Bailed out (was Re: [bikeqld] Southport to Helensvale station - Nipper Road West to Kingston Drive?)

[Peter Whittle]

Sorry you had a hard time, Anthony.

 

On your suggestion the organiser should have called it off because of the weather, there was an awful lot of people at the Gold Coast looking very satisfied who would not understand your suggestion at all. My own thought is we were exceptionally lucky to have cool weather – it has been far hotter on that ride and that can be far more unpleasant than a bit of rain (truly, it was a light drizzle for a short while, no more) with the temperature in the mid- or high teens. The Melbourne crowd for the far longer Around the Bay in a Day, next weekend, would consider themselves blessed to get such benign weather as yesterday! Rain is a phenomenon that a cyclist must know and accept, and in many places people ride with it daily, with temperatures scraping to get into double figures.

 

As to mechanicals, injuries etc., I think we should be thankful that events like this can still be run, with insurance and liability creating such concern. Any activity with a whiff of hazard can make potential organisers and investors run a mile. Yes, there are hazards in cycling and there will always be a few falls and a few incidental medical events, but they are outweighed immensely by the benefits. Yes, you can mitigate your risk by being fit, competent and having appropriate equipment – but there is only so much responsibility that the organisers can take (a well-chosen route, signs, police, support patrols, food and drink, toilets, medical assistance, etc.) – and a lot that rests on the individual. Maybe the only competency test the organisers should need to apply is to say: By entering this event, you are implicitly stating that you are medically fit and have made yourself competent and you are using suitable equipment. In other words, “All care, no responsibility”. Fair enough too.

 

>From experience volunteering, if people were bailing out, they only had to ask one of the volunteer marshals what to do. The marshal would either know, or phone someone who could help. The answer might be: A Sag Wagon will be along shortly.

 

Anthony, I hope you will have another crack at it next year and join the many satisfied people at the finish. Good luck. I thought it was a fantastic event that made people very happy and satisfied. I particularly was thrilled to see such a high proportion of women taking it on, but generally that there were so many who had worked so hard to work themselves up to the point they could complete the event.

 

Pete

 

From: bikeqld-bounces at bikeqld.org.au [mailto:bikeqld-bounces at bikeqld.org.au] On Behalf Of Anthony Lee
Sent: Monday, 12 October 2009 7:07 AM
To: Dave Ingram
Cc: BIQ
Subject: Bailed out (was Re: [bikeqld] Southport to Helensvale station - Nipper Road West to Kingston Drive?)

 

Hi Dave,

How did you go?

Sadly I had to bail out at Beenleigh yesterday. After Springwood, it started showering and I was finding it difficult to corner in the wet.
Also my brake wasn't working that well. In the end I left the official route and rode to Beenleigh station and caught a train home.
I was also feeling the cold too. There were 3 other cyclists waiting to get back to Brisbane. One guy fell when someone else in
front fell. Luckily he was only slightly hurt. His front tyre was busted and then he had problem with his steering as well. 
I sometime wonder if the organiser should have called it off. At least, I felt that there should be some information for people if
they have to bail out e.g. route to the nearest train station. Even before it rain, I saw two ambulances on the bus way before 
8 Miles Plain. Just wonder if there should some sort of competency courses that people should take before going such rides.

Well, at least I am in one piece! 

One thing, I wish I had a GPS :-(

 

Anthony Lee
The Doctor -- the last of the Time Lords?
........-- __o 
....-- _ \<,_
........(_) / (_) 
E-Mail: doctorw1963 at yahoo.com.au

 

 

  _____  

From: Dave Ingram <bulk at ingramtech.com>
To: Anthony Lee <doctorw1963 at yahoo.com.au>
Cc: BIQ <bikeqld at bikeqld.org.au>
Sent: Sat, 10 October, 2009 5:10:30 PM
Subject: Re: [bikeqld] Southport to Helensvale station - Nipper Road West to Kingston Drive?

Anthony,

There are two other options on Bikely to consider:
  
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/B2GC100-finish-site-to-Helensvale-Station
    http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Southport-Helensvale-Train-Station

The traffic might be busier, but the biggest climb is 17m, whereas the
one you've found has a 60m sharp climb in the middle.

I think I'll chose on the day based on the amount of traffic.


Dave.

Anthony Lee wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> After getting to Southport tomorrow, I am going to ride to Helensvale
> station via Stevens Rd and Napper
>
> See below
>
> http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Southport-to-Helensvale-Rail-Stn
>
> How do you get on to Kingston Dr from Napper St without getting on
> Smith Street :-)?
>  

 

  _____  

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