Fixie Century 2014

[Camilla]

It's on again, the annual Fixie Century! Yippee!

Sunday October 19
161 kms of exquisite fixed pain, from Bundanoon Hotel to Tempe Velodrome

2014 marks the 8th edition of this event. After 3 years of going via Wollongong, we've decided to mix it up and take the old Picton route again:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/501478116
(plus a visit to the Bowral velodrome to make up the additional 8km and have EVEN MORE FUN!)

Most participants chose to stay in the Bundanoon Hotel on the Saturday night (c $55 p.p). We dine in their bistro, play some billiards in the evening over a few beers & then have breakfast in the Old Bike Cafe before heading off the next morning.

http://www.bundanoonhotel.com.au/

14 beds have already been tentatively booked at the hotel. If numbers exceed that we'll book some more rooms. Please make your intentions known asap because Bundanoon can get busy that time of year!

If anyone would like to act as support (i.e. drive the route, carry the riders' bags back to Sydney and pick up anyone who blows up along the way) that would be sensational! The riders will cover petrol & accommodation.

Then pork knuckles all round at the German Club!

Entry requirements:
• Must have a cycling Australia recognised licence and be part of an Australian bike club and if not a DHBC member must be able to prove such before starting
• Must be 18+ years of age and fit enough to complete the designated distance (strong 28s riders and above, with a penchant for endurance). If you haven’t before ridden a Fixie Century don't be offended if we ask you a few questions
• If any known medical conditions must consult your General Practitioner on your health and be cleared to start

Bike requirements:
• All bikes must be fixed with one single gear. Gears can be changed if a flip flop hub is available during ride. No freewheels allowed
• All bikes must have 2 working brakes and enough brake pad to be safe
• Steel is real baby.

Ride Rules:
• All riders must comply with road rules at all times
• All riders are responsible for their own safety and if not up to the distance must get themselves home
• Riders must comply with bunch rules and ride rules when needed
• Australian standard helmet must be worn at all times, by all riders

[Camilla]

And here's the list to cut & paste. Please indicate if you wish to stay at the Bundanoon Hotel, and if you have a bed fellow doing the ride too! (There are a few double rooms.)

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)

[Eleri]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!

[Camilla]

That's ok Eleri, James will eat your pork knuckle.

[JoTheBuilder]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.

[kiwiames]

I really want to!!

Last time I did this event was in 2010 and it was a fantastic day out. The next 2 years I had to pull out with injury - THIS TIME I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PULL OUT AGAIN. So ill have to take a wait and see approach. If there are no beds left then my tough luck.

Here's hoping.

[Johnj]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)

Steel is real!!*





*Well except for steel rims which are really crap.

[Camilla]

Those steel rims can get quite a burn on. But it's Razorback this year, not Macquarie Pass! And props to you John for being the first bloke to sign up.

[mikesbytes]

What route r u thinking?

[blah]

Can I come too? I have limited experience on a fixie, but I've raced RAW a few times and train at the track twice a week. I've done plenty of centuries on a roadie. This looks like great fun.

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Blake (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)

[Camilla]

Mike - the route that is linked to in the original post.

Blake - I'd suggest getting out on your fixie on the road a little before tackling the century. I often do Saturday Slowies on mine.

[MarkL]

This is a great ride!!

Sadly I'm out as I'll be away, very poor timing on my part
Always next year

[Camilla]

So sad Mike L, you'll be missed! Poor timing indeed. Can the planets not be re-aligned so that you can join us?

I know there are a lot more takers out there for this ever-so-awesome event. Please do sign up sooner rather than later, simply for logistics.

And BTW Blake, you're absolutely in. I simply meant ride around on the road for a little to get used to quick breaking etc on a fixie.

[shrubb face]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Blake (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
6. Alex C (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)

[blah]

Thanks, Camilla! I'm getting in as much practice as I can. I'll make sure I do some longer rides between now and then, too. Saturday slowies is a good idea.

[Camilla]

Just back from a wee scouting mission with Eleri to see how Old Razorback is doing. The answer is just fine! Even after all this rain the surface is in decent shape. It's only a couple of kms and the gradient never rakes up past something unmanageable to the average human on a fixie. We chatted the entire way.

Best of all, there's an awesome bakery-café at its foot, for re-fuelling before you even have to start! Mmm Pancakes. Mmm lemon butter. Mmmm socks knitted by alternative lifestyle individuals from the luscious fur of non-native road kill.

