As the sun rose over a sleepy camping ground in Brooms Head, two hours north of Coffs Harbour, 13 cyclists and support crews (of family and other BUG members) were busily preparing their gear for a big day ahead. Originally scheduled for the cooler month of August, but washed out by a week of torrential rain, everyone knew that Sunday October 7th was forecast to be a very warm day.
This was the inaugural Coffs BUG 100 mile ride. (160.934kms).
Ride organiser, John, had briefed the group, which included five support vehicles, the night before. The route, with rest stops, was mapped out, meal/snack catering organised, and agreements made in regard to how the support and sweep vehicles would operate. But this first ever Coffs BUG 100 miler was definitely going to be a learning experience.
The
crazy people riders comprised 8 men and 5 women – and the age range was pretty impressive! 12 to 60, with the majority being over 40! Most – John, Jo, April, Cameron and 12 yr old son Brendon, Lucy, David and Ian were on their road bikes (a mixture of flat bar and drops). Marc and Tracey were on their road tandem, and there were two MTBs (Bill and Ian S.) and a hybrid (Sally) in the mix. (Those on road bikes were already thinking those last three deserved a medal before they even started!)
Only Ian H had completed long charity rides previously, and Lucy (in her twenties, we reckon(!), the only other ‘spring chicken’ in the group) was a regular race cyclist; David used to ride seriously but hadn’t done so for a long time. Cameron and Brendon were involved in the Cycle Club, but had never attempted anything this long before. The rest were purely recreational cyclists who had never ridden more than 100km in a day. Most had completed at least one NSW Big Ride, but acknowledged that 160km was almost twice as far than the longest distance they'd ever done in one day.
After a brief delay to fix a flat tyre on Ian S’s bike! – can you believe it, a flat before we even started! - by 6.45am, the lead vehicles were away and the group started their journey. The ride route was spectacular and the initial stage from Brooms Head to Maclean (24km) undulated through farmland and bush. Emus and wallabies were sighted and traffic was extremely light. Cloud cover kept things cool. No sooner had the lead vehicles pulled out the juice and snacks at the riverside stop than the first bikes arrived. Everyone was warmed up and raring to continue.
The designated morning tea stop, Lawrence, was a ‘lazy’ 15km along the edge of Woodford Island, and everyone timed it to cross the Clarence River via the Bluff Point ferry together. Spirits were still high as the riders ‘refuelled’ and then set off again on the 34km stretch to Grafton. Two detours – along Riverbank Road, and then Great Marlow road – avoided the traffic, and provided wonderful farmland scenery against the backdrop of the ‘mighty’ Clarence.
Although this was the first time this ride had been undertaken, the ride schedule was going pretty much according to plan. Everyone was making great time and still feeling pretty good as they settled into their own pace. A few had a go of being ‘towed’ by the tandem, which was cranking along at quite a pace along the flats (tandem nirvana!) though they had to weigh up the benefits of the tow (= speed!) against the extra effort and concentration required! David was the most determined and skilled at it, sitting on the back wheel of the tandem almost into Glenreagh, where he finally pronounced he could no longer keep up the pace (despite the breaks when the hills slowed the tandem considerably – Note: if you have to draft a tandem
up a hill, don’t admit it!)
The weather was warming up as the cloud cover cleared, and it was starting to make an impact. Some actually ran out of water before making it into Grafton for lunch, and though it was only 11am, everyone was starting to really feel the heat as the temperature crept over 30 degrees. The excited chatter of the early morning disappeared as everyone contemplated the serious business of completing the distance in the heat. They knew deep down they’d just done the easy bit; they weren’t quite half way, and the most challenging section of the ride lay ahead. Such a shame it wasn’t the same flat terrain the rest of the way to Coffs!
Good food and plenty of fluids on board, the group moved off again, over the river (under the Bendy Bridge), through South Grafton and onto the Orara Way.
One of the support cars clocked 36 degrees as an outside temperature on this stretch. The heat coming off the bitumen surface was relentless and the lead support crew cheered loudly as the first cyclists arrived at Lanitza, the only service station along the Orara Way, and very handily located around 24km from Grafton. Thank heavens! A number had also dealt with the attack of a breeding magpie - not what you needed slogging up and down some of those hills! Everyone crowded into the shade of the shelter and water poured over heads became the order of the day; and many iceblocks and drinks were purchased from the service station shop. Brendon had been resisting the cold water ‘shower’ treatment, but his parents finally cornered him and gave him no choice. At times he had flagged, but any suggestions of pulling out were always brushed aside, and with a surge, at times he even made a point of leaving his Dad behind! "I'll go my own pace, thanks."
