Park ... and ride

In preparation for the MS Gong Ride on 7^th November the team met up in Centennial Park on an overcast morning last Sunday for what turned out to be one of our longest training sessions ever.

Established in 1888, Centennial Park was originally a catchment area of swamps, sand dunes and springs. Home to over 15,000 trees, the cycling takes place for the most part on the Grand Drive, Sydney’s first public suburban drive, with a circumference of around 3.5km.

It was a solid ride–we’re calling it 45km in total.

Kudos to Dark Horse for cycling to, from and during the ride while trying to kill off the 'flu! (His total distance for the day must have been around the 60km mark.)

Centennial Park is a popular cycling destination, because it has a dedicated cycling lane and cars, all vehicles in fact, are limited to 30km/h. (Were it not so I’m sure we’d be climbing the hills at far greater speeds.)

This is the recommended pace for the climb up to the reservoir.

I lost count of the number of times we threw this climb into the mix.

Why so many climbs? 
Well, I'm so glad you asked. Here’s the topographical profile for the Gong Ride:

Hills are a key feature.
The key benefit of which is that after pushing yourself to the top, you can glide down the other side ... which we also practised on the day:

So, loins girded, this Sunday we take on one of the most challenging and gruelling, lycra-clad epics of human endeavour ever devised ... 

OK, a tad too much hyperbole there: but remember, it’s all for a good cause.

Until next time,

Pedal on!

Thunder Horse

The Bobbin Head Classic

Classic:
noun something noteworthy of its kind and worth remembering.
adjective of enduring interest, quality, or style.

It was all smiles as we screamed downhill towards Bobbin Head on this, the inaugural Team Iron Horse Bobbin Head Classic. We were surprised to see how many cyclists, of all ages, were already pedalling their way back up to the Park gates at the start of the downhill.

I've never seen so many cyclists emblazoned with one shop's paraphernalia-the North Turramurra Cyclery has established extensive branding up and down the climb. Good on 'em: have hill, will ride.

It's around 5km from the park gates to Bobbin Head and then another 1.5km or so around to Apple Tree Cove-our turnaround destination for today.

Beautiful weather, blue skies and still waters bordered the ride.

The cafe at the marina primed us for the climb up to the park gates. Two short blacks for yours truly-it was a long way down.

The caffeine put a kick in our steps and, we hoped, iron in our legs, as we girded our loins for the uphill leg-the real test of our metal, mettle and ... general health.

Good news.
We survived.

Thanks to the cunningly timed purchase of a road bike (the Friday prior) I thundered across the line first. Not without some effort and pain, I hasten to add. 

Saw Horse

Lightning Horse

Dark Horse

Lightning Horse powered into second, Saw Horse landed in third and Dark Horse parachuted into the final spot.

After this ride, road bikes are making a lot more sense to me, particularly when the trail is macadmised.

That extra inch or two in wheel diameter for starters, the lighter weight and the lower rolling resistance of thinner tyres all add up to make cycling more comfortable and significantly faster on roads. (Still need the MTB for other terrains. See the forthcoming post on Baltzer Lookout to find out why.)

I'm willing to bet that not many who climb up from Bobbin Head take the time to visit Australia's very own sandstone Sphinx. It's only a couple of hundred metres from Bobbin Head Road down to this war memorial site. It's a steep trek back up to the road, but a great way to remind your legs what they've just endured. I'm sure it gets easier with practice.

Until next time, Pedal on!
Thunder Horse.

In honour of Dark Horse's (t)rusty steed.

Classic adjective of or pertaining to automobiles distinguished by elegant styling, outstanding engineering, and fine workmanship that were built between about 1925 and 1948 ... often found in stairwells ... Ok, I couldn't help myself. Dark Horse. Seriously. Isn't it time to upgrade?