Cycling in Sydney Australia
PaulineWebberInk does the Great Vic
I should be training. I've committed to nine days of the RACV Great Victorian Bike Ride and I would not call myself "touring fit". I'm 55, I ride a hybrid Malvern Star (... yes, really, and it's usually weighed down with library books) and I cannot pretend comfy rides of 15km around town twice a week constitute serious preparation.
I did the ride last year and loved the freedom of the road, the up close and personal connection with the landscape (all those giant skies over Murray Valley wheat fields). I loved the welcoming towns, the conversations struck up en route, the chill in the early morning air as I scrabbled around my tent trying to find knickers.
This week I get mobile.
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Comment by PeterT on October 30, 2012 at 11:04pm -
I haven't done the ride, but there does seem to be some climbing involved.
There's a link with appropriate info : https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/great-rides/94352/
Although since you did the ride last year, you should know what you are getting into...
Either way, it sounds seriously fun!
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Comment by Pauline Webber on October 31, 2012 at 7:03am -
Thanks PeterT, Last year was long distances each day through essentially flat country. Hills will be the challenge.
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Comment by Kylie on October 31, 2012 at 7:09am -
Cool! Good work. Our very own Madame Bike is a big fan of this ride, she might be able to offer some tips. I wish all you riders in your 50s could get in my mother's ear. Despite Dad and I being right into it, she just will not budge.
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Comment by PeterT on October 31, 2012 at 7:29am
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Apologies, I wasn't aware they had changed the route from previous editions.
Ah my old enemy... hills.
Here are some tips, and *cough* I consider myself quite an expert
1/ Gearing , make sure you have a wall-scaling gear on your bike and it's tuned perfectly, and you know how to smoothly change it when climbing up a slope (ie most of the time you need to, accelerate a fraction, ease off, change the gear, and roll through the change before continuing)
2/ Comfortable contact points, that's saddle, pedals and handlebars - don't grip too hard. And make sure you get close to optimum seat height
3/ Plan to avoid cramps at all cost, and carry recovery options, or that will pretty much ruin your ride.
4/ Ride at your own pace.
5/ offload as much as possible , carrying a 1.2245kg of extra stuff tends to mysteriously change the decimal placing during the climbs.
6/ Err... start today!
I'm sure there are other wise(r) words from others.
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Comment by Pauline Webber on October 31, 2012 at 9:27am
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Hey Kylie tell your mum I lost 3 kilos on last years ride and still ate cake most every day.
PeterT, Here I go ... 20km training with hills as we speak....
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