rode together through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park down to Bobbin Head. It was cool, dark and foggy on the descent, and first light as we rode up the other side to Mt Colah. It was magnificent riding through the half-lit forest, with bird calls all around us. We saw less than a dozen cars in the first 20km.

At Mount Colah we joined the Pacific Highway, back in suburbia. After a couple of kilometres we heard that unfortunate ffffftt fffftt fffftt sound. At first you hope that it is someone else, but pretty soon the bump bump bump in the rear wheel tells that it is your personal flat. I told the others to continue on as they had a long way to go, and I was fully equipped.

The old Pacific Highway was a delight to ride on. The new freeway has taken

almost all the traffic, leaving a deserted well graded road with a good shoulder. There is a good descent into Mooney Mooney on the Hawkesbury River, then steady climb back onto the ridge. The only traffic on the whole road was first the MG Car Club, followed later by the Porsche Car Club, then a few knots of motorcyclists. There was no wind at all, and a bit of fog around. The long sections of horizontal sandstone strata and natural bush made this one of the most beautiful rides I have done in recent years.

In Peats Ridge I rejoined Pat and Tim at a service station where we had refreshments. On this section of road there was a cycling race in progress. It is a little disconcerting to be struggling up a hill in low gear and have groups of racers fly by at four times the speed. The three of us rode together till my turn around point at Buckety Fire Station. The weather seemed to be lifting, with occasional moments of sunshine.

On the way back I was in need of a serious feed, so pulled into a service station. The driveway was pot-holed and the outside

appearance a little rustic. I thought that I would be lucky to get Mars Bar nearing its use-by date. But it was like the Tardus. Inside was a gourmet café with all sorts of delights: Pies, quiches, hot meals, gourmet foccacia, soups, sandwiches, rolls, a huge expresso machine… Perhaps I was hallucinating. I dreamt that I had a cheese and salad roll on Turkish bread, and a banana smoothie, and read the Sunday paper far longer than I should. All along there was a stream of bikies and locals calling in for lunch. The place was a cheery bustle.

The return to Gordon was as delightful as the ride out. The traffic was a little heavier than in the morning, but no trouble with the broad shoulder on the road. On the fly down to the Hawkesbury I again heard that ffftt ffftt ffftt sad song. Twenty minutes later I was riding again. I rode down to Bobbin Head in twilight, and up the other side in dark. The road was wet with recent rain, and trees dripping, and the bush alive with the sound of a million frogs. I checked into the Gordon Police Station a little after 6pm. Twelve hours for a 200, but it was such a

Sydney Harbour Bridge: Using the cycleway is a much more scenic and relaxing option than the bus lane, as Chris Rogers discovered.


glorious ride that I don’t remember once looking at my watch.

Getting back to Sydney, however, was not that simple. I rolled south down the Pacific Highway at a canter at first, but just below Crows Nest it all fell apart without a map. There were signs to suburbs I had never heard of. What I thought was the Pacific Highway turned into a ten lane motorway with signs forbidding cyclists and pedestrians. It looked like the Grand Prix down there, but with ten thousand drivers.

I retraced my steps slightly, and asked a local how to get the Harbour Bridge. He said go here, there and somewhere else and she’ll be right. Well I did, but I ended up on the same motorway. No bicycles, no pedestrians. Why wasn’t I on a camel, or a yak, and I would be OK? I ended up back where I started.

So I went to the professionals. I rode up to a taxi rank and explained the problem. No worries said the driver: Turn left at the pedestrian crossing and just follow the bus route signs and she’ll be right. Well I did just that. As I entered the motorway I looked down so that I couldn’t see les velos interdit signs. I cruised past the toll booth, and nobody seemed to notice.

Till half way over the bridge all was well. For those unfamiliar with the Sydney Harbour Bridge the bus lane is on the right for southbound traffic, physically separated from the rest of the traffic by a low concrete barrier. There was me alone in the bus lane, with a million cars streaming by on the other side of the barrier. But then I looked behind. Five huge buses were coming down my lane. On a quick calculation the lane was 4.2 m wide, and the buses 4.1 m wide. Not a lot of room. So I jumped off my bike and squeezed against a dividing fence, hoping that I was as thin as a layer of paint – I would rather be vertical graffiti than horizontal roadkill. The buses had to slow down to get past me, and there was much honking of horns, and eloquent gesticulation from the drivers.

At this stage I thought it wise to reappraise the situation. I shouldered the GT, and dodged between frantic traffic to get to the side of the bridge where there was a pedestrian path. I hoisted the bike over the fence, and was off like a rabbit. Just as I caught sight of the hotel sign a bridge guard started waving and shouting at me. “This is a pedestrian path! The bike path is on the other side of the bridge! Are you

stupid or what!” “No mate, I’m in Audax”, I said. He then gave me a lecture on serious consequences, told me to walk the rest of the way, and started talking to himself like they do on The Bill. But it didn’t bother me because I was almost home.

When I contacted Malcolm later to thank him for the brilliant ride he told me that Garry came in during the early hours of the morning. Pat and Tim had technical problems and were forced to pull out at Wyong, where they caught a commuter train back to Gordon.

Bike riding is all about new experiences. It is the only way to explore new territory. We all owe our gratitude to organisers such as Malcolm who use their local knowledge to devise routes that are safe and show some of the great countryside and cityscapes of Australia.

The Visa bill arrives next week.

National Committee The Audax Club of Australia Inc.Association No. A0014462N

PresidentHans Dusink - 03 9314 [email protected]

Vice PresidentBarry Moore - 03 9803 [email protected]

SecretaryGreg Cunningham - 02 6288 6997 [email protected]

Treasurer Stephen Chambers - 03 5952 [email protected]

Membership SecretaryLorraine Allen - 03 5783 2427 [email protected]

Brevet Secretary Peter Mathews - 03 9890 [email protected]

Committee Members Henry Boardman - 02 4275 3130 [email protected]

Gordon Cockcroft - 03 5368 [email protected]

Garry Armsworth - 02 9416 [email protected]

Keith McCulloch - 02 4822 [email protected]

NSW PresidentChris Walsh - 02 9924 2200 [email protected] QLD PresidentVaughan Kippers - 07 3376 [email protected] SA PresidentMatthew Rawnsley - 08 8370 [email protected]

TAS PresidentPaul Gregory - 03 6229 3811 [email protected]

VIC PresidentMartin Haynes - 03 5674 2157 [email protected]

WA PresidentColin Farmer - 08 9330 [email protected]

Results of SA AGM

Courtesy Ian Peak

The South Australia Region Annual General Meeting was held on the 1st September, 2005 and was well attended. Well, more than for a usual 600km ride anyway.

The election off officers resulted in Ian Peak becoming President, Matt Rawnsley becoming Secretary/Treasurer/Rides Convenor, Oliver Portway and Alan Dickson becoming committee members, and Darren Kelly was to be co-opted onto the committee when we need to set up special interest groups or special activities. The position of Equal Opportunity Officer remained vacant.


South Australia

The Murray Magic A-Series 200km by Michael Dwyer

If you are going to plan a 200km event, do you plan it for the shortest day of the year? Hell, no!

Travel at 25km/h and it will be eight hours in the saddle non-stop, for those who can do 25km/h.

So, we did it two days before the winter solstice! Oh well!

As for the weather, that was much better organised. It rained everyday before the event and absolutely bucketed down the day after but the rain held back from our competitors on the day. Cool!

The “Murray Magic” is both an Audax event and an A-Series event too. Adelaide Tea Tree Tourers cleverly puts a nice little twist in the shorter Audax events. In the A-Series you elect an average speed to complete all four events. The bronze certificate is above 15km/h, the silver is above 20km/h and the gold is above 25km/h. Now, just sit back in a comfortable chair and with cappuccino confidence or beer bravado, you mentally tick off how pathetically easy it is to cycle above 25km/h and grab a gold.

But then comes the day of the 200km. There is a lot of wind about (which has nothing to do with last night’s carbo loading pasta and wine). Is it going to help or hinder?

