Austcycle, Australia’s national provider of accredited cycle training will be on hand to help improve your skills.

You will learn about conducting a basic bicycle check, learning the correct riding positions, braking, balancing and cornering, changing gears, riding on hills, stopping and turning.

After the demonstration, a short ride around Picton Botanic Gardens, followed by a sausage sizzle lunch.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Picton

Picton Botanic Gardens

Where: Picton Botanic gardens

When: Saturday 5th November 2011

Start: 9:am

To register please contact Beverly Garrick, Sydney South West area Health Service on 4683 6025
or Leanne Ledwidge, Wollondilly Shire Council on 4677 1188

I say, fancy a cycle? A slow and elegant ride through the city streets in dapper and ladylike apparel followed by the Tweed Games.

The wind was howling a gale here in Bargo. I think  those brave souls who participated deserve a medal!

This is Alan Willock’s account of the day:

We all arrived at the Liverpool start before 7.30am, Rosie, Baz, Gary, Gina and myself.

The wind was a bit chilly however it wasn’t too strong.

We had an enjoyable ride with a couple of exceptions: We got lost a couple of times as we reached intersections that did not
have signs telling which way to go. Some cyclists went in one direction and we went in another, we  eventually found each other and made it to the finish (although I  nearly didn’t make it after hitting a speed hump at high speed), Gina
almost hit a pole as well.

At the finish we were able to enjoy our lunch after joining long  queues.  Whilst waiting in the queue for coffee I was amazed to watch the skill of some riders playing hockey on uni cycles.

We decided to ride back to the start for the return journey and thats  when the wind came back with a vengeance with some areas being  sheltered and some completely open to the wind resulting in some  nervous riding.  We again took a wrong turn on the way back however  this worked out OK as we missed out on a very steep climb (the one  which on the way down I nearly launched myself into orbit on the speed  humps).

Rosie had a flat about half way. We all got back to the car park when Gina said “wheres Rosie”,
Whoops!

Well Baz went back to look for her and in the mean time Rosie shows up  and we had to wait for Baz to return.

After that we went to Maccas  for coffee ending a hard but enjoyable  ride.  My trip meter made it just under 104km travelled which is the longest distance that many of us have ridden (except for Gary).

Would we do it again?  well I think so although I would have preferred  it without that horrible wind.

Mulga Bill

Alf  Cantrell
Festival Coordinator writes:

I am writing to ensure that all our bicycle enthusiast friends are informed that the Annual Yeoval Country Energy Mulga Bill Bike Ride, sponsored by Darryl Grant Cycles of Orange, is now well into the planning stage for this year. Although many of you are unable to make the distance, we do hope that lots of your members will make a long weekend of it and travel to Yeoval for this exciting weekend of Festival.

This year we have worked very hard to ensure that a very good safety record is continued, and with the help of the RTA and both Cabonne and Wellington Councils,

The Ride has been split into two sections. Both sections are to be operated on asphalt roads and under closed Road Conditions. Both rides are on very quiet and picturesque routes, with the more professional, faster riders being on separate route to the mum and dad family groups, who are slower and tend to use up the whole road as they enjoy the experience

Both Rides will start and end in Yeoval with registration early, ready for a 10.30 am start. Light Breakfasts will be available and the start and finish will be in the Banjo Paterson Bush Park on the Wellington end of town. Here we have plenty of parking and the main festival is across the road at the Showground on the Sunday. The same cost as in previous years – $5 adults, $3 children, $10 Family. At the Start it will be more professionals to the right and mums dads and families to the left. The more professional will ride to Cumnock and back a return distance of some 52 kms. Mums Dads and Family Groups will ride over the new bridge on Buckinbah Creek and the on the RTA Bicycle pathway to the Bournewood Road, which will be closed to through traffic for the duration of the event. Every 3 kms they will pass through a town from the Paterson Mulga Bill Poem – Conroy’s Gap, Castlereagh, Eaglehawk, Walgett and the final turn around point will be Dead Mans Creek – a return distance of 30 kms, keeping in mind that the participants can turn around anywhere along the road, riding only the distance they feel comfortable with.

The Lucky rider of the day will be drawn and the beautiful new Bike donated by Darryl Grant Cycles of Orange will be their proud new possession. The Draw will be at the Festival at 2.30pm sharp and the winner will have to be present to collect. All riders receive a wristband and this not only covers them for insurance but also allows them free entry to the Festival.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Mulga Bill Festival as we endeavor to increase our number past the 630 riders we had last year. The website has all details:- www.mulgabillfestival.com.au

After 40 years of family, work and recreational travel all over the archipelago I’ve concluded that Sulawesi is the best place for cycling in Indonesia.
I want to share, through cycling, my experience, love and knowledge of Indonesia.

Trip includes:
·      Makassar (capital of the historic spice trade)
·      Malino Highlands (tea plantations, waterfalls, rustic mountain villages)
·      Tana Beru (home of Indonesia’s wooden sail boat building industry)
·      Tanjung Bira (white sands and crystal clear waters)
·      Bantaeng (spectacular Bisappu waterfall)
·      Jeneponto (Horse, corn and salt making regency)

Trip features:
Leader                                Fluent Indonesian speaking Australian
Timing                                1-9 August 2009
Cycle days                          6
Distance                             500 km
Terrain                               4 mountain, 2 coastal days, 1 day beach relax
Accommodation (nights)   Hotel (6) beach cottage (2) guesthouse (1)
Yoga (led)                           Every day
Swimming                          8/9 days
Cost                                    US$ 1099 (all in after touch down in Makassar)
Options                               6 day option half distance daily rides
Details                                http://www.cycleindonesia.com.au/
Phone                                +61 2 9983 0205

Hope to see you along.
Colin Freestone

• Bike Week – including the Great Brisbane Bike Ride and the BDO Kendalls Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge (14th – 22nd March)
  • A 9 day festival of cycling including Thr Great Brisbane Bike ride and Ride to Work Day.
  • Try Cyclocrosse or road-racing, see cycling movies, try speed-dating on 2 wheels. Activities for all sorts of cyclists
• Cycle Queensland (5th – 13th September)
  • Pedal Away from the Everyday. Darling Downs Loop
• The Wilson HTM Brisbane to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge (11th October)
  • Queensland’s Biggest Bike Ride
  • 100km ride starts at South Brisbane progressively from 5.30am to 6.45am
  • 60km ride starts at Albert River Park, Beenleigh at 8am
  • Ride finishes at Southport

For more info on all events go to: www.bq.org.au

I DO hope that the wonderfully named Deva O’Wheel is coming to NSW to participate in Gear Up Girl!