Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club

There were discussions yesterday on the LaPa ride that we should organise a ride on the Winter Solstice to celebrate the shortest day of the year in the knowledge that things can only get better. This year it falls on a Friday.

While some suggested LaPa, I think Eastern Suburbs hills will be more appropriate/fun as we will be able to see the sunrise and can take the obligatory group shot at Bondi or The Gap. First light is scheduled for 6:31am with sunrise at 6:59am.

I propose to follow the MC Cyclery Route from Centennial Park (Bronte, Bondi, Watsons Bay, Heartbreak Hill, Cranbrook St, Bondi Junction). Note, I will not be heading back to Marrickville but will instead be heading straight into the city for work. I can suggest coffee in Bondi Junction where MC stop.

Due to the slight change of route, an earlier start is advised. 5:30am from Marrickville Road Cafe.

Please ensure you have functioning lights.

Who is in?
1. Jothebuilder

Sounds cool

Who is in?
1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes

Sounds cool? I think the word is freezing ....

Who is in?
1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)

I should be good for this one, love those hills.


Who is in?
1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip

Sounds good, I'm in for sure





Who is in?
1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron

Great idea Jo!

Who is in?
1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel

I can make coffee, depending on the ETA, which is?

Who is in?
1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K

Seriously. 05:30 ??? I'm a maybe so won't add to the list. If I'm there ....

Yeh sorry Stuart. This is an experiment for a future weekly ride so not sure about timing so thought to leave early on the safe side and work it out from there.

MC starts at 615 from CP and I am always late for work...

Jo, I'm very keen on a weekly hills ride on Friday and hope this becomes a permanent fixture for dhbc.

Yeh sorry Stuart. This is an experiment for a future weekly ride so not sure about timing so thought to leave early on the safe side and work it out from there.

MC starts at 615 from CP and I am always late for work...

Actually, when I think about it, I leave home at 5:40 for the Thur MC Hills ride so it's only 20 mins earlier .. and Jo is always up at 4:45 on Thur anyway. Not riding that Sat so I'm a good chance.

Who could miss the solstice?

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam

I was thinking CRAZY PEOPLE! But then, at La Pa this morning gazing at the sunset, remembered that my very first ever ride with the club was on the winter solstice. So I'd better come along and celebrate my 6th anniversary!

I'll be wanting cake. Maybe candles.

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla

Don't forget to set the alarm Camilla...

What time do we get back into the CBD? I need to be at work by 8 or 8.30 latest.

I was thinking CRAZY PEOPLE! But then, at La Pa this morning gazing at the sunset, remembered that my very first ever ride with the club was on the winter solstice. So I'd better come along and celebrate my 6th anniversary! I'll be wanting cake. Maybe candles. ~snip~

A sunset in the morning .. can I have some of whatever you had for breakfast?

A sunset in the morning .. can I have some of whatever you had for breakfast?

Dinner.

A sunrise is just a sunset from the other side

yeah Stuart! What Philip said!

I've never claimed to be a morning person.

I can make coffee, depending on the ETA, which is?

What time is coffee? I'll be at Sydney Cricket Ground Friday morning

I did notice your question the first time Mike but unfortunately I have no idea. If we leave Marrickville at 530, will get to CP by 6, then follow MC's route we are in BJ by about 7 at a guess and in the city by 730 for those that can't stop?

Stuart, reckon that is an accurate assumption? We'll be going 15 mins earlier than MC and I am usually at work by 745 and at my desk by 8. So I'm subtracting 15 mins from those times...

We could skip Wentworth Ave and just stick to Hopetoun which will shave another 5-10mins off (and be 1 less hill)...

Hi Jo.
Hate to say this, as I've been looking forward to this ride, but have to withdraw as I have an important meeting that arvo and have to 'dress' up. Not keen to ride with a bag on my back.
Kind of DHBC related i.e. first face to face negotiations with the 'other party' re. that incident at CP early last year.

Thanks Jo, sounds like I'll make it for coffee then, I'm guessing I'll arrive at 7.15

Bummer Marc! Can you not take your gear in to work on the Thursday and leave it there for Friday?

Thought about that too. Too much hassle.
Keep fingers crossed for me.
If I get enough, I might actually decide to acquire something made of CF!

