Thursday BUG riders on a roll!

For quite some time now Jim Ward has been leading a BUG Thursday morning cruise to Sawtell headland and back from Howard Street. The group is growing and lately has had some extra fun.
Firstly Tracey, Webmaster "extraordinaire" recruited the group for a photo shoot for the BUG Website upgrade. The first time they tried it everyone involved had an idea of what would work and so several angles were tried and at the end of it all, none of them worked! However there was enough in one of them for Tracey, or rather the “boss”- daughter Caitlin - (as the graphic designer, the real web designer) to decide on what they needed.

So the next Thursday the ride group headed to Sawtell headland as usual, and then back to Howard Street and then up over Beacon Hill to the jetty for another photo shoot. Mild mannered Tracey was concerned about keeping the group in order and where she really needed them. Enter the groups barking Sergeant Major Dooley who commanded the troops as requested and this time a near perfect shot was obtained – yahoo! I might add that the weather was superb for both shots! No one was very concerned about the detour to the jetty as all enjoyed the great coffee and goodies at Wild Harvest, (formerly The Tide & Pilot).

A pictorial record of "The Photo Shoot" rides can be seen on our BUG Flickr photo album site >> here.

The following week the group wondered what would be the ride highlight, given there was no photo shoot to attend, but they shouldn’t have been concerned, ride leader Jim had things in hand. As he led the group from the airport road onto the cycle way, heading for the headland, he took a wide curve and ended up on the grass beside the cycle way. “No problem” He said to himself. (Anyone who knows Jim can hear him saying that…) and he just moved the steering on this mountain bike slightly to rise up onto the cycle kerb. Sadly the bike had other plans and just keeled sideways and much to every ones’ surprise Jim rolled gracefully off the bike and over and over again and was then back up on his feet and back on the bike before anyone could really take it all in. No damage done to his body, well none that he was admitting to at that point, the ride continued.

Everyone is very thrilled that Carolyn Peddie has joined the group on her new trike. Rob’s been riding with us for a while now and we all wondered how we could lure Carolyn into the fun and get her up to speed quickly. Come the 15th May, Carolyn had been out on a couple of Thursday rides and seemed to be improving with every turn. On this Thursday though, with a strong headwind Carolyn ran out of puff. She struggled and pushed but somehow nothing was working. She and Rob fell further and further behind and eventually Carolyn sent Rob ahead to let the group know she was turning back – she simply wasn’t up to it. After Rob left, she stopped for a while and then on resuming she realised that for the entire ride she had had her handbrake firmly on! Ah Carolyn the traps that are there for beginners! When the main group found her in Howard Street we all laughed our socks of, but where was Rob? We think we were on the airport road when Rob went down the cycleway and completely missed us – he found us eventually and all enjoyed great coffee and laughs.

So there you have it. If you have time for a Thursday morning ride we recommend it. Starting at 7.30am at Howard Street, heading for Sawtell headland and then back over to Wild Harvest most times. The pace is a bit slower, so this is very suited to beginners and we are usually all done by 10am.

The Thursday group adoring Carolyn and her new trike.

Cheryl

A PS. from Tracey:

Thursday 4th June will be another Thursday morning ride hijack! We are entertaining some Bike North visitors in Coffs for three days of riding (Wednesday, Thursday AND Friday), and we are working on showing them as much of the cycling in and around Coffs as possible. (Am using the term 'we' in the royal 'we' sense a bit here... but I hope you'll be able to roll with me on the ride proposals !!)

The plan is to start a bit later (well, doesn't it take till nearly 7.45 to get going from Howard St anyway?!)... and take the "scenic" route to Sawtell via the International Stadium, the highway bike path, and Lyons Rd, ending up as usual on Sawtell Headland - the plan being to arrive at the Sawtell Surf Club by the time it opens at, we think, 9am. (There is scope to meet up at Sawtell for those who don't want to go the longer route.) It seemed kind of appropriate to take the Sydneyites on their "Winter Sun Tour" for coffee overlooking one of our wonderful surf beaches.

On the way back we'll take a detour in to the velodrome for a look/see, and then wander back to the Tide and Pilot Wild Harvest (I had no idea the name had changed!) for an early lunch, before the craziest among us head off to "Do Bruxner"- returning to Coffs via Moonee Beach and the highway... the return trip sounds a bit hairy, but the shoulder is pretty wide all the way from Moonee to Coffs.

(Friday is the Bello loop ride, from Repton, via South Arm road, returning via North Arm Rd.)

