November 2010
Last year (2010) was my second time riding in the Wilson HTM Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge. This is a 100 km ride from Southbank to Southport that raises funds for both the Heart Foundation and Diabetes Australia.
The ride was held on the 7th November after being re-scheduled from early October because of rain. It was a fine day although a little windy, I completed the ride about 10 minutes quicker than the previous year in 3 hours 15 minutes. Looking forward to next year.
January 2011
I rode the Tour Down Under Community Challenge in Adelaide for the first time in 2011. The ride followed the same route as the 4th Stage of the actual Tour that started in Norwood however I started at Gumeracha with the finish at Strathyalbyn, a distance of 93 km. That way I escaped the rather daunting climb up from Norwood.
The ride commenced at 0700 from Gumeracha and took me a little over 3 hours. Considering that there were a number of reasonable hills on the course I was very pleased with my effort.
May 2011
Hamilton Pine Rivers Wheelers club conducts a Century (160km) and half century (80km) ride for club members each year. The ride starts at Sandgate and winds it way up to Landsborough and then returns to Sandgate.
This year I felt confident enough to undertake the century ride and with the oportunity to draft behind some of the other riders from time to time, especially the last 10km, I made it.
37 riders set off at 0700 riding on through Redcliffe, Burpengary, Morayfield, Caboolture and along Old Gympie Road to Landsborough After a 30 minute break for lunch it was back on the road for the ride back to Sandgate. The total riding time was 6 hours for an average speed of 27 km/hr.