Long ride next Saturday 19th Dec

[orphic]

I'm not doing the Illawarra track open next weekend so thought it would be a good opportunity to get a nice long ride in. I'm thinking something that's at least 200km, but probably not more than 250km. The longest I've done in the past is 160km.

Would anyone be interested in joining me? I am open to suggestions of a route to take... A pie shop on the way is a must.

[NOOG]

I might be keen for something....school holidays and all. I try to do the 5 gorges (Spit bridge, West Head/Akuna Bay, Bobbin Head, Berowra Ferry and Galston Gorge) a few times every holidays. It's not going to be 200km (maybe 160km max), but it's a lot of climbing.

I'm keen to try a new route though, if anyone has a better long ride.

[NOOG]

Sydney to The Entrance along the old Pacific Highway is 210km return.

[T-Bone]

Sydney to The Entrance along the old Pacific Highway is 210km return.

plus there's a pie shop on that route!!

[orphic]

I'm pretty keen on busting the 200km mark next weekend, but I would be down for doing the gorges another time if you are in for it John. But you would have to be ok with waiting for me at the top of climbs... I provide enough time for you to have a bit of a stretch and soak in the views

Sydney to the Entrance sounds good! Particularly the pie shop part.

[NOOG]

Is anyone else keen to do this ride? What time were you thinking of leaving Vic?
I was thinking maybe meet at 7 at the Maccas on Victoria Road, Drummoyne (cnr. Lyons Road) and head over the Gladesville Bridge.

[orphic]

That sounds like a good meeting place and time to me.

If anyone else is keen then I can roll out from Marrickville to get to Drummoyne at 7. Anyone? C'mon I need more wheels to suck... John can't do ALL the work on the front

[park]

I did the 3 gorges once earlier this year when I first started riding on the road bike and I still remember how hard it was. Doing 5 in one day would be a total killer and a candidate for a bikes bonus gear (pushing the bike up the hill on foot) .

The Entrance sounds awesome. Count me in Saturday, what time do you want to meet at Marrickville and how long are you expecting to be out riding for?

Weather for Saturday isn't looking too bad. Fine Min: 19, Max: 23.

[weiyun]

The gorges north are very pleasant. Hard but the gradient doesn't match at their peak of what's in RNP.

[orphic]

Lets meet at 6:30am at Mick Mazza's. Then we can be there at the same time as Saturday riders and make them feel soft for not coming along... Guess it will take about 20 mins to get to Drummoyne.

Not sure how long we will be riding for, I guess that depends on how long our stops are. I'm pretty much crossing out the entire day for it, as I'm sure even if there is a good part of the day left when it's over I won't feel like doing much but sitting on the couch.

I would be keen to do the Gorges in the future btw. I tried to do 3 gorges the morning after racing the other week but that proved to be a silly plan... Had to turn around while on the way to Galston as I was going backwards

[weiyun]

Marrickville to Drummoyne Maccas would be around 30mins.

[timyone]

im a bit confused by the dates of this> is this ride this weekend, is the ilawarra track open this weekend?

[NOOG]

I'm not doing the Illawarra track open....so thought it would be a good opportunity to get a nice long ride in.

Yeah, It's this weekend.

[timyone]

oops?! sorry i skim read that a bit too fast :S
Id have loved to come on this ride
It would have at least given me 700 for the week

[park]

Hopefully the forcast stays true "Fine and mostly sunny day but the chance of an evening shower" for Saturday.

[orphic]

Indeed.

Starting to get a little nervous about my longest rider ever... Ready to eat lots of pasta tonight and go to bed early

[orphic]

Holy *censored*, I don't think my body was ready for that. Who put all those hills in the way?

I think for the first time ever, my poor little heart gave up before my legs and my mind. I spent the 18 or so km's after hitting the 200km mark with a heart rate that was fluctuating between 185 and 195 - even when I was just soft pedalling. My sister had to come and pick me up, as everytime I got back on the bike I felt like my chest was going to explode and got to the point of not being able to breathe properly. Has anyone ever had that happen before? Can I just put it down to exhaustion? I feel fine now.

Thanks for your company John and Jeff (is it with a J or a G?). I think I might blame the climb up to the pie shop for breaking me. Mmmmm, pie. My next pie adventure will be a tad flatter

[Anthony]

Congrats on breaking the 200! i wish i did the ride with you guys.

[shrubb face]

Victoria, your next pie adventure will be with me next thursday on exactly the same course.

[T-Bone]

The thing i've noticed is pie shops tend to be at the top of hills, such as the top of macquarie pass.

[orphic]

That's Robertson pie shop right? Because I've got that one marked down as my way to break 300km in a day eventually - out to Macquarie pass via the coast and then back up kind of via fixie century way. Would mean Macquarie pass would be the only major climb so I think it is possible.

[NOOG]

Victoria, your next pie adventure will be with me next thursday on exactly the same course.

I'd be keen to tag along if you guys head out again.

[orphic]

We are going up on xmas eve in the afternoon. Apparently Alex will be hung over so we will need to leave around midday. Hopefully it won't be too hot!

[NOOG]

OH, can't do that one then.

Here's a map of the route though...I probably should have done this before to check out the elevation profile (it's under "show" in the top left corner)

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Sy ... e-Entrance

[orphic]

Haha you know what, if you had posted that I would have told you to get lost and found somewhere else to go.

So I'm glad you didn't, because I pushed myself to the end and it felt pretty good.

[christian]

I've ridden up that road, so I know what its like, a good effort by all.