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

Sun Oct 11 17:30:19 CDT 2009

Hi Peter,

Actually I agree the cooler weather was very nice at the start and I did consider continuing at the Eagleby state school. 
However, there was at least one couple that felt same way as me and they waited outside the school for private transport to get home.
I didn't have that luxury. I was shivering at times and I was lucky not to crash. 

I asked several volunteers how to get to the Beenleigh stations but several didn't know. Oh well.

BTW, I had done the ride several years before. In fact, I had a private joke with one of the BQ volunteer and I am sure she still
remember. That was the year before Cyclone Larry. I said to her (Novak) that BQ ought to plant bananas on Loganholme park
so that they didn't need to truck it in then Cyclone Larry hit. Just think BQ could have made a killing the following year, if only
they would have listened to me.

See, some of my opinion is worth following up ;-). 

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

________________________________
From: Peter Whittle <pjl.whittle at optusnet.com.au>
To: Anthony Lee <doctorw1963 at yahoo.com.au>
Cc: BIQ <bikeqld at bikeqld.org.au>
Sent: Mon, 12 October, 2009 8:14:44 AM
Subject: RE: Bailed out (was Re: [bikeqld] Southport to Helensvale station - Nipper Road West to Kingston Drive?)

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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