Machka 

Did you get out for a ride this weekend? Or is there still enough snow in your area to keep you on skis or riding inside?


Last weekend was a long weekend in this part of Australia, but Rowan and I decided to make this weekend a long weekend too and go to a touristy area by the ocean. It's quieter here this weekend than last.

So today, we got the tandem ready to go and cycled into Port Fairy where we stopped by the tourist information place to get some maps of the area. We got some information, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of it here for some reason. Then we set off through town to the beach where we stopped and looked at the ocean and took some photos.

We cycled along the beach a while, and then along sand dunes, within earshot of the beach. At one point we took a side road which took us to the ocean again ... and again there was more gazing out over the blue/green/turquoise water watching the roaring waves, watching the surfers, and watching the wedding party standing on the black rocks jutting out into the water. It was beautiful.

From there we headed inland and cycled around a crater, which might be a volcano crater (I'll look it up when we get back from a fish and chips dinner at the wharf). Then we cycled into the gradual hills further inland on quiet country roads.

Right at the end of the ride we decided to try a rail trail to take us back to our caravan park. At first it was nice ... hardpacked and quite easy to ride, but unfortunately then it got a bit gravelly and more difficult to manage. That's the trouble with these things, they don't really maintain them in a way that makes them easy, convenient, and comfortable for all cyclists to use. But it did keep us off the main highway.

The sun shone all day. The temperature was chilly to start (15C) but warmed up as we went (21C). And there was wind. It is the coast and it is relatively flat here, I guess wind is a fact of life.

All up ... 83.06 km.


Here's the link to Tower Hill near Koroit: https://www.koroit.com.au/pages.php?page=8
Tower Hill is a dormant volcano, one of many in the area.

And the links to the rail trail we rode at the end of the ride: https://www.railtrails.org.au/states/...trail&trail=39 and https://www.portfairytowarrnamboolrai....com/index.htm
As you can see from the photo, it's not bad, but it's not ideal for all cyclists. When we joined the trail, it was quite well packed and it was easy to keep up a decent pace. But about halfway along the gravel became heavier and harder to ride. We also found the gates at each road crossing difficult to negotiate with the tandem. It would be so nice if they'd pave all these rail trails.

Machka 

Isn't this the first weekend of spring in some parts of the world? Are you celebrating by going for a ride?

jamesdak 

Only made it about 31 miles this morning, the wind was just too strong. Only averaged around 13.5 mph. Went out later and knocked out about 6 more mile with the wife, this time on a MB.

back4more

Got 38 miles in on Friday and about 50 today.

And added a 8 mile run on Sunday.

seedsbelize 

Over on this side of the pond, it's still the weekend, and I'll be attempting my March century tomorrow.

ILUVUK

got in 41 solo miles saturday afternoon. low to mid-50s, with a moderate wind. a fine day to ride.

Machka 

Sunday - We drove out to Portland, had a bite to eat, and then set off for Cape Nelson on our single bicycles. It was a lovely route ... quiet road, a variety of terrain, and views of the ocean along the way. We stopped a couple times on the way out to Cape Nelson to see the ocean crashing into the cliffs.

When we got out to the lighthouse at Cape Nelson we stopped to wander around a bit, and started chatting with a British couple who were also into cycling and who had quite a few bicycles including a tandem.

When we returned to Portland, we cycled around the town for a while, checking it out. It's a place that interests us as a possible place to live one day.

And then we drove out to Cape Bridgewater to have a look around. That's a fascinating place. We looked for whales there, but didn't spot any. Apparently sometimes they come close to that area.

Yes, I've been taking photos of all these places, but I don't have my cord with me this weekend to download them.

Tomorrow, Monday, we'll meander our way back home.

Machka 

Not many people riding this weekend?

BentLink

I got on the trainer yesterday & today following a hard crash 3-weeks ago, arm still in a sling from surgery to rebuild my collarbone. I'm OK to sweat now that the stitches are out. 'Felt good to move the legs, but ribs and neck reminded me I'm in no condition to be back on the road just yet.

jamesdak 

56.7 miles this morning to include a climb up our smaller local mountain. Colder than it has been lately but not a bad day. Some rain-snow mix late in the ride.