We had to start at 7am in the gloom and had to carry lights as required. Very safety conscious, we Audax people are even if the event itself will kill you. My fellow riders took off at what I thought was a cracking pace, considering we were about to rise up into the cyclist’s playground of the Adelaide Hills. Up we went and they wouldn’t slow at all and allow me to do the same with grace. It was cold too but I was sweating like a pig halfway up Greenhill Rd and my beer bravado was just about gone.

The Adelaide Hills are just so good for cycling. There is usually very little traffic and none that day, just a few old dears on their way to praise the Lord or call on the nephew whose 500cc motor bike slid out on a corner and who would live to take up true cycling. But I digress. All hills stop going up sooner

or later and we reached the first control at the 40km mark for a quick hot drink and cake for those inclined. But the clock keeps ticking.

Then it was very good. A little light tail wind and a gentle down-slope took us into Murray Bridge at a heroic 45 – 50km/h over some 25km. And we stopped in at McDonald’s. Did you know that these were made for cyclists in a hurry? They sell extreme high energy food very quickly; how good for cyclists looking to get the clicks in. But funny about all the other people eating there as well.

On we went, over the bridge, left towards Mannum and a head wind, not the worst but definitely there for consideration. Somewhere on that stretch, we hit the 100km mark. There is not a lot of scenery along that bit of road and the mind has all this time to think about important things. I raised a cyclist’s conundrum to speed the time. Try this. If there is a group of 20 cyclists drafting in two columns and the left hand column is travelling at a speed of 30km/h and the right hand column is travelling at 26km/h, what is the average speed of the bunch? Obviously, the front rider slips over to the right hand slow column as he/she hits the front. And vice versa at the rear. Half the bunch is always doing 30km/h. The neatest correct answer is awarded a cycle trip from Murray Bridge to Mannum with a head wind. But I digress.

If you have been bad, you will miss the ferry at Mannum and have to wait for the next. I didn’t but the guy behind did. He needs to be more good. The control at Mannum provided hot drinks and food and appalling humour! We did not linger as time keeps ticking (besides, the controllers thought more

of feeding the pelicans than us). And it was on to the long ride across the river plain and the very nasty uphill to Tunkillo. Very steep and nasty. Don’t look up just keep pushing. There is a top and we got there and stopped for a stretch and bite and drink. This was followed by a section of ten minutes with a tail wind. Come back, all is forgiven! God loves cyclists after all.

The checkpoint at Lobethal was at the 160km mark so it seemed almost home. Just time to look at the watch and make a few calculations on my probable overall average speed. Shock, What! I have to complete the last 40km at an average of 20km/h or blow my silver time. And there are big hills in between. I have done this section a number of times but always in the opposite direction. Fearing defeat and looking for someone to blame (the controllers at Mannum come to mind) I pedal hard into the gloom of a day around 4:30pm on the near shortest day of the year.

Finally, we were at Norton Summit and speeding the last downhill to suburbia. And there is Buongiornos at Norwood and I yell at the controllers to record my final time and they yell back to give them the bloody brevet card.

Then life improves. There is a carafe of red on the table and coffees to be had and the day starts to literally shine under the sparkle of the café lights and the heat from the overhead gas. All competitors came in to a round of applause from the café and the bonhomie increases. There are stories of struggles against time to be swapped, of bike parts that worked well and legs that sometimes wouldn’t. I got my silver. It was all good and next year it will be even better.


2003 Survey ResultsParis - Brest - Paris

Part 1

After participating in the 2003 Paris-Brest-Paris, 33 male Audax Australia members kindly completed

a survey regarding their preparation and participation in PBP of that year. Whilst this represents just

under half the number of actual Australian participants, it nonetheless gives aspirants for the 2007

event an idea of what previous participants have done.

Did you carbo-load prior to the event?

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

Yes No

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

Yes No

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

Yes No

Did you take French lessons prior to PBP?

Can you speak French?

Did you do the ‘Semaine Federale’ prior to PBP? (a week long ‘training camp’ with 10,000 cyclists)

Was the language a problem?

Did you cycle tour prior to PBP?

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

Yes No

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

Yes No

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

Yes* No*Countries toured included France, Norway, The Netherlands, Belgium, England, Switzerland and Germany. Two respondents toured the PBP route.

Survey results courtesy Jason Andre/Lynda van Dyk/Sam Blight and the 33 respondents


The Argusby Howard Duncan

Cape Town in South Africa, is known the world over for its stunning waterfront setting with Table

Mountain as a backdrop, and also as the location of the Robin Island prison that incarcerated Nelson

Mandela for many years. Amongst cyclists however, it is gaining fame for the annual staging of the

Cape Argus Cycle Challenge which has been held every year since 1977.

Over the years the ride has grown from a local event attracting a few hundred enthusiasts, to the world’s largest one day timed sporting event, with about 38,000 people taking part in 2005. It was the curiosity of riding in such a massive crowd that tempted my wife, Danya, and me to travel to Cape Town in March 2005 to ride in “The Argus”, as it’s affectionately known amongst South Africans.

A holiday in South Africa two years earlier had left us keen to see more of the continent, so a visit to the majestic Victoria Falls and a safari in Botswana was added to the beginning of our trip. After a week off the bike and taking in the wonders of the African bush, we arrived in Cape Town and set off to explore the city on our wheels.

Despite some undeserved publicity, the city is quite safe to cycle around, particularly the older parts with their interesting Dutch Cape architecture. Riding up into the hills away from the city centre, we saw suburbs of large houses with stunning coastal views, but the only people in the streets are the black domestic workers scurrying off to catch their busses back to their homes in the shanty towns on the city outskirts.

A visit to one of the black townships later in the week was a real eye opener for us, not just because of the extreme poverty, but due to the spirit and optimism of the people in the face of what to us seems like insurmountable problems.

The day before the Argus, we went to register and collect our information packs and timing transponders from the Cycle Expo that runs in conjunction with the event. It is only when we got there and saw thousands of people lining up in the expo halls that we got a hint of the buzz that would follow the next day. That afternoon

I took a ride from our hotel up through the city and over Table Mountain to the fashionable seaside suburb of Camps Bay on the Atlantic coast. The climb out of the city is very steep but in my lowest gears I struggled up to the cable car station on Table

Mountain to enjoy the view over the city and harbour. The winding descent down to the coast was exhilarating with the coolness of the descent being a welcome relief from the afternoon sun. The local motorists possibly realised I was a visitor to their city so showed

Argus riders enjoy a great atmosphere and spectacular scenery along the 109km route.


me a degree of respect and left plenty of room on the road.

The following morning, we were greeted by the colourful sight of thousands of excited cyclists all lining up in their designated starting areas. For the locals, this is the premier event amongst many mass rides that are held over the year in South Africa, and they take it very seriously indeed. Although only 109 kilometres in length, it is seen as something of a challenge for many of the riders, some whom have done the ride since it’s inception in 1977. Our group of riders finally pushed off at 8.20 am, somewhere in the middle of the 38,000 starting that day. As the roads are closed to traffic for the entire route and we started off on a wide multi lane road, there was never any sense of the massive number of cyclists on the road.

The locals lined the road and cheered us on as we climbed the long hill out of the city through the hills to the coast of False Bay on the Indian Ocean side of the Cape of Good Hope. A strong headwind slowed our progress as we passed through the small coastal towns of Fish Hoek and Simons Town, famous for its resident penguin colony. A bit further on as we entered the national park, we were confronted by a troop of baboons for which, after some close encounters during the previous week, I have a healthy respect. It seems they have taken a liking to eating the discarded gel packets of thoughtless cyclists and were hyped up on sugar, so we rode carefully past as they bared their fangs.

After 50 kilometres, we reached the southern most point of the ride at the entrance to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. With the wind now behind us, we flew up and down the rolling hills through the dry bush country before making our first stop at one of the refreshment stations which were every 10 kilometres along the route. The views along the Atlantic coast are breathtaking as we approached the much talked about climb over Chapmans Peak. The climb turned out to be relatively easy and I took great delight in overtaking as many fit young things as possible on my funny little folding bike.

As the day progressed, the dry Mediterranean heat became more intense so it was with some relief that we rode through the seaside suburbs of Camps Bay and Sea Point to the mass finish close to the city waterfront. As we crossed the finish line to the cheers of the waiting crowds, we could see our elapsed ride time on the

large displays and the official photographer captured the moment for posterity. We avoided the temptation to take up an offer of visiting one of the official hospitality tents and headed down to the beautiful Victoria & Alfred Waterfront to settle in to one of the cafés with a cool drink and gelati. The whole area had been transformed for the day and the usual camera toting tourists were replaced by lycra clad cyclists, all very proud of their achievements.

