Saturday Swansea Excursion

[Andy H]

Saturday Ride - yep, this week it's a Saturday due to masters racing on Sunday and because crits are on Friday lets keep the ride a little flatter. Don't stress climbers as the misterious and monstrous Bumble Hill is on the horizon for the following week.

6.00am West Gosford Shops - heading to Terrigal
6.30am Terrigal Pub

From Terigal we will head north along The Entrance Rd, along Wilfred Barrett Dr, a right at the roundabout onto Elizabeth Bay Dr at the then into the national park. Out of the park and a right onto the Pacific Hwy and down to Swansea Maccas for a coffee.

The return leg to follow the sam route in reverse with a KOM at the top of the hill out of Swansea - mick will determine the line as soon as he hits the front. Regroup and head on. Willfred Barrett will be the start of the fast train to The Entrance - hop on and hang on as long as you can. If you get dropped, take the auto bus to the Entrance bridge where the pack will take a LEFT turn, a quick right followed by a quick left and wait at the waterfront at The Entrance (where the information centre is). From here we will meander through the back of Towoon Bay, Shelly Beach and Bateau Bay then rejoin The Entrance Rd for the return to Terrigal.

Should be around a 100km loop from Terrigal, further from Gosford. An average speed of 32km/h should easily be achievable which will give us a round trip of about 3.5hrs (to and from Terrigal) including a coffee stop and one puncture.

As usual, everyone is welcome and for those that aren't interested the usual coffee ride will leave West Gosford Shops at 7.00am.

Hope to see you all there in your club strip.

Note for Glen: Please print the route in case you get lost again. If you can't find us, stay in one place and we will find you.

[Hodgee]

I'll be there.  I have a late night Friday and racing Sunday, so I will meet you guys at Shelly Beach roundabout.

Can't wait, I love riding with you guys.  It's the highlight of my week!!!

[mick curran]

Can't wait, I love riding with you guys.  It's the highlight of my week!!!
[/quote]

emotional times!

[Andy H]

I'm getting all emotional too - I think I'm going to cry  :'(

[Andy H]

For anyone new to the ride or that missed Jock's article on rider etiquette, here it is again:

Let's get back to basics: sprinters have only 3 brain cells, so the internationally reckognised calls for dangerous things are ONE SYLLABLE ONLY.  So if there is something on the road ahead that looks like a hole then the lead riders call "HOLE!" so that riders at least 4  back can hear the call clearly.  Point at the hole and ride a line that will take the pack away from it rather than straight into it. 

If there is something on the road ahead that is shaped like a stick then the lead riders call "STICK!" so that riders at least 4 back can hear the call clearly.  Point at the stick like object and ride a line that will take the pack away from it rather than straight into it.  Remember sticks are dangerous things and have been known to jump, so keep the pack well clear.

If there is something on the road ahead that looks like glass then the lead riders call "GLASS!" so that riders at least 4 back can hear the call clearly.  Point at the glass and ride a line that will take the pack away from it rather than straight into it.  Feeble bicycle tyres are no match for the fearsome glass shard, so keep the pack well clear.  The pack would rather be riding than standing around waiting for riders to fix punctures.

And finally (I know this is a tough one, but please bear with me) if there is something on the road ahead that is shaped like a rock then the lead riders call "ROCK!" so that riders at least 4 back can hear the call clearly.  Point at the rock like object and ride a line that will take the pack away from it rather than straight into it.  Remember rock have sharp teeth and can tear large chunks out of puny little bicycle tyres, so keep the pack well clear.

SINGLE FILE:  Lead riders should recognise areas of roadway that should be ridden single file and form a single line by agreement.  Riders behind should follow suit without having to be invited. But sometimes this doesn't happen automatically, so if you want the group to ride single file then the call is "SINGLE".  That's all.

But wait, there's more: sometimes it's better to remain in two neat lines than to ride single file.  Why? because a single line of riders is twice as long as two abreast, so it's harder for cars to get around safely.  So single file up hills where the road is narrow, two abreast downhill.  Single file is OK on long straight stretches of road, but keep it two abreast on the twisty stuff.  If you're holding up traffic for any length of time you can always pull off the road for a few seconds to let traffic past  .

LEAD RIDER ETTIQUETTE:  You are riding for the entire bunch.  Both your hands need to be on the bars are all times and you are scanning forward for the dangerous things.  You are most definitely NOT ALLOWED to use your mobile phone, drink or eat, or remove items of clothing.  If you want to enjoy any of those things then move off the front of the pack so you don't put riders behind you at risk.  Simple stuff.

See you Saturday

[Hodgee]

Can we do roll through changes too.  Allows everybody the chance to get to know each other.

But more importantly, anybody who ends up next to me(or Chicken) won't be put through the pain for too long.

Although I will be leaving them to get KOM points!!!

[Andy H]

Rolling through is a great idea as long as anyone getting tired gets off the front before they crack otherwise they will have the whole pack slowing. If you find yourself heading up the fast lane and don't want to be there, ask the guy in the other lane (going back) to let you in. That way you can head to the back again and the rider behind you will move up and fill the gap. Alternatively, if you are at the back and are happy there - as the last rider from the other lane is about join your line behind you, simply open a small gap and let him in front. That way he will head up the line and you retain your position at the back.

If this is at all confusing, please ask someone during the ride. Everyone is there to help make the ride more enjoyable and if we can get a good paceline moving it would be great.

Remember to pedal solidly on the dowhills and the flat, ease up on the hills and get off the front before you tire.

If I've missed anything or made it sound too confusing Jock will add his bit - if not here, hopefully he will be riding with us on Saturday and will bring his whip.

[mick curran]

its not jock, its now grumpy!

[Hodgee]

So we now have "Stumpy and Grumpy"!!!

[Chicken]

So we now have "Stumpy and Grumpy"!!!

And "Chicken"!!

Andy, you forgot to add when on the front another single syllable word we DONT want to hear is 'FART'

[Andy H]

You won't be getting a warning from me - 

[Hodgee]

Me neither, silence is better here!!!

[Chicken]

Posted by: Hodgee 

Me neither, silence is better here!!!

Posted by: Andy H 

You won't be getting a warning from me -   

I should have said ,go to the back of the peleton if you need to break wind 

[mick curran]

andy has now perfected the act whilst still pedaling. he is a true champion and credit to the club!

[gelton]

Andy, I have the route printed out should I get lost again and will be wearing my "Return To Home" tag in case I become confused and just stare blankly into the sky gently swaying side to side.