BarryJo

Two weekends in a row where I actually got to ride outside.
Yesterday, 33 miles at 1:40.
Today was a structured 3 hour tempo group ride that got out of hand when a couple of racers showed up and decided to push the pace.
Several of us bailed off and did our tempo ride, got pulled over by an over zealous Environmental Police Officer who informed us riding 2 abreast was agaisnt Massachusetts law - tried arguing, but arguing with idiots is futile, he took our names and DOBs told us he was going to run our names and would be watching for us next week. WtF.
Group rides with friends = good times.

LowCel 

Had three really nice rides this weekend.

Friday - 50 miles solo - https://connect.garmin.com/activity/73675224

Saturday - 40 miles, partly with a group and partly solo - https://connect.garmin.com/activity/73931070

Sunday - 31 miles with the local club - https://connect.garmin.com/activity/74127704

canthidefromme

Threw up on my arm. While in the saddle.

Velo Gator

I ran in the Publix Georgia Marathon and finished the 13.1 run.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/74241450

AngrySaki

On saturday I rode 35k north uphill into the wind, and back 35k south downhill with a huge tailwind. Today I'm putting on a bigger chainring. 50x14 -> 52x14
On sunday I rode, in a car, to a chinese buffet.

zitter

I got 20 miles in yesterday evening, but today it's been raining alllllll day. Horrible.

Also, it sucks for the LA Marathon runners since today was the marathon.

StephenH

Yesterday and today, did my first 600k, thus earning my ACP Super Randonneur and also qualifying me for the Texas Rando Stampede.

nixternal

HAHAHAHA! That one hurt a little, that was way to funny.

Saturday: Ran an indoor CompuTrainer race (all day long, didn't get to ride and the day was fairly nice out)
Sunday: I rode, in a car, to go to the grocery store and run other errands.

Machka 

Congratulations! Very well done!!

How was the ride?

StephenH

The ride was long. Day 1, I wasn't feeling up to par, not sure if that was cold remnants or allergies or what, but I just felt weak when we started. But that gradually got better, and I think I was riding stronger at the end of the day than at the start. On Day 1, I was having trouble hanging with a group, even though they weren't going that fast. On Day 2, I was still riding okay, but a couple of the other riders in the group had some slow-down issues, which took the pressure off me and made it a lot easier on me. It was windy, and we had one guy from our club and two, I think from Houston, that were riding with us and helping out tremendously- they would have been in hours sooner had they just ridden off by themselves. So summary, I made it, but it was with a lot of help from some friends and some strangers, and a real learning experience.

Machka 

Nice that everyone stuck together! And I've noticed on rides that long that people are strong at different times in the ride.

StephenH

We didn't have the whole club together, but there were five or six of us that finished together. They had rides of 200, 300, 400, and 600k all starting at the same time, with maybe 12 or 15 doing the 600. The RBA, who is really supportive, was riding the 300k, and was trying to make sure I got in with a group instead of being stuck by myself, which has happened a fair bit. One of the ladies in that group that has done tons of rando rides was going faster than me the first day, but was moving slower the second day. One of the ladies is like the energizer bunny and just never seems to get tired, but got sick from unrelated issues on the second day. So there were supporters and supportees but the ride got done. Some of the other riders not in our group finished several hours ahead of us and there were two who were behind us.

The first day, we did a loop (actually an out-and-back) of 224 miles, got back to the motel about 1:30 AM, got 4 hours of sleep, and took off the next morning. I think we got in at 8:30 PM the second day, with final control closing at 11:00 PM.

Physically, I'm not that tired, and I didn't get much less sleep than I usually do (4 hours Saturday night instead of 5.5), but I couldn't hardly keep my eyes open today. I'm going to bed early here in a bit.

Machka 

I really like it when clubs run a variety of distances all starting at the same time, or at least, all on the same weekend ... so that more riders can ride together. A lot of the Australian rides are organised like that.

I randonneured in Alberta for 4 years, and usually rode solo. It ended up turning me off randonneuring ... why would I want to ride 600 km by myself through the Canadian Rockies at all hours of the day and night.