Thought about that too. Too much hassle.
Keep fingers crossed for me.
If I get enough, I might actually decide to acquire something made of CF!

Watch out valley wheeler / steel bikers / facial hair people.

There's a traitor in your midst....

This is an experiment for a future weekly ride so not sure about timing so thought to leave early on the safe side and work it out from there.

MC starts at 615 from CP and I am always late for work...

I can't make it on that day..but Robert may want to join..gotta ask him first.
If it becomes regular club ride, will consider joining provided traffic is not as bad as during mid day.
I have never ridden around eastern suburbs at crack of dawn. My experience riding at mid day around there has always been cars..cars..cars..and car doors opening without looking (at one point hit me and broke my fingernails..). will morning situation = mid day?

It's fine Anna - I rode it this morning at about 6:30.

The MC Ride leaves CP at about 6:20 (it never leaves on time) and takes a slightly longer route than "my" Sat loop route as it leaves CP via a different exit. MC arrives close to Bondi Junction at 7:30 normally. So Jo's calculations seem optimistic by about 15 mins?. Garmin Connect tells me that total moving time from home to being back at the horse gates is 1:40 with total ride time door to door of 2:30ish

My Sat ride arrives at CP at about 6:30am and then gets back to the park by about 7:50am.

Hi Jo and riders,

I'd love to join you guys but not sure if I can keep up as I've only done a few La Pa rides and only just transitioning into the Waterfall 28s.

The Eastern Hills is a ride I've been looking forward to trying, so here's my suggestion:
If it's ok with you, and the rest of the group, I might try to co-opt a couple more riders who are at my level and join you guys for the start. If we get dropped, so be it. If we can keep up, that'll be a bonus. This would be on the understanding that there would be no obligation on the main group to slow down or wait for us.

How does that sound?
Rajiv

Hi Rajiv,

The beauty of this ride is that it gives everyone a chance for a good hit out, regardless of ability.

The route to the park is flat so you will have no problems keeping up.

Once at the hills, each person can sprint or spin up them at their leisure as we will be re grouping at the top of each hill and we always wait for the last rider.

When I get round to it I will be posting the locations that we wait for everyone as they do on the MC ride. Some corners are safer than others...

Please come along!

Fantastic! In that case, count me in!

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Rajiv

I'm back on again!

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Rajiv
11. Ben - will try to catch you at centennial at 6?

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Adrian E

5:30 at Marrickville sounds ideal.
I'm coming!

Something happened to the list so here it is updated...

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Adrian E
11. Rajiv
12. Ben
13. Bruce

Made some arrangements and should be able to tag along - will delete my name a night before if i can't make it..

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Adrian E
11. Rajiv
12. Ben
13. Bruce
14. Anna
15. Robert

Hi All,

Quite a big group. If there is anyone intending to come but is not on the forum, can you please email me (as Simon did), to let me know?

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Adrian E
11. Rajiv
12. Ben
13. Bruce
14. Anna
15. Robert
16. Simon

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Adrian E
11. Rajiv
12. Ben
13. Bruce
14. Anna
15. Robert
16. Simon
17. Karzie
18. Stevan

Believe the BOM is predicting rain for the rest of the week. Hope this ride doesn't get washed out.
Missed my 'secret' men's training at CP this morning due to the rain.

Ah yes, I melt in the rain. So if it's on the radar I won't be going... But I'll update this forum on Friday morning if that is the case.

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Adrian E
11. Rajiv
12. Ben
13. Bruce
14. Anna
15. Robert
16. Simon
17. Karzie
18. Stevan
19. andrewb*

*actual appearance may not be as described above due to the fact we are talking 0530 in the morning people ...

1. Jothebuilder
2. Peter Bownes
3. Marc R (marc2131)
4. Philip
5. Cameron
6. Phil Daniel
7. Anthony K
8. Adam
9. Camilla
10. Adrian E
11. Rajiv
12. Ben
13. Bruce
14. Anna
15. Robert
16. Simon
17. Karzie
18. Stevan
19. andrewb*
20. andrewm - probable

That's a big turnout.

I think the coffee shop doesn't split bills, so bring your change, unless you are shouting for all that is.

Are we really doing this? Or is it just a giant ruse to have me waiting at the cafe with icicles on my eyelashes in the dark - some sort of "gotcha" moment?