BUGs in WA

I wanted to know what was happening in WA regarding Bicycle User Groups so I googled “BUGs in WA”. Here in NSW BUGs enjoy good relationships with their communities. I don’t know what those cyclists in WA have been up to but it seems like BUGs are being blamed for everything over there. There are people working to destroy BUGS in that state. BUGs are being treated as pests! “No more BUGs” is the slogan you hear. Another is “Keep the BUGs away”. If a BUG is bothering you in WA there is a whole list of people in the phone book ready to come round and deal with them!

BUGs have apparently been particularly annoying in summertime. People are arming themselves with repellent sprays to ward them off. Capsicum spray I suppose. People are finding BUGs in their backyard even. Some BUGs have been found sucking sap from trees would you believe! One person reported BUGs in their hamster’s food! (Cycling does make you hungry!). Brochures have headlines like,”Look out for this BUG!” with close up photos. There is hope though because now there are Super BUGs which they will probably just have to live with.
Most horrifying is people casually discussing on website forums how to get squashed BUGs off their car (or out of the radiator) with the merits of kerosene, vinegar and industrial strength chemicals being argued. What will soften them up and make them easier to remove they ask! Without damaging the paint! What about really baked on ones? And so on. One person said that for those really well baked on BUGs, the best way is to rehydrate them for a few hours and the BUGs should eventually get nice and squidgy and you can wipe them off.

People are being encouraged to report BUGs to the council via a hotline. Apparently some BUGs have been attacking trees. Some BUGs have been biting people. Another BUG has been threatening bee colonies, BedBUG has been ruining peoples sleep, FireBUG been destroying the forests, StinkBUG is on the nose, GreenvegetableBUG is causing major problems, LitterBUG is being cracked down on. There’s CrusaderBUG (probably knocks on your door). Then there is NastyBUG. And KillerBUG. They apparently creep around the house and threaten pets and children. BUGs are being blamed for interfering with computers. One place claims to have the world’s most terrifying BUGs!

Some are considered friendly BUGs that people don’t mind. Apparently they have been helping to control the bad BUGs. GoodBUG is one of these. BookBUG has a lot of support. TravelBUG also has a good image. There is the popular LoveBUG. And BeneficialBUG is OK. “HelpfulBUGs boost wine yield” (or was that consumption) said one headline. (No mention of coffee!)
Some people are arguing that we have evolved to have a tolerance to BUGs. In fact it is good to be exposed to them and that BUGs are important. “Bring back the BUGs,” some experts say. There is even a goodBUGs.org.au website. Another site urges people to be gentle with BUGs if you find them in the water. Some uni people are trying to culture BUGs. But some people are trying to get BUGs to eat other BUGs would you believe?

Well, are the BUGs the bunny for that state’s problems?

No wonder BNSW says that.... Riding in WA was certainly a terrific experience. However if you do decide to go make sure you’re prepared!

Rusty Wheeler
CHBUG Research Officer

President’s Mid-Year Report: August 2007

So far this year the CH BUG has done these things:-

• Established good communications within the BUG and with non BUG cyclists.
• Taken over running the BUG website.
• Established a BUG blog as an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences.
• Advertised our rides in the weekly Cycling Central Column in the Coffs Coast Advocate.
• Participated in and promoted the Saturday morning Community Rides.
• Had a large contingent of riders participate in the 2007 NSW Bigride.
• Participated in the Camp Quality fundraising ride to Grafton.
• Attracted new riders to our BUG rides and joined up new members.
• Started a new Thursday ride specifically designed to encourage beginning riders but with flexibility for all who turn up.
• Initiated a 100 mile ride to provide a challenge for BUG members and to extend the range of rides that the BUG offers.
• Begun to explore better connections with other adjoining BUG groups.
• Invited the NEBUG group to join us for a weekend visit. (This ended up being postponed).
• Begun to explore setting up of displays and information tables at places such as markets.
• Participated in monthly council bike committee meetings.
• Participated in bike breakfasts.
• Encouraged local school to run Big rides during Bike Week.
• Planned to participate in the Bikefest day at the start of Bike Week.
• Will have a presence at the Active Transport Day at the CHEC on 4th September 2007.