The day after the Argus, we headed off with our bikes to spend a few days in a 300 year old Dutch Cape farmhouse in the town of Paarl, with views of the surrounding vineyards. The entire Cape has been transformed in recent years with many foreigners, including TV’s cycling commentator Phil Ligget, moving there for the wonderful climate and relaxed lifestyle.

In Paarl, we enjoyed a wonderful meal at a local restaurant run by a Frenchman from Alsace who moved there years earlier because he saw it as a land of opportunity. This charming host’s generosity extended to driving us the 500 meters to our hotel, which he considered unwise to walk in the dark. The wine areas close to Cape Town offer some good cycling with great scenery and a combination of flat valleys and steep passes.

The climate in the Cape Wineland area is unbelievably dry and even our two litre camelbacks were quickly consumed on our first ride to a local winery. The winery, Spiers, contains a cheetah conservation centre which re-houses cheetahs in danger

of being shot by farmers. To help raise funds for the project, you are able to go into an enclosure with cheetah cubs or full grown cheetahs and pat them, which was a great thrill for Danya who is an ardent animal lover. A male cheetah in an adjacent enclosure seemed very curious, jumping up and sniffing us through the fence. The staff remarked that cyclists seem to have this effect on the big cats, possibly because of the tight fitting lycra making us unrecognisable but, we thought, more likely due to the odour emanating from our sweaty bods.

A visit to Africa and a ride in The Argus should be near the top of the list of any keen cyclist. It is a superbly well run event with a great atmosphere, over one of the most beautiful routes in the world. It is even broadcast on South African television, with the commentator none other than Phil Ligget.

The people riding the event come from all over Africa and the rest of the world, although surprisingly we saw very few black people amongst the riders. I am sure that will change over time as the black population becomes more affluent and pursues leisure activities such as cycling. A positive move is that that there are companies involved in special sponsorship programs set up to encourage young black people from the poorer townships to be involved in cycling.

Who knows, maybe one day we’ll see a South African winning the Tour de France.

Argus event information can be found at www.cycletour.co.za

The breathtaking panorama at Chapmans Peak.


Okayama Brevet 600by Mathew Rawnsley

Yurubinya, Hayashima

Way back in December 1994, Audax South Australia ran a 400km brevet. Since then, I thought it

was the hottest Audax ride I had ever done. Until now.

Right from the start, when I was thinking how I was going to cope and how I was going to keep cool, I knew I was in for a battle.

Despite all this, I had to remind myself that I had chosen to ride this 600km brevet in the middle of the Japanese ‘rainy season’, which also means if it was not raining, it was going to be very hot and humid.

The day before the 600km brevet, Mr Hiroya Okazaki and Ms Nobuko Sawada met me at the local Youth Hostel and introduced themselves. Mr Okazaki was my very good translator during the time I was in Japan and Ms Sawada was the Okayama Region Representative for Japan and organiser of this 600km brevet.

The official starting time was at 11pm on the 16 July 2005, but Ms Sawada started us about 10 minutes early. We were off and I was on my guide’s tail straight away, as was the rest of the group. Mr Izumi had the reputation of being the fastest rider. As they knew my 2003 Paris-Brest-Paris time, they all thought that I was a fast rider and should be able to stay with him. In the end I did.

The route, I was told, had about 13,000 metres of climbing. One thing I know for sure, the route had quite a few 7 - 8 %, plus one 10 % grade climbs I can remember.

The route rolled out of the city centre and then onto a bike path, following the Ashimori River. We had to look out for cars as they are so small that they can drive down any size lane, as we discovered.

We all got to the first control point, which the Japanese called ‘PC’. PC-1 was at the 35km point at Lawson convenience store in Kibichuou. We were there in one hour. Luckily, we were all still dry, but I

could smell rain in the air. Whilst the high speeds continued to the next PC, the rain had started to set in. We had had a few small climbs already by the time we got to the 7-Eleven convenience store in Kuse Kusakahe (PC-2). I was beginning to get very wet, but at the same time I was already going through a lot of drinking water having done 70km in two hours.

A hundred and ten kilometres lay between the second and third PC. This was the start of our first hilly section. At the top of one of the many climbs, we found we could not go through one of the tunnels. We had to take a detour that went up and around.

The rain still poured down heavily, making an interesting, if not scary descent for me, in the dark, even with goods lights on. I took it easy at this stage.

At this stage I was riding with three others riders, one of which was my guide (Mr Izumi, with a PBP ‘03 time of 73 hours 20 minutes). Mr Izumi was the same rider I swapped my Australian 2003 PBP jersey with at the end of PBP! Also with us was another tall guy wearing a bright funny looking jersey (Mr Yasuhiro Nakai) and a short gutsy guy (Mr Kenji Matsumoto). During the first night we stopped at some traffic lights and Mr Matsumoto lent on

Audax Japan

The unique logo of the Okayama 600 made many riders happy!


one of the plastic reflective posts thinking it would keep him upright while waiting for the lights to change, but guess what, it snapped! It almost took Mr Matsumoto with it. If not for everything else, it made us all laugh.

The descent in the rain did not concern the riders much, but they waited for me nevertheless. It was a long descent of 950 meters to the Lawson convenience store at Sakaiminato Takeeueki (PC-3). It was almost 5am and as we rolled into PC-3, the sun began to rise.

The timing was right for the rain to stop. Early morning brought us very spectacular scenery of the Mt Daisen National Park. The low misty clouds hovering in the lush hilly valleys made for an awesome sight. Again as we passed nearby Mt Daisen, it was time for another photo opportunity.

We soon descended towards the flatlands and to the coast road along the Sea of Japan. By now I could start to feel the heat of the day begin to rise. I started at each PC to use my little neck towel. At each stop I would find the restroom and soak my towel with cold water and wipe it all over myself: my face, hair, arms and legs to clean and cool myself. Just before we would leave I would soak it again and place it around my neck to keep cool.

Despite this being the flattest section of the ride, we still managed to find a hill climb, a bridge that went over the Naka Lake. Although hot, we were still moving along. I noticed from the first few PC’s that Mr Izumi was not going to hang around: eat, drink, toilet, go! In the end this proved to be a good idea, as we were not hanging around in the intense heat.

As we turned away from Ota (PC-4), we were staring right into the path of the

mountains. I remember asking my fellow riders “Is that way we’re going?” pointing towards the mountains. The expression on their faces said it all. “Yep, we’re in for one hell of a time”.

Unfortunately, form here my memory becomes a bit vague of exactly in what order things happened and places we went through. But what I do remember is that for the rest of day and most of the second night, the ride was one of the most continuously hilly sections of an Audax randonnée I have ever experienced! In addition, having to deal with the extreme heat made it even more challenging.

This is where most of 7-8 % grade climbs were crammed in, when ascending and descending into and out of the spectacular lush green valleys. The roads around here, as we headed straight towards the mountains, did not deviate to go around a mountain. They just go straight through them. We were going through tunnels one after another. The thought of going through so many tunnels was a scary one at first. As I went through the first few I could see the tunnels were all very well lit, so my confidence grew. I was especially cautious with the downward slope tunnels. Taking it easy was the safe bet as they usually had a stream of water running through them. It appeared to me that you could not get to some townships without going through the tunnels.

By now I was only with Mr Izumi and we were making good time. Now we were

in the heart of the mountainous region of the Chugoku Prefectural, and Shobara (425 km) and Jogeekimae (449 km) went by. Closing in on PC-7 at Tojo (485 km), the ride here was definitely one with the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen. I was just amazed at how Tojo sat in the middle of all the mountains, especially with all these cliff faces around. We must have gone through half a dozens tunnels just to get to this place.

A few other points during the day while Mr Izumi and I were still with Mr Nakai. We descended into a valley after going through a very steep tunnel and on the other side we come out at what was an intersection of roads, intersecting each other, way above the valley floor. This was a very spectacular and unusual sight.