* I'm sure they're going to pop out from behind the planter boxes and give us a hot chocolate Andrew, and tell us to go back to bed. We'll be ok.

Yes Camilla and I'm really going to message you at 5am to make sure you're up.

Great ride this morning. Thanks everyone for coming.

I think we stayed reasonably cohesive where we had to and broke up a bit on the hills. In future we should probably concentrate on riding together as a group between the main hills but with so many of us this morning I think we did ok.

Feedback on the ride and the route? What do people think about this becoming a regular ride? Was impressed with the speed of the cafe too!

Mike, sorry we missed you. Apparently you left your phone at home today?

Fellow riders,

Just in case you are wondering, I made it. Albeit at a vastly different time and also via many ridiculous detours (note to self: read up on route notes before riding!).

I lost you guys on the way up out of Bondi. I tried to keep up but I was about to revisit my breakfast so I decided to slow down. I wandered over to Watson's Bay trying to recall where the planned coffee stop was, but when I discovered you guys weren't around I decided to make my way back to work at Leichhardt.

Lessons learnt:
1. Read up on route notes prior to embarkation.
2. Refrain from eating last night's salmon pasta as breakfast the next day when trying out hills for the first time.
3. Don't get ahead of yourself on the first hill and not leave enough in reserve for the next lot.

Highlights:
1. Riding through Centennial Park in the darkness (for a moment I felt like I was transported out of Sydney and into a country lane - it was bliss!).
2. Descent into Bronte.
3. Completing the ride.

Big thanks to Jo for organising this and for giving a novice like me the opportunity to try it out. I've now got a taste for the hills. Just need to get fitter.

Have a great Friday. No doubt I'll see some of you over the weekend.

Cheers,
Rajiv

Rajiv! Apologies...

After I saw you steam past me on the Bronte Hill I figured I wouldn't need to worry about you (as with everyone who is usually in front of me up the hills).

We waited at the top of Military Rd but it sounds like we gave the call to move on too early.

Don't let this put you off! I think when the group is as big as it was it was difficult to keep track of everyone (again, my fault). Maybe we should establish a buddy system with like for like riders so if your buddy is not with you you know to wait.

Something for us to think about.

Oh, and don't eat salmon pasta for breakfast.

Jo, no need to apologise. I completely understand. This experience hasn't put me off. I really did enjoy the ride and it's given me a taste for hill riding. I'm looking forward to getting fitter so that I can eventually tackle RNP.

And yes, I later discovered that steaming past you on Bronte Hill, while exhilarating as it was at the time, would eventually lead to my downfall!

Buddy system sounds good - I actually tried to cajole a couple of other riders (who are more at my level) to join the ride, but they wussed out (Colin and Nick - shame on you!).

Throwing up my dinner at 2:30am ruled me out of this ride. Home cooked Ma Po Tofu (I blame the pork mince). Shame to have missed it.

It was a great ride, route and good coffee too!

The big bunch, darkness and traffic did make it challenging at times but I think we did really well with our calling and regrouping.

I'm keen on a Friday regular ride but could we use the alternate route to CP (via Redfern)? Given how brilliantly quick the cafe was, how about a 545 start?

Anyway, those are just my thoughts.

Cheers!

Riding to the gym this morning, I saw DHBC go past, you were on the road and I was on the bike path, so many riders for a weekday ride !!!!

Coffee was good, but froze on the way home

It was a good ride. A bit too wet for my liking especially on the steep descent.

NOTE TO BRAIN - I DONT LIKE STEEP, WINDING DESCENTS.

Yes the group was quite strung out, and there was the nagging question of leaving someone behind.

May I suggest the following: if the group is large, we should use a 'buddy' system to keep track of people i.e. at the MRC, we get everyone to pick someone/anyone as a 'buddy'. Don't have to ride with them, but we can find out immediately if anyone is missing by asking riders to locate their 'buddy'. If they aren't there, then we'd better wait for them.

I think an easier option may be to have a "sweeper" allocated for each ride who is always on the back, riding behind the slowest rider. If you have a large bunch, I think this will work better than having to find your "buddy".

But who'd be willing to volunteer to be the sweeper
I use to use the buddy system as a 19yo when I was doing my National Service in Singapore. Never lost a person on those perilous journeys thru jungle tracks, river crossings, midnight reccees.

