RIDE TUESDAY 2nd. Mar

Starting at Safety Beach at 1000hrs,

we intend traversing the tarmac to Portsea.

Weather looks good and the slight rain forecast is insignificant to real riders.

Road bikes or slick gravel bikes would be good.

Jon

0439 311 212

After Dan's ride - Gary Hall

A very talented Gary Hall  

HARALD'S RETURN TO RIDING

Harald had recently returned to ridng and was enhancing his fitness at a rapid rate of knots. So it was good to have him join our recent dirt bike extravaganza  back of MaryKnoll. That is, until, on a downhill section that had just been graded, he elected to commune with the gravel surface ..... at quite a respectable speed.

 The surface emerged victorious. Dust, bike and body everywhere. It looked like he had busted his collar bone though it was difficult to tell until we cleared away the blood. Naturally, no-one had a first aid kit in their bike bag.

 Even so, Harald diagnosed a small scratch and after minor first aid courtesy of the MaryKnoll milk bar owmer, (using tissues and rubber bands to make a dressing,) Harald proceeded to ride the next 30k, uphill, on the dirt track, back to his car at Gembrook. Then, still insisting t'was only a scratch, he drove home!!!

We're not sure if he told Irene straight away but the need to go to hospital soon revealed to her the state of one's husband.

Upshot ,,,,,, 

1    7hrs in Emergency ward.

2     Harald out of action for three months with his collar bone in two pieces.

3    We now carry a first aid kit thanks to Kirsten.

4    Harald is a champion.

Jon

Carrum Cycle Video

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3VNEsz9FKY

The Good , The Bad & The Ugly - Seaford Ride 70+ kms

It was like an assembly of Texan Rangers as peeps came from all corners of Berwick Village to our cycling assembly point. On a beautiful day we took the Freeway trail through warn torn Bosnia, It might have actually been Narre Warren, along a trail littered with broken glass and discarded shopping trolleys. Finally on the ever familiar Dandenong Creek Trail we had a (stinky) breeze down to beautiful Carrum Beach where we followed the locals and queued for $3 Egg Bacon Sarni's & coffee from a shipping container come cafe. From here Helen lead us down to Seaford and the Wetlands before we battled a headwind on our return journey to Berwick by way of the never ending Hallam Valley Trail. Karlo wisely decided to blow his tyre right outside Ivanhoe Cycles while self (on the same page) had a "flat" entering the car park in Berwick. Many thx to Karlo, Bobby, Pete, Johnny M for joing the normal crew on this lovely flatlands ride.

       

THURSDAY RIDE POSTPONED

Too darn hot. Thursday is to be 33 degrees. Not a good day for a 90km

Will reschedule later.

Jon

Tue Ride 9 Feb - Start Point Berwick Cnr of Princess Hwy and Cylde Rd

You thought you did it tough !

 https://bikingfranceblog.com/2020/09/02/the-first-tour-de-france-1903-was-chock-full-of-fighting-cheating-super-long-rides-and-victory-by-the-little-chimney-sweep/?fbclid=IwAR1BRmZZI2diINRDu0UI4cwfCWyS9LUFqnB_KBQV0Kn10J-OhIwt3bFeDmw

THURSDAY 11th RIDE

One for the flatlanders.

Starting at Jells Park, 0830 hours, we'll head for Williamstown, going around rather than up Waverley Hill.

The return route will be decided over lunch.

Road bikes would be a good idea.

As always, weather may prove recalcitrant, so watch this space.

Jon 0439 311 212

Thursday 4th

Reminder for ride this Thursday. Details on blog.

GRANTVILLE & KERNOT

Photo to accompany story

GRANTVILLE and the KERNOT PUB

Kirsten and Werner recced this ride some months back only to have rotten weather prevent us giving it a go, until last Sunday. 

