Riders Blog

Pain, suffering, hills, big hills, bigger hills and more pain and suffering. So goes the riders summary of the day.

What an amazing ride though! The riders showed sheer guts and determination, lots of humour ( until the 50km mark when, with another 100km to go  the hills knocked the humour out of the most devoted rider. ) Wiggles ( Michael Chester) threw a chain at the  bottom of  a big hill, had to stop to get it back on, and then managed to spin his way up to the front of the pack – even in the cars we could hear the riders yelling “ WI GGLES, WI GGLES , WI GGLES “ to cheer him on. Sensational team effort!

Some of our strongest riders put in an extraordinary effort assisting the riders experiencing real pain. Hollywood ( Mark Drabble) commenting  that he saw pain barriers crossed like never before. Superhuman efforts by Sonny ( Sonny Rahim) leading at the front  on many  an occasion, Cipo  (Mike Mathews) Wolfman ( Marco Hoyer) and  Hollywood assisting whenever needed,  Cadel ( Evan Collis) talked Wiggles up the final soul breaking hills, getting him there  with mind as well as body intact, and Dorothy ( Marco De Campi) discovered the power of mind over matter. Well done  to everyone for a truly extraordinary days riding.  Every dollar donated ( $278,000 to date ) was paid for in triplicate today.

Lighter moments were the lovely lunch and  generous donation by the Nannup Lions Club, Kangaroos and Emus escorting us at times, beautiful karris trees , and the encouragement of a rest day ahead in beautiful Bridgetown. A highlight of the day was the warm welcome and amazing generosity in time and energy of the Natural therapy and  wellness center in Bridgetown who , for the third year running, had 5  massage therapists waiting to support and pamper the riders, All volunteering their time for the red sky  ride, today and  tomorrow.

Jersey winners from yesterday were:

Scottish Masonic Foundation Mountain High – Wilson ( Jo Wilson)

AHG Knight Sky – Vicar ( James Mathews)

SCT Superman  Jersey -  Biscuit ( Mathew Miller)

Webb  &  Brown- Neaves – The Kid ( Sonya Debenham)

Sodexho High Five  -Tinkerbell ( Peter Pang)

The Princess Award – Sonny

A beautiful day in every way today – blue skies and a tail wind, stunning scenery from  Dunsborough to Augusta including the sensational Boranup  forrest  with it’s Karri trees that seem to reach the sky and hand painted cows everywhere as a part of the Margaret river region cow parade.

Everyone appeared to have a great nights sleep, no doubt enhanced by the sensational organic food, amazing coffee and generously  donated Halva’s from the unbeatable coffee shop Samudra, and the perfec tly prepared meals  and a few quiet drinks ( well roudy, actually as the slide show was on ) at Caves House.

The riders had a fantastic day and were all really strong in the saddle. Lots of undulating hills, a couple of kicks occasionally and the fastest ride most have ever done along the  notoriously dead caves road.

Morning tea, the first “official” morning tea stop in the three years of the red sky ride  (as in an actual location not a park)  was at the Margaret River Chocolate factory.  Inticing enough – with it’s beautiful gardens, VERY cute hand painted cow ( see photos) which riders were fighting over and of course, chocolate to die for. The surprise came when as the riders queued for coffee, they were told all the coffee, cakes and  slices were free as a donation from the Margaret River Chocolate  Factory.  An incredibly generous gesture, one suspects that the owner Martin Black, may have had NO IDEA how much coffee and cake hungry riders can consume. The affable and welcoming  manager, Karen, found herself  engulfed by smelly lycra clad bodies, explaining painted cows and  cheerfully posing for photos . The riders will tell you it was the extensive  training, strong muscles and  super focus that got them up the hills so well today, the real answer can be found in the  consumed fuel from the Chocolate Factory !

An added bonus was the arrival of a very large D’Orsogna truck. Given that D’Orsogna were the  first ever team sponsor of the red sky ride , and  have maintained their team sponsor status ever since, there was a rush by the D’Orsogna team members to be photographed next to “ their” truck,  with an initially  bemused but subsequently happily smiling truck driver.

Boranup Forrest is a truly unique part of the world. The stunning beauty was a  challenge for the riders in terms of maintaining their concentration on the wheel a few inches in front of them and trying to appreciate the amazing sights around them.  Throw in some high speed descents and  it was a credit to the focus and reflexes of the bunch that they had such a good ride.