A couple were starting to look bit worse for wear but no one’s mental toughness had deserted them. Hot and tired, perhaps, but no one was interested in giving up. April’s mantra “Just keep pedalling and you’ll get there” applied to everyone. April was as determined as ever. First to leave, and often last in, she didn't care - she knew if she kept going she'd get there.
Afternoon tea was scheduled for Glenreagh, only another 20km away, with the group being greeted by the wonderful scones and hospitality of the local café. Glenreagh meant ‘home territory’ – with a few having incorporated ‘lunch at the Harp & Plough’ into their training rides - so it marked the start of the ‘home run’. Only another 40 k’s to go!
As each cyclist arrived a huge cheer went up. The temperature was still high, but storm clouds were building, along with a head wind, right in the direction of the ride.
When the tandem arrived the welcome cheer died when everyone realised that the Marc had severe cramps in his quads. Getting off the bike was tricky, but eventually he managed, and sank to the ground in pain. He stayed where he landed, and drank, drank, drank. Never has he had so many offers of a massage, and may never again, but it was hard to know what would work. Ultimately what he needed was time to re-hydrate. (He had taken enough in electrolytes, but the heat (and profuse sweating) meant he hadn't taken on enough water for them to work. They were still unable to continue when the main group departed between 2 and 2.30, but he had his eye on the clock, and he wasn’t going to easily give up his goal of finishing the 100 miles while there were still hours of daylight to spare. He gave himself another hour, and sweet-talked Lloyd, driving their support car, into waiting as well.
Meantime others had also suffered a bit from the heat to varying degrees, and the support crew stepped up to the plate, producing ice packs for headaches and dizziness, and whizzed around filling up riders’ bike bottles for them while they weren’t looking!
The storm had continued to build and as the riders hit Nana Glen the sky opened up. Everyone was soaked in seconds and the temperature plummeted. A stop in Coramba saw shirts changed and socks wrung out. A mobile phone went and the news came through that the tandem was back on the road. One of the food vehicles stayed to give them a break in Coramba, however by then they went through at speed, just waving. Now they were moving again they weren't game to stop.
The final section saw that last slog up to Red Hill and then a fantastic sight. Coffs Harbour and a sparkling sea – the jetty finish wasn’t far away. A group of regular Coffs BUG riders awaited this pack of cycle-maniacs at the jetty with watermelon and strawberries. One-by-one the cyclists arrived, elated by their achievement. Eleven riders arrived then there was a wait. Would the tandem make it? The tandem support vehicle came into sight and hearts momentarily fell. But wait – there was no bike on the roof. They were still on the road, intent on making it to the finish (and because Marc had brought the wrong speedo (duh!) they even rang John to check whether they had to do any extra loops to chalk up the ‘official 160.994 km’ - no way did they want to pull up 1 km short!)
So all 13 riders made it to the finish line! Average speeds averaged between 22 kph and 27 kph, with riding times of between 6 – 7.3 hours.
Hugs and photos followed, and certificates were handed out to both riders and support crew to commemorate the event. The support crew received a great ovation, with all riders agreeing that this was one ride that relied on the generosity and backing of family, friends and fellow BUG riders.
A huge thanks to BUG regulars Jim, Jan & Henry, Lloyd, and new BUG members Cheryl and Debbie, who drove up to Brooms Head and/or camped and drove support vehicles for no other reason than to be a part of it all. (And to those who assembled at the Finish to cheer the riders in. )Thank you, too, to the ‘other halves’ – Irene, Judyanne, and Erica, who, while they might have been there because of their madcap spouses, threw themselves enthusiastically into the task of helping all the riders. Lastly the parents also appreciated the efforts of their various ‘offspring’ – Maddy, Cait, Ali, Brooke, and Zoe – who while they appeared to have a good time together (particularly when we’re talking Glenreagh and scones and blueberry pancakes, and leaning out the window taking photos) were also sent off on various errands to accommodate their crazy parents.
The only shame about the damp end to the ride after all that heat was that the group dispersed quickly as most were wet and the temperature had now plummeted to 19 degrees.
So a very successful inaugural 100 mile ride was completed. Plans are already underway for the 2008 event. Rumour has it that some of the support crew are considering whether, by then, they might actually be riding the trail and having others doing the support. Incredibly, the riders – still on an endorphin high, perhaps - are already talking about doing it again next year.
Looks like we’ve created a monster!
Cheryl Dooley/Tracey Schmidt[Photos are currently displayed
here - will link a few into the above report shortly! Think there are a few more to come from other sources, so keep checking back.)
Labels: 100 miles, BUG rides