We are coming up to the one year anniversary of the Saturday morning Community Rides. These rides were established as an opportunity for the various cycling groups in Coffs Harbour, and cyclists not attached to any group, to come together for a joint ride. These rides have been very successful with between 40-80 cyclists participating each week. The BUG has participated in these rides and promoted them through its various forms of communication. Twelve members of the BUG group are regular Saturday morning riders and they are spread across the four ability groupings. As well as attracting new people to cycling these rides have assisted in raising awareness of the BUG with an increase in cyclists joining us for rides and continuing as regulars and joining as members. Ian Hogbin has done a good job coordinating these rides and in the process has regularly promoted upcoming BUG rides and also encouraged cyclists to become members of Bicycle NSW. His commitment to cycling in Coffs Harbour is commendable and as a councillor he is well placed to assist the BUG in achieving its advocacy aims.

The main thing for the BUG to do is to always keep in mind the big picture and the long term view. Fundamental in this is the maintenance of goodwill within the BUG and towards the BUG and the maintenance of goodwill between all in the cycling community and within the wider community. The BUG needs to always remain essentially a friendly, welcoming group of enthusiastic and adventurous cyclists who love to ride bikes for social, recreational and healthy lifestyle reasons.

These seem to be the three key words for us to have in mind:-

Communication, Participation, Goodwill

John Gray CH BUG President August 2007

100 miler

Or a 'Ride Plan Work in Progress'

An idea is gestating (or is it festering) in the mind of the president for a CH BUG "century" ride -maybe in spring.

That is a 100 MILES Ride! Have you ever ridden 100 miles? That is 160km!

So this idea is being floated for comment.

I suggest you keep your fitness level up through winter if you want to do this one!

Here's a suggested route for a CH BUG's 100 mile / 160 km ride:

Drive to Brooms Head near Maclean on Saturday and have a beach day and camp overnight. Early Sunday hit the road on our bikes to Maclean. 23km?
Then to Grafton via the Lawrence ferry. 45km?
Back to Coffs via Glenreagh. 86km?
Might then need to finish at the jetty or ride around in circles to click past 160 km.
I'll get more precise distances first.

This route has very few hills and not much traffic. We could have some vehicles providing support. Brooms Head is a great place to camp. We could leave the drivers/non-riders to pack up on Sunday morning. Do it in spring or autumn.

What do you think? Please comment before the idea gets out of hand. I mean I might suggest we should go for 200km -starting at Casino!

John

Combined BUG rides (Inter BUG rides?)

I have been thinking over how the BUGs might combine their rides more. You can of course go and ride with other BUGs whenever you like. Already this year I have joined rides with DUBBUG, NAMBUG and NEBUG and as a result gone places I wouldn’t have known about otherwise and enjoyed meeting new people.

Actually the Coffs BUG 2007 calendar has 2 rides in NamBUG “territory” (plus the Back to Bowra weekend) and 3 rides in DUBBUG “territory”. In 2006 we had a weekend in NEBUG “territory”. We have also had occasions when the neighbouring BUG riders crossed our path or we had similar rides scheduled on the same day.

This hasn’t created any problems but if we worked together and combined some of our rides there would be mutually beneficial social and practical benefits. We would get to do rides we might not know about hosted by other BUGs and vice versa. They would show us their favourite rides and we would show them ours. Other BUGs also do some things differently and we get a greater variety of experiences or get ideas or inspiration for how we might do things.

So here’s a proposal to have joint rides with neighbouring BUGS in 2008. These rides would appear on our Coffs BUG calendar as well as on the other BUGs calendars:-

• NamBUG would lead 3 rides in Nambucca area
• DUBBUG would lead 3 rides in Bellingen shire
• CoffsBUG would lead 3 rides in Coffs area*

Coffs BUG would also include these on their calendar:-

• KRC would lead 1 ride in Kempsey area
• CoffsBUG would have 1 weekend away in Armidale with NEBUG
• NEBUG weekend visiting Coffs BUG* (return visit)

*One Coffs led ride would be a breakfast ride. This would also be the weekend that NEBUG visited.

This would be a total of 11 rides out of our 28** for the year (8 hosted by other BUGS; 3 by us). Only two rides would involve significant travel time Kempsey 1 ½ hours Armidale 2 ½ hours. One of the NamBUG rides could be the Back to Bowra w/e if it is held in 2008.

**Our usual ride calendar has 28 rides each year consisting of:-
12 breakfast rides per year –1st Sunday of month
16 Sunday rides (12 on the 3rd Sunday each month + 4 rides on the 5th Sunday of the month)

So in monthly plan form the combined rides 2008 calendar could look like this:-


So what do you think of this proposal? Please comment (to do so click on the word “comments”). I am hoping to very soon arrange a meeting of the 3 local BUG groups to discuss working together more. So far we have only generally agreed that it is a good idea. This proposal hasn’t been put to them yet.

John Gray