Lunch ( fantastic sandwiches compliments of the Dunsborough CWA) , and the  end of the ride occurred at the  river mouth in Augusta with a yoga stretching class lead by Miche, wading in the cool waters by most of the riders and a postcard shot of the entire team at the end of the jetty.

Please blog the riders, they LOVE receiving messages from home, cheeky as many of them are!

The highly prized jerseys yesterday were awarded as follows :

Scottish Masonic Foundation Mountain High jersey – the  Big fella ( Shane White)

AHG Knight Sky Jersey – Hollywood ( Mark Drabble)

Southern Coast Transit Superman Jersey – Maverick ( Kim Gilbert)

Webb & Brown- Neaves  Yellow Jersey -  Miche Butler

Sodexho High Five Jersey – Dorothy ( Marco De Campi)

The Princess award – Flex ( Steve Marchesi )

The fastest leg of a red sky ride ever! Riders awoke to strong winds after a mixed nights sleep, many sleeping like babes and oblivious to the winds and gumnuts falling on the tin roof, others hearing every gumnut and the snores of their companions. Early indications were that the winds may be a head wind, and given that the tall trees behind the wagon wheel motel were almost bending in half, that was not a good omen.  Iceman ( Alan White) gave a detailed brief in regard to crossing wheels (NOT) and close focus due to risk of being blown sideways in a cross wind.

So with some trepidation and many pleased to be back on the saddle to stretch out the legs after the hard ride from the day before, they set off. Less than 5km out of Harvey the lead support vehicles were pulled over by the Harvey Police in a random alcohol testing. With two cars ahead and the riders and Taragos not yet in sight,  there was time to request a photo shoot from the officer in charge, and with his positive response, time to redirect  two Taragos, 20 unsuspecting cyclists and the  hertz truck into the side lane for some “ testing”.  The four officers were friendly and joined in the fun of the occasion  as the OIC breathalysed none other than our Vicar (Rev James  Mathews ) whose parishioners can rest easy in the fact that he blew 0.0! A nice way to settle the riders, have a laugh and feel reassured that drivers on the road approaching us from behind had been well and truly screened by the boys ( and girls) in blue.

From there the wind gods smiled on the riders, and  the ride was unadventurous  other than some roadworks  and a puncture – well,  Tinkerbell ( Peter Pang’s ) tyre exploding from under him with a noise like a gunshot, and looking like a piece of  the bike flew off.  It was later realised by Flex ( Steve Marchesi) who was immediately  behind, that the black item about 6” long was in fact air as it was escaping so fast and under such pressure. The tyre needless to say, was destroyed.

Arriving 30 mins early, with an average speed of 33kph , everyone had big smiles, lots of energy and were celebrating a job very well done.  Supported ably by SWMBO ( Clare) playing the Rocky theme song as they rode into town and the miked dup riders punching the air, it was a fitting end to a great effort.  Tomorrow sees the  ride wind through the  stunning Boranup Forest and the first of the many, many  hills.

The jersey winners from yesterday proudly wore the hotly contested  award jerseys and were:

Scottish Freemason Mountain High Jersey  - Clare Bear ( Clare Kuzich)

AHG Knight Sky jersey – Iceman ( Al White)

Southern Coast Transit Superman jersey – Wolfman ( Mark Boyer)

Webb Brown Neaves  Yellow Jersey – Cipo ( Mike Mathews)  and

Sodexho High Five Jersey – K2 ( Kim Hosking)

The toughen up princess award for the first time went to the yellow jersey winner, meaning tht today he rode  wearing  the yellow jersey and  carrying a teddy bear in a tutu on the front of his  handlebars! Cipo – for wearing the wrong socks and  using the wrong water bottles .

The third Red Sky Ride got off to a sensational start with a large crowd of family and  friends giving up a  Sunday morning sleep - in to farewell the  riders.  Everyone arrived with bikes, gear and energy at top notch, and Shane  ( the big fella) continuing to display with justified pride his multicoloured bruises and  “ third bum cheek” which was a point of interest for many of the unsuspecting family and friends!