Stocking up on reserves at Restaurant ‘Joyfull’. Matthew is fourth from left, with Mr H Okazaki, his translator, on his right. Mr H Izumi, Matt’s personal guide who he rode with, is sitting on the far right.

The organiser of the 600km randonnée, Ms N Sawada, (nicknamed ‘Ray’), reads instructions to the group before departure. Matt is standing next to the post, adjacent to ‘Ray’.

Riders enjoyed spectacular scenery along the way, including Mt Daisen, above.

continued overleaf...


The navigation of these two Japanese riders was excellent. That is until we came across a small country lane and we ended up going in a circle. While the two of them were trying to understand the route sheet, I came across a girl on a bike, who turned out be an American living nearby (teaching English). What luck! She knew the area well, spoke Japanese and pointed us in the right direction.

Well into the second night we were finally riding out of the mountains with 546km down as we reached Takahashi (PC-8). We retraced our route back to Hayashima, following the rice fields of the valley that was carved out by the Takahashi River. Before we knew it we were again riding along side the Ashimori River, on the bike path that was at the beginning of the ride. We were both very tried at this stage and both eager to finish the event. As we entered the outskirts of Hayashima, we knew our wishes were about to become true. Mr Izumi

was following the route sheet to the letter, making sure we did not take a wrong turn. “You know what’s it like, you don’t want to make a mistake and do extra kilometres!”

We were zigzagging in and out of narrow lanes, under narrow bridges, when we finally turned the corner we had been waiting for. There in front of us stood the building of Yurubinya and the finish line. Waiting eagerly was Ms Sawada and Mr Okazaki to congratulate Mr Izumi and myself on finishing a very tough ride. They were also very pleased that I was the first foreigner to finish an Audax Okayama region brevet. So was I.

Some notesI would not recommend doing a 600km

brevet in Japan during their rainy season, for the reasons that you have just read. Another time of year would be better. Maybe only for the fool-hardly, like myself! But don’t get me wrong, I loved Japan. The countryside is just

Women in Audaxby Heather Murray

As you may have read in the winter edition of Checkpoint

(No. 24), I was recently appointed to the Victorian

Committee.

I have created a Forum Topic on the Audax website under the General Topic titled Women in Audax. You can find it at www.audax.org.au/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44

I am hoping to create a spot where women riders can talk about what interests and concerns them about Audax cycling. I am currently using it to announce when I am riding, so that other people will know that there will be at least one person they could cycle with. My idea is that once people get in touch we would ride as a group, meaning that we go as fast as the slowest person and wait for each other at the top of hills.

Personally I don’t have a problem with just turning up for a 100km ride, and I did the same for my first 200km ride too. However, I did tell the organiser it was

so beautiful, I would go again. Prior to doing this event I was riding and climbing a lot in Colorado for two weeks, so I was ready for whatever terrain I found in Japan.

Statistics• sixteen starters: ten finished, six DNF.

• 13,049 metres of climbing (figures from the organiser’s computer software)

• I rode through 23 tunnels

• I drank around about 40 litres of water.

• the temperature during the day was between 30 - 35˚C and 80 % humidity.

• the temperature during the night was between 20 - 25˚C with 50 - 60% humidity.

Personally, this was Audax ride no. 197 for me, giving me 60,700km ridden to date in Audax rides.

my first 200 in advance, he made an announcement before we left thus ensuring I was accompanied for most of the ride. However, I am not so sure I would want to “just turn up” for my first 300km ride and I can quite understand people, not only women, being put off by the prospect of being alone for the duration or cycling in the dark (my concern). On Audax rides in my experience (my first ride was in June 2004) people tend to ride alone or in small groups but it can be difficult for new riders or for those moving up a distance.

If anyone has any other ideas please let me know. I can be contacted by email at [email protected]. Note that this address was published incorrectly in the last edition of Checkpoint, so if you have emailed, please try again using the above address.

Cycle Coaching

Tanya BoschLevel 2 Accredited Cycling Coach

Whether your goal is 50km, 600km or 1200km, you can

achieve it!

Paris-Brest-Paris is just around the corner - start

preparing now for this ulti-mate adventure.

For professional coaching please phone Tanya on

02 9369 1436, 0419 217 974 or email

[email protected]

Next issue (Summer 2005/06):

• Rider Profile returns• Club History - we take a look at the club 20 years ago• PBP Survey Results - part 2and lots more!

Be sure to renew your membership to receive the next Checkpoint on time.


Victoria

Club NightPhoto’s courtesy Gordon McMillan

Victoria Region members enjoyed guest speaker and Great Australian Cycle Expedition (GRACE)

rider Kate Leeming at their July club night.

Kate Leeming was the first woman in history to cycle the Canning Stock Route, as part of the 25 000km Great Australian Cycle Expedition, held in 2004/05. The 9 1⁄2 month journey involved extreme physical and mental endurance and involved 7000km off road on isolated tracks. The purpose of the expedition was to promote awareness and contribute towards sustainability education. The project was selected as a ‘demonstration activity’ for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

Kate’s presentation described the story of the GRACE Expedition, illustrated by photographs and a video.

Within the framework of the story, Kate addressed:• organisation - developing the project from

an idea to making it happen.• motivation, goal setting, leadership.

• cycling unsupported involved travelling as a sustainable model. Sustainability issues encountered during the expedition were highlighted.

• learning to adapt and cope to the environment, especially in isolation.

• characters• physical geography of the Australian

continent.Kate was also the first woman in history

to cycle the breadth of Russia, when she organised and completed the five month, 13 400km Trans-Siberian Cycle Expedition aiding the ‘Children of Chernobyl’.

More information about GRACE can be found online at www.gracexpedition.org

Above: The hazards of outback cycling, as Kate encounters the world’s second largest dump truck. Below left: Kate at the Victoria region club night. Below, Kate’s ride makes news on the UNESCO website, and Kate’s route around Australia.


Backing up the Giroon four wheelsby Paul Gregory

In the last issue of Checkpoint (No. 24 - Winter 2005), Tim Stredwick wrote his account of the

gruelling 1000km Giro Tasmania as a participant. Here’s how it went from the support side.

After having dropped Gareth off at the official starting point in Salamanca Place, I returned home to refill the back of the car with all the goodies I thought we’d be needing for this three day odyssey. It was here that I discovered that I’d left my wallet full of credit cards somewhere and a few frantic phone calls hadn’t produced any sign of it. An auspicious way to start. Armed with the wife’s Keycard and PIN number, plus fully laden hatchback, I set off in pursuit of the three riders who had officially started an hour or so earlier. A quick stop at Salamanca, a hunt around the foyer at work, and then a visit to the newsagency led to a recovery of the missing wallet. Things were looking up.

I caught my first glimpse of the trio just short of Buckland, making good progress after only two and a half hours on the road. Only Bust-me-Gall and Break-me-Neck Hills between here and the East Coast. Everyone seemed okay so we agreed to meet at the toilet block in Orford for some hot

noodles and a cuppa. Gareth made some mention of the number of hills - the others looked at each other knowing that the real hills were yet to come. At least the next hundred or so kilometres would be relatively flat by Tasmanian standards - a hill every 20km or so. After repacking the car, I set off slowly trying to avoid the nocturnal creatures that gather around the middle of the road. It’s estimated that one million Tasmanian native animals end up as roadkill each year, and on our PBP qualifiers we had a number of scares from possums and wallabies that were intent on getting from one side of the road to the other.

After what had seemed like a short nap in Swansea, I stretched my legs and waited, expecting the trio to arrive at any minute. A while later, and no sign of them so I decided to drive on towards Bicheno and the next hot food stop. About 30km further on I passed our heroes, who had somehow slipped past without bothering to wake me. Our meeting point was the toilet block at the waterfront park in Bicheno. I was getting a bit concerned about appearances and made a point of mentioning this to Tim. A middle aged fella hanging around toilet blocks in the middle of the night was not what I had planned for my holidays. With the pre-dawn chorus from waking penguins, I set about boiling water and cooking noodles for the hungry who were about to arrive. I was a little uncertain as to whether Gareth would last the distance, excluding bad weather or breakdown. Tim and Rowan should be capable of finishing, after their Fleche Opperman All Day Trial in November. This consisted of a 330km ride to the start at Wynyard on Friday, followed by the 381kms return to Hobart the following day.

