Easter Friday C28 West Head: Drive-Ride-Eat

[Stuart]

Planning on a ride on Easter Friday starting from Narrabeen beach opposite the Driftwood Cafe, 18 Ocean St Narrabeen ready to ride at 7.00am. Free parking on-street.

Ride will go out Pittwater Rd- McCarrs Ck Rd, Right to West Head and then back via Akuna Bay and up the hill and back down via McCarrs Ck Rd and hence to the cars for breakfast. About 70k's. C28's pace. Faster riders will need to wait for the bunch at strategic points, or form your own bunch.

You should have completed at least 2-3 Waterfall rides with the C28's or faster to come on this ride. Bring two bidons, food & 2 x tubes + levers & a pump.

[Anthony K]

Very tempted. Will try to negotiate leave pass.

[JoTheBuilder]

In.

1. Stuart
2. Anthony K (leave pass assumed).
3. Jothebuilder

[andrewm]

If I can get a leave pass ill probably ride out. Takes me about 1:15 at a moderate pace if I go straight up the wakehurst parkway instead of climbing allambie rd. probably slightly faster if i just slog it up pittwater rd. happy for people to join me, but you should be genuine middies (TM) or faster.

[James Rogers]

Assuming a pass, I'll follow Andrew M from the 'ville.

[Eleri]

And I'll follow (literally by sitting on your wheels) Andrew and James ... assuming you are there.

[AndrewBurns]

Yeah so doing this:

In.

1. Stuart
2. Anthony K (leave pass assumed).
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrewm (pending leave pass, riding there and back)
5. James Rogers (assuming leave pass, riding with andrewm)
6. Eleri (drafting Andrew and James all the way, we all know nobody can draft her anyway)
7. Andrew Burns (driving there)

[Eleri]

6. Eleri (drafting Andrew and James all the way, we all know nobody can draft her anyway)

Actually I discovered this to be not true on Saturday on the way to Berowra when I was doing mid 30s on the flat, working fairly hard, down on the drops even and Keith was sitting behind me allegedly day-dreaming. I could hear his noisy campag freewheel most of the time.

[JoTheBuilder]

Actually I discovered this to be not true on Saturday on the way to Berowra when I was doing mid 30s on the flat, working fairly hard, down on the drops even and Keith was sitting behind me allegedly day-dreaming. I could hear his noisy campag freewheel most of the time.

Although, with no disrespect to you, he would have found it all a doddle after climbing the Snowy Mountains recently...

[Stuart]

Small snag: Driftwood cafe is closed on Easter Friday. There's another cafe next to it but I can't remember its name. Anyway, I'm sure the pub will be open The eat piece of the ride may not happen ...

[Dougie]

Stuart, check the pub. Good Friday and Christmas Day are two days that are very challenging to be open due to the Liquor Act. On the other hand Registered Clubs ARE permitted to open. Just sayin'

[Stuart]

Church Point Cafe will be open so a coffee stop at least will be in order. They do good egg & bacon rolls too.

1 Stuart
2. Anthony K (leave pass assumed).
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrewm (pending leave pass, riding there and back)
5. James Rogers (assuming leave pass, riding with andrewm)
6. Eleri (drafting Andrew and James all the way, we all know nobody can draft her anyway)
7. Andrew Burns (driving there)
8. Trouty
9. Michele P & friends

[Nozzle]

I'm keen. Will ride from Summer Hill and meet somewhere on the way. Perhaps north side steps of Harbour Bridge?

1 Stuart
2. Anthony K (leave pass assumed).
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrewm (pending leave pass, riding there and back)
5. James Rogers (assuming leave pass, riding with andrewm)
6. Eleri (drafting Andrew and James all the way, we all know nobody can draft her anyway)
7. Andrew Burns (driving there)
8. Trouty
9. Michele P & friends
10. Noel (sucking everyone's wheel from the inner west)

[Trouty]

I will need to eat!

[Marco_A]

Any idea of the distance from MRC return?

[andrewm]

130 ish I think with west head and akuna. depends on the route obviously. fair bit of climbing in that as well. About 2000m according to strava.

[Anthony K]

Alas it has come down to Friday XOR Monday and Monday has won
I am out.