The Deputy Lord Mayor of Perth , Mr John Tognolini gave a warm and friendly speech indicating a genuine interest in , and knowledge of ,the ride and a maybe possible participant  next year ! one of last years riders, DJ, or Dr David Joske from Solariscare reminded the riders that the  Red Sky Ride is not dissimilar to the  journey so many of his patients undertake, and that it is important to “ not think about the miles, think about the smiles” .

 A not so friendly Perth motorist decided to ignore the flashing sign of road works ahead on Wellington street, and instead decided to make a high speed inside  pass in full view of Channel Ten cameras and some wellwishers , ending up between the lead vehicle  and the  front riders. Luckily the remainder of drivers  over the 168km were friendly and receptive to the messages displayed so clearly on the Hertz support vehicles.

There were 2 flat tyres, one before the group reached Stock Road and one after going through rough road works in Mandurah.  Both belonged to Wiggles ( Michael Chester)  so no doubt he owes Adam the mechanic a cold beer. Adam earnt his keep today,  as always, tweaking bikes , changing tyres and assisting with the loading and unloading of the truck. Always with a smile.

The three man cheer squad of Mike Jane and  Deb turned up every few kilometers, on overpasses, popping out from behind trees and waving red sky ride shirts through sun roofs. The ambience of the country was somewhat altered by the cheers from them, the rumble of the riders passing and talking , and more than a few cows, of all varieties, took a close interest. 

The first half of the ride was fast, the riders were really strong and there  were lots of smiles. Sonny indicated that his first half was totally pain free, getting passively inebriated from inhaling Wolf mans exhaled air. Wolfman  ( Mark Hoyer) deserved a bravery medal for riding so strongly after celebrating  equally  strongly yesterday at a work party.  The second half saw the heat increase, the wind turn into a slight head wind / cross wind and the roads become more and more dead as they moved into the country. Dead roads suck the energy from riders   legs, it’s like riding in quick sand so  -  as they were anticipating a 150km day, and  made it to the 150km point only to realise  it was the  turnoff to Harvey with another 18 km to go, the smiles were fading.

Clare Bear had hamstring cramps, horrible any time, anywhere, a few riders were looking rather pink from both heat and exertion and the big fellas bruises and swelling were increasing. Maverick ( Kim Gilbert)  was riding with his broken left wrist off  the bike by last few km’s and it was a very relieved group that arrived in Harvey to an amazing welcome from the   Harvey Lions Club. Robert St Jude and many Lions members had the burgers cooked, the onions frying, fresh salad, ice water and big smiles, that restored the energy and smiles of the riders. Followed by watermelon and a fantastic home cooked carrot cake , all was right with the world. Our host at Wagon Wheel Motel has decorated the tables with red serviettes and was ready and welcoming as we arrived.   Riders are swimming, enjoying a massage from the  untirable Anne Young, whose day starts when everyone elses ends, and relaxing before the evening dinner, the long awaited photo slide show where they get to see all the things they didn’t see, have already forgotten or would rather forget, and of course the awarding of the first days jerseys. The highlight  of the riders dinner is always  the feedback and  blogs to them via this site, so please, tell them what you REALLY think!

Cycling has its ups and downs and taking a fall just goes with the sport.

Bigfella I knew you would be dirty on me!!! I haven’t been able to sleep properly since…….. 
 
When the tube went “bang”, I saw the despair on your face, and the tears spring to the eyes. At first I thought the tears was due to the fact you had lost a fair piece of ya mow-haired undies off the ’ol bot bot Bigfella, not to mention the other tube, tyre and rim which had just been destroyed.
 
When I pulled the tube out of your ”bum” bag, I could see you had been taking real care of it. It was well powdered, very neatly folded, and placed very neatly in the plastic bag. looked like a family heirloom it did:)  
 
You impressed my little mate Goldie to no-end. He’s rang me twice since last Saturday’s ride. Reckons he’s been watching heaps of the winter olympics, and not once has he seen the free-for-all skiers perform a complete 360 degree, forward summersault, followed by a neat half pike as good as the one you tried to show him on Saturday. He reckons if the the front tyre hadnt blown while you were about 2 meters above the bike, finishing off neatly with the half pike move, you would have easily landed back on the bike bigfella. He reckons it was the most tidiest he’s seen. He was that impressed with the move he wants to ride with us again :)
 
Bigfella promise I will buy you another tube………..
 
K2