Fed and watered the three left Bicheno

just before dawn and arrived at St Helens in time for breakfast and a short rest before taking on the next two big climbs, Pyengana Pass and Weldborough Pass. Weldborough Pub is a good overnight stop with clean rooms, cold beer, excellent pub food and a bunkhouse and campground out back. Across the road is the workshop of violin craftsman Warren Nolan Fordham who specialises in native Tasmanian timbers. Once a thriving town supplying miners on the Blue Tier, not much remains apart from a few houses.

By early afternoon they were approaching Scottsdale and a well earned lie down for a few hours in a shaded, grassy park (near the public toilets). Time to refresh for the next big climb over the Sidling. The view from near the top of the Sidling is worth the climb, extending as far as Flinders and Cape Barren Islands and south towards the Fingal Valley, not to mention the run downhill to Launceston that follows. A


late afternoon meeting on the outskirts of Launceston had me off to the city shopping while the trio made their way west on the old highway towards Carrick. Almost 24 hours of riding. Hubert Opperman would ride Launceston to Hobart in a little over five hours - a competitive time for today’s cyclist who takes part in this annual race. In those days, they had the old road still visible in parts if you travelled the Midlands Highway. Some years Oppy would tackle Launceston -Hobart-Launceston. Of course the route didn’t follow the East Coast then, which is 200km longer.

Next checkpoint was Deloraine public toilets by the river 11pm at night. It was a long wait with the trio stopped at Westbury and Gareth having a nap. I’d become accustomed to late night radio by this time and would listen half asleep to whatever frequency I could pick up. Sometime after midnight they arrived, were fed and had another short nap before setting off for Sheffield, town of murals, although they wouldn’t see many by the time they arrived. Before that they would have to negotiate an unmarked turn and the long climb up from Kimberley.

My slumber in Sheffield ended with a phone call from Tim saying they had passed me a while back and were approaching Paradise - could we meet at Gowrie Park? The campground at Gowrie Park has a huge day shelter and as soon as I arrived I laid out some mats and sleeping bags, put on the kettle and settled in to wait. Rowan arrived first, followed by Tim and Gareth a few minutes later. All were exhausted and after some hot food were soon asleep.

With the first rays of dawn they set off again past the imposing outcrops of

Mt Roland and the tricky plunge down Cethana hill before crossing the bridge and beginning the long and steep climb (that’s Tasmanian long and steep) up to Moina. It was a cold morning but the climb would soon warm them up. First one to the top would have the luxury of waiting in the warmth of the car for the others to arrive. All were exhausted by the top and looking ready to pack it in, but they managed to summon enough strength to mount up and continue to the 600km mark which happened to be on a long stretch of deserted road halfway between Cradle Mountain and the west coast with no shops or shelter for another 40km. By this time Tasmania’s notoriously fickle weather had changed from bright blue skies to almost snow. Tim grabbed his tent and sleeping bag and headed off into the scrub while Rowan and Gareth made do with a tarp sleeping bags and space blankets. I’ve never seen three more miserable looking cyclists so I drove off to the nearest town to get some hot food.

Rowan and Gareth had recovered not long after I returned and were ready to roll on, and we went looking for Tim. We couldn’t find him anywhere, but eventually he scrambled out of the bush and onto the road, looking only slightly better than before his sleep. Reluctantly they pushed on to the highway and over the hills to Tullah and the warmth of the café. Gareth had only enough time to order some food before he was asleep at the table. Tim and Rowan’s spirits had lifted knowing that they would have a shower and be sleeping in a bed before dark and headed off, arriving at the hostel in Strahan at around 6pm with Gareth two hours behind.

I awoke at some ungodly hour to find the others had left. It was still dark and there

was a heavy fog that cut visibility on these unfamiliar roads to only a few metres. As I drove the long uphill out from Strahan, I half expected to feel the bump of bicycle on the front of the car before seeing the rear light. Twenty kilometres later I caught Gareth, but by Queenstown I hadn’t seen Tim or Rowan. I left Gareth as he was climbing the hill out of Queenstown and set off to see what the others were doing, eventually catching them as they were preparing to leave Collingwood Bridge. Both were expecting to see Gareth in the car, and were a bit surprised when I told them he was pushing on. A hunt through the back of the car turned up enough food to get them over Mt Arrowsmith to Derwent Bridge. Gareth was two hours behind, but holding up well, and managed to eat half a bowl of soup at Derwent Bridge.

At Tarraleah there’s one of those tourist information boards that shows the layout of dams and power stations on the Derwent. I pointed out to Gareth that once he managed to get to the top of the next hill, a steep twisting section, it looked all downhill to Hamilton. Well it did on the display! I rarely visit the West Coast, and most trips I’ve taken go along the gravel road through Victoria Valley. In reality the road rolls up and down over seven or eight hills until Wayatinah then there is an eight kilometre climb out with false summits every two or three kilometres. I felt really bad, but Gareth never made mention of the extra hills, either he was too tired, just didn’t care or is too much of a gentleman.

Leaving Hamilton there’s another long climb, the last one before Hobart this I know because we often ride the 200km to Ouse and back on our Riverbank Ramble. I managed a photo of Gareth halfway up in the late afternoon light. He was now fuelled by lollies and soft drink, determined to get to Hobart before the finish time so he didn’t have to come back next time and do it again.

As the Salamanca Place nightlife was just starting to warm up, Gareth arrived within the time limit to finish the 1038km trip, having visited every coast of Tasmania. An exceptional achievement for any cyclist, I have the utmost admiration for Tim, Rowan and Gareth for what they did in early January 2005.

The Giro Tasmania will be on the calendar again in 2007. Next year though we’ll try a 1200. Hobart-Marrawah-Hobart, with a few less hills.


World News

USALast time for BMB?by Larry Midura. Courtesy Bob Bednarz

Boston-Montreal-Boston will be held for the last time next year. Then Jennifer Wise and company are giving it up. No rumors as to who may take it over, or if it will die, or if a new New England 1200km will surface.

Washington’s Cascade 1200 and the California 1200 were about equal in difficulty and challenge, although the mountain passes of the Cascade ride were longer. Two of the passes - Elk Pass and Loup Loup Pass were 32km long! It took five-and-a-half hours to climb up and descend them.

Not many dropped out of the Cascade, but the California ride had 30 DNFs mostly due to heat exhaustion. In California, the afternoon heat was 41.6˚C in the high desert. Using a Camelback for extra water, and using ice-packed in tube socks wrapped-around your neck was necessary to stay alert and alive. No rain in California at all, and just drizzle at the start of the Cascade, and rain and cool temps descending the last pass, Rainy Pass, on the last day.

I enjoyed both the Cascade and California Gold Rush equally. Different aspects made them a bit unique. I would repeat both if had the opportunity, time and money. A Camelback hydration system was essential for 32 - 42˚C daytime conditions on both rides while in the high desert terrain of 1200 - 1500 metres above sea level.

As a general comparison, I would rate the terrain difficulty of the Cascade as 8.0 on scale of 10; the California Gold Rush terrrain as a 7.5 on a scale on 10 , but due to the real hot weather that caused the high DNF rate, you could rate it also a 8.0. In general, I would compare the British Columbia Rocky Moutain 1200 as about a difficulty level 6.5 to 7.0 against the Cascade and California event.

London-Edinburgh-London (LEL)Courtesy Greg Lansom/Barry Stevenson

Audax Australia members Greg Lansom (NSW) and Peter Moore (VIC) recently completed the gruelling LEL randonnée (1400km). Thanks to technology, almost instant updates were made available to subscribers of the Audax-oz email chat list. Here’s a look at how Greg reported:

23/7/05 @17.10est 8.17 London timeWell I’m just about to start LEL. After

some great weather the forecast is not so good but OK. Oh well, only 1414km to go and 600 directions on route guide. I have seen Peter Moore but not the other Aussie. Will update.

24/7/05 @11.52est 2.52 London timeAt Thorne (300km). 4 hours sleep. Going

ok. Having breakfast.

24/7/05 @16.09est 7.09 London timeAt Hovington (381km). Now the hills

start.