1 Stuart
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrewm (pending leave pass, riding there and back)
5. James Rogers (assuming leave pass, riding with andrewm)
6. Eleri (drafting Andrew and James all the way, we all know nobody can draft her anyway)
7. Andrew Burns (driving there)
8. Trouty
9. Michele P & friends
10. Noel (sucking everyone's wheel from the inner west )

[humanbeing]

Permission slip is signed
I'll be tagging along from MRC

1 Stuart
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrewm (pending leave pass, riding there and back)
5. James Rogers (assuming leave pass, riding with andrewm)
6. Eleri (drafting Andrew and James all the way, we all know nobody can draft her anyway)
7. Andrew Burns (driving there)
8. Trouty
9. Michele P & friends
10. Noel (sucking everyone's wheel from the inner west )
11. Peter Bownes

[Aimee]

I'm in ... might get dropped but I know the way.

1 Stuart
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrewm (pending leave pass, riding there and back)
5. James Rogers (assuming leave pass, riding with andrewm)
6. Eleri (drafting Andrew and James all the way, we all know nobody can draft her anyway)
7. Andrew Burns (driving there)
8. Trouty
9. Michele P & friends
10. Noel (sucking everyone's wheel from the inner west )
11. Peter Bownes
12. Aimee

[Philip]

I'm in from Marrickville, what time are we meeting? 5.30ish?
I need to be in Neutral Bay for lunch so I'll skip the
post ride eat fest.

1. Stuart
2. Jothebuilder
3. Andrewm (pending leave pass, riding there and back)
4. James Rogers (assuming leave pass, riding with andrewm)
5. Eleri (drafting Andrew and James all the way, we all know nobody can draft her anyway)
6. Andrew Burns (driving there)
7. Trouty
8. Michele P & friends
9. Noel (sucking everyone's wheel from the inner west )
10. Peter Bownes
11. Aimee
12. Philip

[Stuart]

Lets clear this up then.

The Narrabeen cafes are closed so we'll be having coffee and breakfast on the return loop at Church Point cafe - weather permitting I'm planning on the full sit down out on the deck thing as the setting is lovely and it's not too far back to Narrabeen from there. Those who need to get back can always grab a takeaway coffee & egg & bacon roll or just keep riding.

If the weather looks dodgy or it's raining, I'll post in this thread on the morning of the ride, but those of you who are riding from MRC will be gone before I'm up, so make your own decisions!

Those riding from MRC please make your own arrangements re start time, route etc. I'll be rolling out from my start point at 7:00 (link in the first post).

Driving:
1. Stuart
2. trouty (injuries permitting)
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrew Burns
5. Michele P & friends
6. Aimee (?)

Riding from MRC:
1. Andrewm (pending leave pass)
2. James Rogers (assuming leave pass)
3. Eleri
4. Noel
5. Philip
6. Peter Bownes

[Nozzle]

Those riding from MRC please make your own arrangements re start time, route etc. I'll be rolling out from my start point at 7:00 (link in the first post).

As mentioned i'll meet at Harbour Bridge steps for ~6am. I presume all will hit the road @5.30am from MRC? Will that give us enough time to meet the rest for 7am?

[Tonyoc]

Driving:
1. Stuart
2. trouty (injuries permitting)
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrew Burns
5. Michele P & friends
6. Aimee (?)

Riding from MRC:
1. Andrewm (pending leave pass)
2. James Rogers (assuming leave pass)
3. Eleri
4. Noel
5. Philip
6. Peter Bownes
7. Tony O C (hopefully i can hold on)

[andrewm]

As mentioned i'll meet at Harbour Bridge steps for ~6am. I presume all will hit the road @5.30am from MRC? Will that give us enough time to meet the rest for 7am?

Just. Probably. Strava tells me it generally takes me just over an hour for me to cruise solo from the bridge to Narrabeen via the Wakehurst parkway, and one and a half from Enmore park. Should be quicker on Easter Friday because:

a. It’s a bunch
b. James and Eleri will be pulling on the front the whole way; and
c. We'll go straight up Pittwater road I reckon - which is not as nice but quicker.

If there is any of the buggerising around that sometimes happens well miss the start.... ....(eg it took us around 2 hrs on new years eve to go from MRC to the bean - but that was a large, slow bunch with a <lot> of buggerising around)

So discipline people!