[Michael Chidgey]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Blake (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
6. Alex C (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
7. Michael Chidgey (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)

[NOOG]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Blake (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
6. Alex C (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
7. Michael Chidgey (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
8. John Nguyen (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)

[mikesbytes]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Blake (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
6. Alex C (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
7. Michael Chidgey (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
8. John Nguyen (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
9. Michael Clement (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)

I've got 2 fixies so could help someone out with a ride

[lindsay]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Blake (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
6. Alex C (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
7. Michael Chidgey (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
8. John Nguyen (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
9. Michael Clement (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
10 - Lindsay (Bundanoon Hotel -one solitary lonesome single bed)

[bfox1]

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Blake (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
6. Alex C (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
7. Michael Chidgey (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
8. John Nguyen (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
9. Michael Clement (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
10 - Lindsay (Bundanoon Hotel -one solitary lonesome single bed)
11- Ben+ Lizanne- (Bundanoon Hotel- double bed)

[Camilla]

Hello Fixie Centurians!

Only 2 weeks to go and I'll have to confirm numbers in the hotel, bistro & breakfast café soon. So if anyone else is considering coming please put your name on the list.

I should point out that the single beds are for a the most part in a twin room, so if you want to pick you partners do so. Otherwise I'll do it for you and you can switch once you're there. I bags Eleri! She's small and doesn't make too much noise. Well, maybe not that second bit...

Jo, did you manage to persuade Christian to join us as support?

I'm about to take a road trip to Mudgee with Lindsay, so we'll try and nut out that little M5 issue while we're driving along. If needs be we can always revert to the other route.

[blah]

It looks like I'm going to have to withdraw as I need to head down to Melbourne for family stuff on that weekend. Sorry for the late notice, this seems like a lot of fun! Please let me know if I've still gotta cover the cost of my bed.

Updated list:
1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Alex C (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
6. Michael Chidgey (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
7. John Nguyen (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
8. Michael Clement (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
9 - Lindsay (Bundanoon Hotel -one solitary lonesome single bed)
10 - Ben+ Lizanne- (Bundanoon Hotel- double bed)

[Camilla]

It IS a lot of fun Blah!

I haven't confirmed numbers with the hotel yet so you should be ok.

[JoTheBuilder]

Christian is going to 'check his calendar'. Which means he's free. We'll share a double thanks!

[Michael Chidgey]

I have to pull out to. Double booked a birthday party on Sunday.

Updated list:
1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Alex C (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
6. John Nguyen (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
7. Michael Clement (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
8 - Lindsay (Bundanoon Hotel -one solitary lonesome single bed)
9 - Ben+ Lizanne- (Bundanoon Hotel- double bed)

[shrubb face]

I also have to pull out, injury. Sorry.

Updated list:
1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. John Nguyen (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
6. Michael Clement (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
7. Lindsay (Bundanoon Hotel -one solitary lonesome single bed)
8 - Ben+ Lizanne- (Bundanoon Hotel- double bed)

[NOOG]

I double booked as well.

Updated list:
1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver.
4. John (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
5. Michael Clement (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
6. Lindsay (Bundanoon Hotel -one solitary lonesome single bed)
7-8. Ben+ Lizanne- (Bundanoon Hotel- double bed)[/quote]

[Camilla]

This is going to be nice and intimate!

Speaking with Toff & Lindsay on the weekend, they both professed a preference for the Costal route, so we might go back to that. i.e. via Wollongong (with a walk of shame up Stanwell Park hill).

Thanks Mike for looking into a viable route into Sydney from Camden to avoid the M5 problem. We can keep that up our sleeves for another day! It will not go to waste.

[kiwiames]

Ouch - riding the coastal route back to Sydney FIXED sounds like a world of pain. Its hard enough geared.

Have a good ride.

[mikesbytes]

I vote for the Camden route

[Camilla]

OK Mike. Fir enough. I think we can take this to the vote. I'll prepare a crib for both and get back to everyone.

Actually, can you prepare the Camden route Mike? I'm way too crap.

[Eleri]

I just wanna eat at the crazy cult place so I vote for return via Old Razorback but avoiding the M5.

[JoTheBuilder]

I vote Old Razorback too for 2 reasons:
1. I've never done it before;
2. Anything to avoid the dreary return from Waterfall.

But I will, of course, go with the majority.

[mikesbytes]

Kev Fisher (MCCC) has suggested a route that can avoid all Motorway if that's what we want. All routes into Sydney have their pro's and cons

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/550452910

Another option would be to do some motorway and some of this route

[Camilla]

Well I think that's a majority! Well at least a vocal minority. Let's do it! Picton & old Razor back it is!