24/7/05 @21.04est 12.04 London timeJust got to Eppleby (461km) starting to

slow down. Peter Moore going well.

25/7/05 @12.49est 3.49 London timeLondon-Edinburgh DONE (707km). Just

have to get back. There is lots of climbing.

26/7/05 @18.29est 9.29 London timeAt Hoveringham. Going OK. Showered,

clean clothes, the world is good. 385km to go.

27/7/05 @12.29est 3.29 London timeAt Lincoln. Had a good sleep in a bed.

220k to go. Peter Moore also at Linc.

27/7/05 @16.35est 7.35 London time150 to go. Peter going well. Saw him at

breakfast.

28/7/05 @6.50est 21.50 London timeLEL completed! A brilliant ride. Tough

in the Scottish hills and the Pennines. Lots of sleep. Weather cold but dry, for me. Peter has also finished. A great ride.

United Kingdom

Greg summed up after the event with…It was a really excellent ride. The Scottish

hills were fantastic (scenery wise) and the weather was great. Cool, light winds and very little rain, well for us at least. Most other people got pretty wet in a couple of stages.

It was good the Aussies won the 1st cricket test because that gave me good value for quite a while.

The ride had a great atmosphere. Around 200 started from London (there was a second start at Thorne). Out of the 200 London starter about 150 were internationals. As most of us stayed at the hostel before the ride this gave me a chance to get to know some of them. I largely rode with a couple of English guys but at most check points we would run into the same riders. We got to know a group of Germans pretty well and you wouldn’t believe it I ran into one of them in London today!!

I saw the weather last night on the tv and where we had been riding a couple of days again had a mini tornado, and heavy rain and wind across Scotland and Northern England. We were blessed.

Anyway, better go because I think my internet time is about to expire.

I’ll try and write up a bit of a ride report later. Thanks for all the encouragement.

And from Peter Moore…G’day everyone, I have been to Scotland

and back, and have my finishers badge, so now Jan and I can have a holiday.

It was hard, what else would you expect, but fortunately cool, and enough wind north of the border to keep the midges down.

I finished around 6pm, 106 hours. The red tastes very nice! Talk to you all again.


Brevetswith Stephen George, Brevet Editor

Processing by Barry Parsons & Peter Mathews

Ride organisers: Did you have volunteers assist you with your ride? Please send their names with your ride results so they can be acknowledged.

50km, 29-May-05, Victoria, Southwest Mix ‘n MatchOrganiser: Bob Bednarz

Heather Allen, Ian Knox, Chris Kouts, Trevor Reeves, John Rowlands, Merryn Rowlands, Raymond Lelkes

50km, 12-Jun-05, Victoria, Grampians Challenge Organiser: Pam & Grant Palmer

Louise Baker, Stephen Carlin, Jill Edwards, Kerrie Fox, Lyn Mc Connell, John Mc Intyre


Owen Church, Peter Curtis, Robyn Curtis, Daniel Dobrosak, Hans Dusink, Naomi Fountain, Howard Gibson, James Hahnel, Tony Holovka, Megan Hughes, Ian Lightfoot, Greg Martin, Peter Martin, Jeff Meister, Ron Norton, Arthur O’Connell, Tim O’Doherty, Jennifer Reed, Maxine Riggs, Geoff Robinson, Martin Scarlett, Don Skinner, Trevor Skinner, Peter Tierney, Robert Wilkenson, Simon Woodford, Wayne Wright

100km, 29-May-05, Victoria, Happy Birthday HubertOrganiser: Lorraine Allen

George Allen, Lorraine Allen, Laurie Atkins, Jenny Bould, Neil Dugan, Phillipa Duggan, Richard Franks, Bill Frost, Phillipa Hayes, Michael Kater, Gordon Ross, Leah Ross, Anne Stacpoole

100km, 4-Jun-05, Victoria, Tour de TarwinOrganiser: Libby & Martin Haynes

Paul Beck, Felix Border, Colin Byatt, Kirsty Chambers, Robyn Curtis, David Eales, Mal Foul, Brian Hammond, Bill Jeppeson, Willi Ketzer, Peter Martin, Rob Macauley, Jeff Meister, Barry Moore, David Nickson, Rhonda Nickson, Maxine Riggs, Wilfred Scloemer, Patricia Stewart, Rob Stewart, Peter Weiss, Neil White

100km, 12-Jun-05, Victoria, Grampians Challenge Organiser: Pam & Grant Palmer

John Bahoric, John Bleechmore, Wayne Cox, Ken Dacomb, Greg Davies, David Eales, Darryl Edwards, Chris Eichler, Brian Gavan, Bruce Geddes, John Green, David Hare, Geoff Hunter, Dominic Jackson, Michael Kater, Garrie Lette, Keith Lowe, Graeme Martin, Ken Morgan, Phil Morris, Garry Page, Trevor Page, Darell Ralph, Peter Rauert, Denis Ray, Ian Roberts, Peter Rose, Stephen Rowlands, Gerard Santamaria, Kevin Saunders, Mal Shaw, Les Solly, Ron Sommerville, Joan Stribley, Roger Teale, Paul Volk

200km, 13-Feb-05, NSW Tumut, Highlands TourOrganiser: Jimmy Goode

Bruce Giles, Jimmy Goode, David Ham, John Leary, David O’brien, Andrew Raddgever, Greg Rees, Charles Taylor

200km, 26-Feb-05, Victoria, Phillip Island and BeyondOrganiser: Russ Hamilton

Leon Malzinskas, Max Payne, Peter Stoneman

200km, 27-Feb-05, Victoria - Maryborough, Wander about the Central HighlandsOrganiser: Andy Moore

Lorraine Allen, Pat Dorey, Hans Dusink, Libby Haynes, Martin Haynes, Tim Laugher

200km, 13-Mar-05, New South Wales - Sydney, Morriset ExpressOrganiser: Steve Coman

Keith Scott, Dennis Shaw, Johan Brinch, Roslyn Russell, Steve Rawnsley, Stephen Taylor, Maria Matuszek, Garry Armsworth

200km, 26-Mar-05, New South Wales - Sydney, Hawkesbury LoopOrganiser: Garry Armsworth

Dennis Shaw

200km, 2-Apr-05, Victoria, Dances with DinosaursOrganiser: John Laszczyk

Steve Ambry, Hans Dusink, Steve Fraser, Simon Mullumby, Steve Murphy, Heather Murray

200km, 3-Apr-05, New South Wales - Tumut, Murrumbidgee MeanderOrganiser: Jimmy Goode

Jimmy Goode, Dennis Irvine, Leanne Irvine, Andrew Raddgever, Peter Stoneman

200km, 9-Apr-05, Victoria, Kelly Country ClassicOrganiser: Chris Rogers

Paul Emery, Gareth Evans, Tim Ford, Steve Fraser, Richard Hoskins, Terry Kirby, Keith Mc Culloch, Simon Mullomby, Steve Murphy, Leigh Paterson, Colin Stokes

200km, 24-Apr-05, Queensland – Brisbane, Long WeekenderOrganiser: Michael Grace

Linda Carmody, Vaughan Kippers, Chris Lewthwaite, Kevin Mcmillan, Dino Morgante, Noel Newton

200km, 30-Apr-05, Victoria, The Big DipperOrganiser: Raoul Mills

Gordon Cockroft, Gareth Evans, Martin Haynes, Rod Heron, Roy Jenkins, Peter Mathews, Andy Moore, Barry Moore, Gloria Moscatini, Brian Pitman, Chris Rogers, Les Solly

200km, 30-Apr-05, New South Wales – WollongongOrganiser: Henry Boardman

Alan Dunn, David Langley, Greg Lansom, Maria Matuszek, Barry Stevenson, Aldo Vella