Yes, I'd appreciate a buddy if I was trekking through perilous jungles!

Also, in this scenario, I was ridiculously slower than the rest of the group, so it wouldn't really be fair on a "sweeper". I think the buddy system would work with slower groups and/or where new/novice riders have joined a ride.

I am regularly sweeper on Wednesday morning rides. Best to keep the back of a bunch tidy I say

You people throwing up or nearly throwing up after eating pork mince and salmon pasta - give it up now!

~snip~ You people throwing up or nearly throwing up after eating pork mince and salmon pasta - give it up now!

Absolutely NFC of that happening .. for all know it could have been the TOFU that poisoned me

Sweeper seems a good idea, possibly one of the slower riders, but knows the route.

If the sweeper hasn't turned up at a stop point then there is still riders coming

Great ride this morning Jo. Thanks so much for organising.
And now the photo!

Great ride! Really enjoyed it!

Suggestions: make it regular ride! and probably day other than friday to avoid those bin trucks!
Buddy or sweeper works well, either is fine..
And maybe not a bad idea to post the route on the forum so no one take a wrong turn when he/she is dropped on the climb and can't see anyone ahead.

Oh, and don't eat salmon pasta for breakfast.

I was planning cook pasta for brekkie before a ride (just never wake up early enough) thinking pasta supply loads of carbs which presumably is source of energy?
Then again..maybe i should forget that idea..

Pasta = good
Salmon cooked the night before and eaten the next morning = regurgitate.

Pre-posting the route is a great idea - that would've helped me find the group, but I understand that this was an impromptu ride, so no worries again.

I was to busy chasing John and Andrew up the hills to take any photos... so I re-rode the route and got these.
Great ride guys, thanks Jo for organising.

I tried to add the photos but it was a fail.

Long ride on a short day, winter solstice. by Le Masurier, on Flickr

Long ride on a short day, winter solstice. by Le Masurier, on Flickr

seems to like only one image at a time


Long ride on a short day, winter solstice. by Le Masurier, on Flickr

I actually tried to cajole a couple of other riders (who are more at my level) to join the ride, but they wussed out (Colin and Nick - shame on you!).

I really enjoyed my breakfast and didn't want to leave it on the road. But I do admit to failing Rule #5.

Great apocalyptic shots, Philip!

Incredible shots! Was that with a phone camera or real camera? What's your secret?

His secret is he does it for a living...

Anna, thanks for the suggestions! In regards to Fridays, unfortunately it's the only day I can commit to to making it a regular ride. You'll always get garbage trucks I think. My area is a Thursday morning so if they're not on one street they will be on another.

If someone wants to up their hand up to make it on another day please do so. But my intention is to remain on a Friday.

In regards to the route, we now have a Strava record! So I can post this in future. Thankfully most people knew it from MC rides so thanks to John et. al. for taking the lead.

I specifically wanted to avoid the Slowies route to get to the park as it's slow (IMO), when there are much faster ways at that time of the morning. I personally didn't mind the way we went today. Trucks are an anomaly and he was illegally parked anyway. I'd be happy to try Stuart's route through Alexandria at some point but I don't know it so would have to be a morning that Stuart is not throwing up pork mince.

I'll create a new forum topic for a regular ride but it won't be next week as the Swans are playing at home on Friday night so I'd prefer not to be up at the crack of dawn on Friday lest I fall asleep at half time.

His secret is he does it for a living...

Oh now i know why his photos are not for download.. oh well

Anna, thanks for the suggestions! In regards to Fridays, unfortunately it's the only day I can commit to to making it a regular ride. You'll always get garbage trucks I think. My area is a Thursday morning so if they're not on one street they will be on another.

I see. Friday will do

I specifically wanted to avoid the Slowies route to get to the park as it's slow (IMO), when there are much faster ways at that time of the morning. I personally didn't mind the way we went today. Trucks are an anomaly and he was illegally parked anyway. I'd be happy to try Stuart's route through Alexandria at some point but I don't know it so would have to be a morning that Stuart is not throwing up pork mince.

Any route with minimal traffic light is the best IMO..and i think for morning ride, the one we used this morning is kinda fast..Well faster than my daily commuting route going through the airport, mascot, then redfern..