Re route - as it’s a compact experienced bunch I suggest the quickest - unless we want to leave earlier than 5:30 - and I don’t!

If it was just me I'd go straight up Victoria rd, Enmore rd, King st, Broadway, George st, bridge, back way on the south side way through Neutral Bay and Mosman (Kurraba, Wycombe, Bannerman etc), spit, Pittwater rd and the bean....

Open to suggestions

Noel - I'd be hoping we pick you up on the south side of the bridge a touch before 6.....

Oh - leave pass confirmed.

I'll be leaving MRC at 5:30

[jonboy]

I'll be with the MRC Rock Steady Crew.

Driving:
1. Stuart
2. Trouty
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrew Burns
5. Michele P & six friends
6. Aimee (?)

Riding from MRC:
1. Andrewm (pending leave pass)
2. James Rogers (assuming leave pass)
3. Eleri
4. Noel
5. Philip
6. Peter Bownes
7. Tony O C (hopefully i can hold on)
8. John

[tedrobin]

Driving:
1. Stuart
2. Trouty
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrew Burns
5. Michele P & six friends
6. Aimee (?)
7. Ted (assuming that I don't reach the "tired and emotional" stage tonight)

Riding from MRC:
1. Andrewm (pending leave pass)
2. James Rogers (assuming leave pass)
3. Eleri
4. Noel
5. Philip
6. Peter Bownes
7. Tony O C (hopefully i can hold on)
8. John

[Marco_A]

Driving:
1. Stuart
2. Trouty
3. Jothebuilder
4. Andrew Burns
5. Michele P & six friends
6. Aimee (?)
7. Ted (assuming that I don't reach the "tired and emotional" stage tonight)

Riding from MRC:
1. Andrewm (pending leave pass)
2. James Rogers (assuming leave pass)
3. Eleri
4. Noel
5. Philip
6. Peter Bownes
7. Tony O C (hopefully i can hold on)
8. John
9. Marco

[Stuart]

Hello drive-riders : remember to check here in the morning re weather & riding. It's not looking good right now. If you've got my mob then txt me in the AM if you're bailing due to weather. I don't ride in the rain.

[andrewm]

As long as its only damp and looks like clearing ill ride. Forecast is promising.

[JoTheBuilder]

Just noticed BRAT's are meeting at the same place and same time. Just to avoid confusion when you get there...

[Philip]

I'm with you Andrew, the forecast is looking pretty good to me. Maybe a little early moisture, clearing to a mild day. Perfect. Much prefer it to 30º.

[humanbeing]

I'm in.
Forecast looks fine.
See you for 5.30 kick off.
Peter

[anna_g]

Sorry it's a very late notice, count me (anna) and my partner (robert) as well joining from MRC if the weather is fine.

[jonboy]

Sorry it's a very late notice, count me (anna) and my partner (robert) as well joining from MRC if the weather is fine.

Just a warning that if you are MRC you'll need to be able to keep up. Most of us are very comfortable averaging 34kph. Not to say that we're intending to drop anyone but it won't take much for one of us to get a flat tyre given the bunch size.

If that happens we'll need to crank it up to get to our meeting point on time.

J

[anna_g]

Just a warning that if you are MRC you'll need to be able to keep up. Most of us are very comfortable averaging 34kph. Not to say that we're intending to drop anyone but it won't take much for one of us to get a flat tyre given the bunch size.

Thanks for the warning john.

For everyone going from MRC, please go at your normal pace!!
We are gearing to go, but if we find it too fast tomorrow, we'll go on our own pace.
If we don't get to narabeen by 7am, please don't wait for us.

[Tonyoc]

Hi!
The weather is looking pretty ok at this stage ( 4:40am)

[Stuart]

we're riding - weather looks good. See you in Narrabeen.

[andrewm]

Good ride. Thanks Stuart. The two bunches seemed to work really well.

[humanbeing]

Thanks Stuart!
Apologies for bailing on breakfast but I wanted more pain from Andrew, James etc.
Cheers,
Peter

[Stuart]

A great day out indeed, marred slightly by Michael's deflating front tyre induced crash while descending McCarrs Ck Rd. He's OK but very sore hip & foot.

[James Rogers]

Thanks Stuart - glorious weather, good day out. Hope Michael makes a speedy recovery.

A few pictures for entertainment, before Philip uploads better ones...