200km, 7-May-05, Victoria, Seaford LoopsOrganiser: Enid & Don Halton

Stephen Chambers, Alan Melville, Steve Murphy, Leigh Paterson, Kevin Ware

200km, 14-May-05, Victoria, Great Ocean RodeOrganiser: Peter Donnan

Peter Bacsak, Paul Balchin, Bob Bednarz, Tony Bolduan, Reno Borsi, Stephen Brown, Gordon Cockroft, Bernard Collins, Roger Cronk, Dalice Dalton, Pat Dorey, Hans Dusink, Gareth Evans, Brian Gavan, Ken Gawne, Phil Giddings, Russell Hamilton, Matthew Harrison, Phil Jarvie, Rudy Loosten, Judy Kinnersly, Tim Laugher, Jock Lee, Kevin Marshall, Gary Mcintyre, John Mckain, Frank Mitchell, Ken Morgan, Steve Murphy, Heather Murray, Brian Pitman, Rodney Potts, Phil Purdam, Dennis Ray, Stephen Rowlands, Mal Shaw, Dennis Somogan, Les Tokolyo, Neil White, Mark Withers

200km, 14-May-05, Queensland - Brisbane, The BooniesOrganiser: Vaughn Kippers

Bill Brown, Joan Brown, Mike Clare, Mark Guest, Jayson Hawke, Jeff Isles, Gerard Keating, Tony Limpus , David Mcgrossin, Peter Watson

200km, 21-May-05, WA, Through the WheatlandsOrganiser: Bjorn Blasse

Nicky Armstrong, Bjorn Blasse, Nick Dale , Rob Godkin, Wayne Hickman, Les Sharpe, Rod Marston

200km, 21-May-05, Victoria, The King Parrot Creek RideOrganiser: Peter Martin

Bob Bednarz, Penny Buxton, George Caulfield, Stephen Chambers, Bernard Collins, Stephen George, Leigh Paterson, Gary Payne, David Woollard

200km, 28-May-05, Queensland - Brisbane, Blackall Ranging 1-2-3Organiser: David & Chris White

Errol Ross, David White


Jeff Anderson, Ian Boehm, Geoff Christmas, Heather Christmas, Bernard Collins, Russell Freemantle, Peter Heal, Peter Mathews, Frank Mitchell, Peter Moore, Steve Rowlands, Simon Watt

200km, 4-Jun-05, Victoria, Tour de TarwinOrganiser: Libby & Martin Haynes

Paul Balchin, Bob Bednarz, Stephen Chambers, Bernard Collins, Peter Curtis, Stephen George, Keith Lowe, John Mc Kain, Alan Melville, Raoul Mills, Frank Mitchell, Brian Norman, Heather Murray, Leigh Paterson, Chris Rogers, Kevin Ware

200km, 5-Jun-05, Victoria, Hills to the CoastOrganiser: Kevin Ware

Stephen Chambers, Rus Hamilton

200km, 11-Jun-05, New South Wales - Sydney, Escarpment CrossingOrganiser: Martin Maticka

Maria Matuszek

200km, 18-Jun-05, Victoria, Two Bays from TownOrganiser: Bob Bednarz

Stephen Chambers, Carl Cole, Joe De Losa, Gareth Evans, Raoul Mills, Frank Mitchell, Andrew Raadgaser, Geoff Robinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Stoneman, Kathryn Temby, Casey Tydens, Kevin Ware, Neil White

26 Checkpoint Spring 2005

Wanted2006

Audax Alpine Classic

A volunteer Transport Co-ordinator and a volunteer Equipment Co-ordinator are required to assist with the running of the 2006 AAC.

Job descriptions are available by email from Phil Bellette at [email protected].

200km, 19-Jun-05, Adelaide, Clayton Breezes Organiser: Ian PeakVolunteers: Adelaide Tea Tree Tourers

Bob Braunsthal, Richard Crawshaw, Allan Dickson, Michael Dwyer, Tom Eltridge-Smith, Paul Ferrett, Suzie Gray, Dean Lambert, Oliver Portway

300km, 2-Apr-05, Victoria, Deciduous Delight at BrightOrganiser: Tim Laugher

Steve Agnew, Bob Bednarz, George Caulfield, Ian Crang, David Crump, Gareth Evans, Phillipe Grant, Martin Haynes, John Laszczyk, Garrie Lette, Leon Malinskas, Frank Mitchell, Leigh Paterson, Scot Plummer, Chris Rogers, Stephen Rowlands, Kathryn Temby, Kevin Ware

300km, 2-Apr-05, Queensland - Brisbane, April AnimationOrganiser: Lindsay Green

David King, Vaughan Kippers, Anthony Limpus, Dino Morgante, Neville Watts

300km, 21-May-05, WA, Through the WheatlandsOrganiser: Bjorn Blasse

Bjorn Blasse, Nick Dale , Wayne Hickman, Colin Law, Rod Marston

300km, 11-Jun-05, Queensland - Brisbane, Downs & Back ShortOrganiser: Vaughan Kippers

Tony Limpus

400km, 26-Feb-05, Victoria, Phillip Island and BeyondOrganiser: Russ Hamilton

Steve Agnew, Bob Bednarz, George Caulfield, Gareth Evans, Phil Grant, Frank Mitchell, Frank Preyer, Chris Rogers, Stephen Rowlands, Kevin Ware

400km, 14-May-05, Queensland - Brisbane, Wells & BoonyOrganiser: Vaughan Kippers

Errol Ross

600km, 22-Apr-05, Victoria, Magical Mystery TourOrganiser: Peter Curtis

Geoff Austin, Bob Bednarz, Jorgen Bobenko, George Caulfield, Peter Curtis, Peter Donnan, Paul Heckler, Ron Kirwan, Leon Malzinskas, Frank Mitchell, Peter Moore, Leigh Paterson, Scot Plummer, Chris Rogers, Stephen Rowland, Gary Skeers, Kathryn Temby, Tim Laugher

600km, 30-Apr-05, New South Wales – WollongongOrganiser: Henry Boardman

Richard Niven, Richard Pinkerton, Dennis Shaw

600km, 11-Jun-05, Queensland - Brisbane, Downs & Back LongOrganiser: Vaughan Kippers

Vaughan Kippers, Errol Ross

1000km, 2-Apr-05, New South Wales – Wollongong, Parkes 1000Organiser: Henry Boardman

Errol Ross

Brevets Oppy timeby Sue Taylor

Come the weekend of November 4-6, teams across Australia will be gathering in strange locations and preparing to ride remarkable distances over varied terrain and in weather conditions that will challenge and tease the most determined of groups, in honour and memory of our past Patron, Sir Hubert Opperman.

Teams will consist of 3-5 bikes (tandems, trikes, recumbents, singles – you name it -any combination, any number of people, as long as they all fit onto up to 5 machines), Riders will have chosen their own starting point and a route of 360km or more to finish in one of the several finishing destinations around Australia, all within a 24 hour period.

By 9am on the Sunday morning, teams will appear from every possible direction, in every possible state of euphoria …or distress, but join together to celebrate the achievement and enjoy a breakfast of champions.

Riders finishing at Rochester, Victoria, the birthplace of Oppy, will know when they’re getting close as the strains of the band reach their windblown ears. This grand finish can only be surpassed by the waft of the cooked breakfast awaiting you after your hot shower.

Are you a budding Oppy rider for 2006? Will it be your first potential Oppy? Are you

worried about doing the required distance in the 24 time frame but really want to be part of the event? If you can you gather 3-4 like-minded friends and someone who’s ridden the Oppy before, then why not try the Petit Oppy in 2006?

We bet you and a few friends can ride 180km in 14 hours, starting at 10:00am on Saturday, off the road by 10:00pm and on again for another 2 hours on Sunday morning. You still get to pick your own route, spend a little time on your bike in the deep dark countryside at night, finish with the rest of the mob at your state’s destination, enjoy breakfast, glory and a hot shower, but feel rested after a good night’s sleep and not too worn out.

Take the Petit challenge and set your sights on bigger things next time around. This event is open to all first-time Opperman riders, but you must have an experienced Oppy rider with you and you must comply with the lighting and safety rules associated with the event.

Hope we’ll see you on the road and at breakfast in 2006. Or if there’s still time, rush on down to the finish line this year to experience the atmosphere of the Oppy.

[email protected]

The clock is ticking...

Only

12 monthsuntil qualifying rides start for the 2007

Paris-Brest-Paris.

Are you ready?Be prepared. Plan ahead. Speak to past PBP riders. Test everything in advance.

Know your bike. Know your body.

Enjoy the ultimate randonnée in 2007.