Good weather and away we went for a 62km round trip. The speed twins (Werner and Jurgen) quickly out distanced Kirsten and me on the very short, flattish start. In fact, Kirsten was hanging  back somewhat. So out of character was this that I enquired as to the reason for her dalliance. Then, and only then did she confide: "I know what's coming and am conserving energy". 

From then onwards we seemed to be climbing constantly. However, and as K. rightfully commented, we'd done a mammoth amount of hills training since her recce. So the hills we encountered were OK, just endless.

Typical rolling country, the odd snake on the road, the obligatory dead wombat, no traffic and an amazing little delapidated, weather board store/pub at Kernot. There is nothing at Kernot, just a run down pub. 

The place was empty so, we thought it would be a good choice for lunch. 

"Have you booked?" ask the publican.

 BOOKED??!!!!

Observing all the empty tables left us lost as to the need to book. However, we were told we could be squeezed in, if we hurried back.  

SQUEEZED IN???!!!

More puzzlement. So a quick ride back to the cars at Grantville and an equally quick drive back to Kernot. The place was jumping. It was ALIVE.  It was wall to wall people, most with bushy beards. And they kept coming. Bourke St. in the bush.

Seems the pub is a reknown watering hole with lovely meals, very reasonable prices, a delightful bush setting and is well and truly sought after. Our meals were superb and Jurgen topped it off with a homemade plum cake. Setting a standard there Jurgen! As for the Kernot pub. Don't tell anyone. We'll go again.

Thanks to Kirsten and Werner for an excellent  choice. 

A must repeatl

Jon

Check out my ride

Check out my ride on Strava.
https://strava.app.link/omYrSjzxxdb

Review of Donna Buang ride (Sunday 24 Jan)

XXXX out of five stars.
Forecast 38 deg. So it was a 7.00 am start from Yarra Junction. Kirsten, Werner  & Jurgen were the only ones prepared to start that early. The usual grind up Don rd to Panton Gap past Mt. Toole-be-Wong. Naively we thought that was the end of the climbing. How wrong we were! That was only the beginning. There was steeper terrain to come. We struggled over Ben Cairn past the hang gliding launching ramp. At times the gravel was rugged and narrow but it turned into asphalt just before the intersection with the main road leading to Donna. It was tempting to give the last kilometer to the summit a miss because that was the steepest bit – but we were made of sterner stuff – besides, a summit snap shot is almost obligatory. The ride down, reaching speeds of 60km was exhilarating. Werner, the dare devil probably achieved more. It was only when we got to Warburton that the heat of the day was evident. The whole ride had been through forest and that, combined with the altitude, made it a relatively cool ride. A ride to be repeated – but maybe not for another year.

Sunday 31st. Jan South Gippsland Frolic

Meet:  Grantville 9.00 a.m.  Bass Hwy. 1 hour from Melbourne
Choice of 50 km or 62 km
Road bikes – all asphalt
Bring water and snacks – no café
There will be hills.
Your hosts are Kirsten and Werner who have done this ride before – and given it rave reviews.

Jurgen

Thursday 4th Feb. Back O'Gembrook

Start. 8.30 a.m. Gembrook station
Route:  Tonimbuk,  Garfield Nth.  Tynong Nth.  Bessie Creek,  back to Gembrook
About 50km, 70% gravel,  some insignificant hills.

Jurgen

Thursday 28th, Kalorama etc

Meet Monbulk football oval 8.30 a.m. Route:  Silvan, Olinda Creek rd, Kalorama, Montrose, The Basin – then either 1 in 20 or Basin / Olinda rd,  to Olinda then down the Wall back to Monbulk.

Jurgen 0429 384 416

Sunday 24th J, Donna

DonnaBuang the back way via Don rd, Panton Gap etc.  Meet early 7.00 am Yarra Junction with dirt bikes. Should be back 11ish before it gets too hot.

Jurgen
0429 384 416

SUNDAY - GRANTVILLE RIDE

This Sunday was to be our Grantville ride.

It is also forecast to be 39degrees.

Hence, and once again, the Grantville excursion is postponed.