What we saw at West Head (don't look too hard, no whales, sharks, or other cyclists — it's just the view):



The usual suspects at the top of Liberator General San Martin Drive (?) climb:

[anna_g]

Thanks for having us everyone. We had a really great time, and are looking forward for the next one (the waterfall run).

Robert & anna.

[Philip]

Great ride guys, thanks to everyone.

If ya don't have the photo it didn't happen! by Le Masurier, on Flickr

Michael, carries on the great tradition of the cycling "hard men". After taking a really bad fall and even though he had to be helped back onto his bike he then rode back to the cafe.


Cycling is a dangerous sport by Le Masurier, on Flickr

[Anthony K]

Looking through Strava there are a LOT of trophies
Think I would have been spat out if I had been there.

[Eleri]

Looking through Strava there are a LOT of trophies
Think I would have been spat out if I had been there.

It was indeed fast out to Narrabeen. Especially felt that when I got dropped on Enmore Road after leading out for the first 2 kms

After a regroup at Narrabeen we all rode out to Church Point with the bigger group and then split into a few groups. I couldn't keep up with the fast, skinny people there either!

Great ride Stuart, thanks for organising it and thanks to everyone who towed me from Enmore to Narrabeen.

Michael, carries on the great tradition of the cycling "hard men". After taking a really bad fall and even though he had to be helped back onto his bike he then rode back to the cafe.

Michael has a decent hole in his elbow but he landed pretty hard on his hip. That corner is smooth hot mix (unlike just about every other corner on that road). We think he flatted mid-corner because I was right behind him and he was taking a good line and there was nothing on the road to hit. The front tyre didn't have much air in it after that crash and it wasn't flat as a result of the crash.

He's very grateful for all the assistance - especially Ted who drove him home and helpfully supplied a pair of crutches he had left over in his shed.

[Stuart]

Looking through Strava there are a LOT of trophies Think I would have been spat out if I had been there.

Driving to Narrabeen was a breeze . Then the enlarged bunch rode together till the first hill on McCarrs Ck Rd whereupon it split. We did see the fast riders at several regrouping points along the way. Us back markers had a lovely holiday paced ride. In my case I think many of the Strava trophies are because I've only ridden the Akuna piece of the loop in that direction one time before so it's easier to beat the one time you had previously logged for a segment.

[Eleri]

Message from Michael O'Reilly

Hi DHBCers,

This is just a quick note of thanks to those of you who were on Friday's unofficial ride up to West Head, especially those who got caught up in my crash.

I was invited to join by La Presidenta and thoroughly enjoyed almost all of it! Especially as I set a string of PBs on the out-and-back to West Head during my efforts to keep up with some of the faster riders.

Unfortunately I had a stack in a corner during the descent of McCarr's Creek Road. There's a tight steep left-hander that is always scary to go into, but so smooth and nicely cambered that you tend to exit thinking "I could have been going 20kmh faster and been fine".

Unfortunately this isn't the case on a deflated tyre. I must have picked up a glass shard very shortly before the corner, the front wheel washed away with an alarming scraping noise, and I hit the ground hard before sliding some distance.

I lost chunks of skin on my elbow, hip and knee, but the real problem has been my hip - what appears to be soft tissue damage. Steadily improving so we'll hope for the best.

So, many thanks for all those who got involved in stopping the traffic and helping to manage the scene, and especially those who helped me at the roadside (some of whom I leaned and possibly bled on), and most especially to EMT for looking after me then and the days after, and Ted, who cycled back to Narra to fetch his ute and gave me a lift home (possibly forgoing breakfast?) - and was able to lend me a pair of crutches that have made all the difference.

Hope to ride with you again in the future.

(And no, I've not forgotten ... apart from some scrapes and chips, the bike is fine.)

[Stuart]

Glad to hear that Michael is on the mend. Now I know which corner it was as his description is perfect - I always think I could have gone faster around that corner as I exit. I thought it was higher up the road.

[tedrobin]

I hope you've turned the corner, now almost a week later. Sleeping probably hasn't been easy. If Eleri was stern and insisted on the liberal application of ice, a concept to which you seemed to be strangely resistant, you'll be further down the track. Did I miss the on-board camera footage, or have you not posted it? Lovely piece on your sister yesterday, by the way.