26 Checkpoint Spring 2005

Need your bicycle serviced or repaired in Melbourne?Peter Moore�s

AbbotsfordCycles

www.abbotsfordcycles.comTelephone 03 9429 6889 Fax 03 9429 9262 27 Swan Street (under Richmond Station) Richmond Victoria 3121

We make an aluminium strip with two LED rearlights attached and drilled to go straight onto areflector bracket, $40 or $45 with a reflector tomake you Audax legal.

We can attach a red LED light directly to a rear rackso it is always there and can�t be stolen.

@ Richmond Station8am to 6pm weekdays9am to 12:30 Saturdays

Fold-up tyres - what's goin' on?Folding tyres generally weigh less than their wired cousins and often operate at much higher pressures. Less weighttranslates to easier climbing and better acceleration. Higher air pressure allows for higher speeds on flat roads.

Clement Galibier, 700X20, 115psi. Ideal for time-trials ortriathalons. $25rrp, $40 posted,including tube.

Clement Gavia Pro, 700X23,115 psi. Portable spare or per-fect training partner. $30rrp, $45posted, including tube.

Schwalbe Stelvio, 700X23, 145 psi.Puncture-resistant, "Raceguard" belt,five colour options. $60rrp, $72 post-ed, including tube.

Schwalbe Stelvio PLUS, 700X23,145 psi. Contains strong, thick anti-puncture layer �Smartguard�. Idealrear tyre for long rides and Raids.$72rrp, $82 posted, including tube.

Vittoria Rubino Pro TECH, 125 psi.120 threads per inch (TPI), racer'sfavourite. $75rrp, $88 posted, includ-ing tube.

Vittoria Revolution KXS, 150 psi.Dual-tread, long-life 290TPI rocket.Warning on pack advises: "This tyre ismade to enhance rolling efficiency andSPEED." $130rrp, $135 posted,including tube and rim-tape.

Any folding tyres ordered before 2 pm (Melbourne time) will be sent Express Post the same day.

Audax Membersreceive a discountof 10% on everyitem except labourand Specials. Weaccept telephoneorders with creditcards, or by mailwith cheque.Postage is extra.

Our small shop in Melbourne is dedicated to the upkeep of all kinds of bicycles.We sell most things you need, except new bikes and shoes. We have a basicrange of rain jackets, wind vests and knicks.Touring gear includes Ortlieb, Avance, Summit and Tioga panniers and goodquality front and rear racks. We can fit racks to almosrt any bike. The largeOrtlieb under seat bag (capacity 2.7 litres) is very popular with Audax riders andit is available for $95. We have a range of Tioga under seat bags from $15 to$22. We stock an extensive range of the moderately priced but good quality BBBbrand tools. We still have some Surly Long Haul Trucker frames (steel, of course)- we canadd the components to make you the most comfortable tourer you are ever likelyto ride.

Service and RepairsOur speciality. Check the website for a full explanation of what wedo. We will normally have your bike back to you within two days.We have a full repair service on site for steel frames. We can con-vert your old road frame into a single speed bike. Painting costs just$130 for one or two colours.We take the time to look for solutions to all sorts of bike issues. Allwork guaranteed - we aim to make all our customers want to getout on their bikes as much as we do!

Lots of trailers in stockPacific stroller/trailer, room for two - $550Phillips alloy child trailer $535B.O.B. trailer with or without suspension new,or hire ours for the weekend - try before youbuy!A couple of others perfect for the marketshopping: the plastic box Eco Trailer for$179 or the sturdy low trailer with the metalmesh sides for $220.K9 trailer for gear and dogs $349

RonDswan has visited and left us some fantastic locally made reflective anklets and vests. Madeout of recycled materials and factory waste, as well as 3M reflective tape. The anklets ($21 each)come in �fashion� colours and have two reflective strips. The vests ($49) are ideal for Audax ridesand will be great for city trips when you are carrying your dark backpack. Ron�s vest will attach tothe straps of the pack around the outside, providing nop loss of reflectiveness.

CueClips at only $12 take the hassles out of keeping your Audax directions in front of you on thebike when you need them.Sugino chainrings top quality for 6/7/8speed, 130, 110 and 74 pcd, most 95 cents/tooth. "Sidelights" brilliant silver reflective tape, $4 per sheet. "Viewpoint" mirror to stick inside spectacle lens, pack with two for $35 Side entry bottle cages, for small frames $10.Prolink $16 is the best of the lubes. Sheds the road grime - try it on your mtb in the dirt and youwill appreciate it even more.Handlebars include the snazzy Gullwing ($25) and Trekking($38).Pumps from $6. The classic Zefal is $45, the Topeak Mountain Morph is $49, the topeak roadMorph is $59 with the inline gauge.

We have an extensiverange of Shimano com-ponents in stock andhave daily deliveries.Brake blocks, cablessets, tools, gear levers(including 8 and 9speed bar end shifters),brake levers, disc brakeparts, clusters, cas-settes, chainrings,cranks, grease - the listgoes on...........

If undeliverable return toAudax Australia Inc.PO Box 12144A’Beckett StreetMelbourne VIC 8006

Print Post ApprovedPP327687/00033

CheckpointSpring 2005Issue No. 25Association No. A0014462N

ISSN 1832-4711

628 members (25/8/05)

Audax Australia is proudly affiliated with:

Audax Club Parisienwww.audax-club-parisien.com

Les Randonneurs Mondiauxwww.lesrm.be

Cycling Australiawww.cycling.org.au

Are your address details above correct?Notify changes by email to [email protected] or by phone on (03) 5783 2427.

SURFACEMAIL

POSTAGEPAID

AUSTRALIA

www.audax.org.au

2 April to 7 May 2006: Sunday to Sunday camp

Cycling Camp fee US$795 per person/per week (airfare not included)Brevet Camp fee US$895 per person/per week (airfare not included)

(US$100 single hotel room supplement)

Cycling Camp fee includes:Breakfast & dinner daily

Different daily ride routes with guide and refreshment stopChallenging cycling routes or relaxed scenic cycling routes

Seaside accommodation at the 4-star Hotel Playa Cala Mayor (based on double occupancy)

Brevet Week fee (April 23-May 7) includes:Registration fee for ACP sanctioned Super Randonneur Brevet Series

ACP Brevet Results certification processing ACP Brevet Medal

Hosted by Stig Lundgaard, experienced Danish randonneurwww.mallorcabrevet.com

10% discount off registration fee to those who register by February 1, 2006.

Can you ride 1500km in one week? Olé!

CAN YOU RIDE 1500K IN ONE WEEK? OLÉ!

MALLORCABREVET

&

CYCLING CAMPHeaven on a bike!

The only European cycling camp designed especially for randonneurs. Ride, relax and enjoy this delightful Mediterranean cycling paradise.

Ride every day or take a vacation and tour the island. (Non-riding guests pay $636 (US) registration fee.)

April 1 to May 6 2006 Saturday-to-Saturday camp

Cycling Camp fee $795 (US) per person/per week (airfare not included) Brevet Camp fee $895 (US) per person/per week (airfare not included)

(+$100 (US) single supplement)

Cycling Camp Includes:Breakfast & Dinner daily

Different daily ride routes with guide & refreshment stop Challenging cycling routes or relaxed scenic cycling routes

Seaside accommodations at ****Hotel Playa Cala Mayor (based on double occupancy) Bike box transport service from airport-to-hotel (for group of four or more)

Brevet Weeks (April 24-May 6) also includeRegistration fee for each of the four brevets

ACP Sanctioned Super Randonneur Brevet series ACP Brevet Results certification processing

Hosted by Stig Lundgaard, experienced Danish randonneur www.mallorcabrevet.com

Members who register before Feb 1 2006 get 10% off entry fee. Contact Jennifer Wise for information: [email protected]

MALLORCA BREVET & CYCLING CAMPHeaven on a bike!

The only European cycling camp especially for randonneurs. Ride, relax and enjoy this delightful Mediterranean cycling paradise. Ride every day or take a vacation and tour the island.

(Non-riding guests pay US$636 registration fee.)

Checkpoint - Audax Australia Cycling Club · [email protected] Distribution ... rides within...

Documents

Transcript of Checkpoint - Audax Australia Cycling Club · [email protected] Distribution ... rides within...