Besides, I do need to stock up on 12-tribes blessed lemon butter & goat soap.

Mike, you happy to lead the way through Sydney? I'm too crap to memorize such things and am easily distracted by shiny baubles, much like a kitten.

[Johnj]

I'm out. I've got a half day hospital admission on Wednesday for an angiogram. Local anaesthetic and a cannula in the femoral artery mean I'm unlikely to be 100% by the time of the ride.

Have a great ride.

[mikesbytes]

So lets see if I've got this right?

1. Camilla (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed)
2. Eleri (Bundanoon Hotel - single bed) - no pork knuckle for me!!
3. Jo - will try and persuade Christian to be support driver
4. Michael Clement (Bundanoon Hotel -single bed)
5. Lindsay (Bundanoon Hotel -one solitary lonesome single bed)
6-7. Ben+ Lizanne- (Bundanoon Hotel- double bed)

Wollongong route votes
1. Camilla
2. Lindsay

Campbelltown route votes
1. Michael
2. Jo
3. Eleri

Yet to vote
1. Christian
2. Ben
3. Lizanne

[Camilla]

I'm neutral Mike!

[mikesbytes]

I'm neutral Mike!

The safe option

Wollongong route votes
1. Lindsay

Campbelltown route votes
1. Michael
2. Jo
3. Eleri

As long as it ends with a pork knuckle
1. Camilla

Yet to vote
1. Christian
2. Ben
3. Lizanne

_________________
Singlespeed - that can be fixed

[Camilla]

Hi all,

It looks like we're going the the Campbelltown route! And you're on directions Mike!

Toff is officially out. He has a nephew's christening.

I've booked the bistro for 7pm & Ye Olde Bike Shoppe for breakfast at 8.30 (which is when they open).

Excitement!

[Camilla]

Nooooooo!

Track work between Liverpool station & Goulburn. I just had a thoroughly unhelpful conversation with a woman at Sydney Trains, whose best advice was to discuss it with the bus marshalls. Who will no doubt tell us exactly where to go. And not is a good way.

I've tried calling Liverpool station to see if it's possible to book our bikes onto the bus but everyone is on extended smoko.

I guess we could go to Albion Park and walk our bikes up MQ pass...

[mikesbytes]

My experience is that they will take a few bikes. We would probably have to be a max of 2 per bus at a guess.

Another option is to ride from Liverpool station

[Camilla]

Lindsay and I are getting the 1.07 from Wolli Creek

[mikesbytes]

Lindsay and I are getting the 1.07 from Wolli Creek

I'll try to catch that one too

[JoTheBuilder]

Another great Fixie Century. Hard work but beautiful weather and a great bunch.

Thanks need to be given to the following:
1. Camilla for organising;
2. Eleri for the use of her car;
3. Mike Clement for his guidance (though next year we vote for the bike track!);
4. Last but not least, Christian for being support crew, driver, mechanic and generally all round good bloke (but then, I would say that).

A few photos from the day:

Some pre-ride beverages:


Short stop at Bowral Velodrome:


Some mid ride Maintenance:


Crossing the Georges River:


Finished!

[Eleri]

Thanks all! We rode all together for the whole ride, pretty much. The hardest bit for me was not having breakfast till 9:30am, although the place Christian chose for breakfast was truly excellent. And I was delighted to visit the crazy cult at Common Ground and have a wholesome lunch. Well, OK, I did have pancakes. Perhaps not so wholesome.

There were no flats or mechanicals of note. I nearly did myself damage with a slipped saddle but ... all good. And no-one walked up Old Razorback dirt section. Or spun their legs off their hips on the descent. And no magpie or dog attacks which makes that a remarkable ride in the Southern Highlands.

A great ride. Thanks so much to Christian for a) supporting us and b) driving the Prius and faking smug.

[mikesbytes]

The format of this years fixie ride was great.
- early start, eat breakie later. Jo got some snacks off me. Sorry Eleri, I think you were occupied with stack height and missed the snacks
- perfect weather as always
- nice country roads
- Campbelltown to Tempe route not using any motorway works, we can fine tune it for future use
- nice company

Thanks to Camilla for orgainising, Christian for support and lowering my handlebars while I fed Jo, Eleri for the car, Lindsay for the beer, Jo for the best drama, Ben for the down hill conversation and Lizanne for the up hill conversation

[Camilla]

A great ride! I do love cruising the Southern Highlands. We even got to see bull & wombat interaction! Very impressed at our lack of mechanicals, biologicals & tantrums (although I came very close at the end).

Thanks everyone for the excellent company. And especially to Christian for looking after us.