100 milers do it again
The Coffs BUG 100 mile ride looks set to be an annual event after another successful Brooms Head to Coffs ride in August. Again the magic number was 13, with six veterans of the inaugural 2007 ride, and seven "newbies" successfully cycling an old fashioned 'century' of 100 miles.
Who knows why we people set ourselves such challenges. The inevitable aching legs, the totally numb bum. Why on earth would you want to ride 100 miles in a day? The answer probably varies from rider to rider, but I guess, as cyclists, we are all finding our own 'mountains' to climb. Most of us do like to recognise personal achievements. 20km in a day! Wow! Never thought I could do that! Then the next thing you know you've made 50km. Then, perhaps, whether by intention, or accident, 100km...
Well then, what about 100 in the old money? A natural progression to some!!
So then is it because we all like pain? Or if we train up enough, we think it is achievable with minimal to no pain? Or to make sure last year wasn't a fluke?
There are probably as many answers as there were participants!
Of all those who completed it, it will be interesting to see who comes back for more next year! Who will hold themselves to the decree 'I'm never doing that again'? Who will think "Been there, done that, ticked THAT box, don't need to prove it again' ?
Or will they all be seen wearing rose coloured glasses a few months down the track?
And! Who is inspired to have a go themselves in 2009?
So this year the weather was very, VERY kind. The August temperatures were much more civilised than the craziness dished up by Mother Nature in October last year (35 degrees and then a thunderstorm for those who missed it!) (And none of the August rain that postponed the ride in 2008.) There was a bit of a headwind, but certainly none of last year's riders were complaining! (Don't you just hate that?)
A support crew even bigger than last year rose to the occasion. They had every checkpoint running like clockwork, and pandered to every possible need, whether it be plying everyone with enough food and drink, or turning up just at the right time with the good pump during a roadside tyre changing episode. Magic! Talk about spoilt!
So, congratulations to Sinclair, Mandy, Michael, Bruce, Martin and Sue who completed their first Coffs BUG 100 miler. "Good one" Lucy, John, Ian, Sally, and, yep, Marc & me on the tandem, who came back and did it again. (Yeah, I'll give myself a pat on the back - why not!).
Brian gets a special category of his own; he's the kind of guy who rides from Coffs up to Brooms Head the day before (without getting off his bike at all), then takes it easy riding back with everyone else!
The support crew all deserve a big mention and thank yous: Deb, Cheryl, Jan, Henry and Lloyd were all back for more again this year. Jim again provided bike transport to the start, and was there at the finish to applaud (and wonder why!) Joan, Tineke, Wendy, Rob and Caroline, and 'other halves' Di, and Wally, also threw themselves into the task - giving up some of their own potential cycling time to support a few crazies! Our kids were dragged along again as well, and I would really like to acknowledge eldest daughter Cait, who did a fantastic job of looking after her Mum and Dad - as well as doing up the certificates for everyone at the finish.
The photos on our online Flickr photo album tell the story - from the glorious sunrise over the ocean at Brooms Head, many shots of the crazy ones on the road, and the applause, thank yous and certificates at the finish. I think there are still more to be added by other photographers... so keep checking back. (I'm also working on getting them into a more chronological order!)
For me, though, these two photos encapsulated the spirit of the day:
A spontaneous guard of honour to applaud last rider in, Sue!
With an equally spontaneous hug of admiration from Jan.
I only wished I'd had my camera handy to catch a photo of Sue's hubby, Wally, as he took this photo. His expression said it all: "You're mad, girl - but I'm so proud of you."
Thanks, John, for organising this again. And thanks to everyone who took part! 'Twas a grand day out!
Tracey S.
Who knows why we people set ourselves such challenges. The inevitable aching legs, the totally numb bum. Why on earth would you want to ride 100 miles in a day? The answer probably varies from rider to rider, but I guess, as cyclists, we are all finding our own 'mountains' to climb. Most of us do like to recognise personal achievements. 20km in a day! Wow! Never thought I could do that! Then the next thing you know you've made 50km. Then, perhaps, whether by intention, or accident, 100km...
Well then, what about 100 in the old money? A natural progression to some!!
So then is it because we all like pain? Or if we train up enough, we think it is achievable with minimal to no pain? Or to make sure last year wasn't a fluke?
There are probably as many answers as there were participants!
Of all those who completed it, it will be interesting to see who comes back for more next year! Who will hold themselves to the decree 'I'm never doing that again'? Who will think "Been there, done that, ticked THAT box, don't need to prove it again' ?
Or will they all be seen wearing rose coloured glasses a few months down the track?
And! Who is inspired to have a go themselves in 2009?
So this year the weather was very, VERY kind. The August temperatures were much more civilised than the craziness dished up by Mother Nature in October last year (35 degrees and then a thunderstorm for those who missed it!) (And none of the August rain that postponed the ride in 2008.) There was a bit of a headwind, but certainly none of last year's riders were complaining! (Don't you just hate that?)
A support crew even bigger than last year rose to the occasion. They had every checkpoint running like clockwork, and pandered to every possible need, whether it be plying everyone with enough food and drink, or turning up just at the right time with the good pump during a roadside tyre changing episode. Magic! Talk about spoilt!
So, congratulations to Sinclair, Mandy, Michael, Bruce, Martin and Sue who completed their first Coffs BUG 100 miler. "Good one" Lucy, John, Ian, Sally, and, yep, Marc & me on the tandem, who came back and did it again. (Yeah, I'll give myself a pat on the back - why not!).
Brian gets a special category of his own; he's the kind of guy who rides from Coffs up to Brooms Head the day before (without getting off his bike at all), then takes it easy riding back with everyone else!
The support crew all deserve a big mention and thank yous: Deb, Cheryl, Jan, Henry and Lloyd were all back for more again this year. Jim again provided bike transport to the start, and was there at the finish to applaud (and wonder why!) Joan, Tineke, Wendy, Rob and Caroline, and 'other halves' Di, and Wally, also threw themselves into the task - giving up some of their own potential cycling time to support a few crazies! Our kids were dragged along again as well, and I would really like to acknowledge eldest daughter Cait, who did a fantastic job of looking after her Mum and Dad - as well as doing up the certificates for everyone at the finish.
The photos on our online Flickr photo album tell the story - from the glorious sunrise over the ocean at Brooms Head, many shots of the crazy ones on the road, and the applause, thank yous and certificates at the finish. I think there are still more to be added by other photographers... so keep checking back. (I'm also working on getting them into a more chronological order!)
For me, though, these two photos encapsulated the spirit of the day:
A spontaneous guard of honour to applaud last rider in, Sue!
With an equally spontaneous hug of admiration from Jan.
I only wished I'd had my camera handy to catch a photo of Sue's hubby, Wally, as he took this photo. His expression said it all: "You're mad, girl - but I'm so proud of you."
Thanks, John, for organising this again. And thanks to everyone who took part! 'Twas a grand day out!
Tracey S.
Labels: 100 miles
posted by Coffs BUG member at
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