Futter Creek Camping and Lunch at Many Peaks Pub

On the weekend of the 16th & 17th of August a few of us plan to camp at Futter Creek in the Boyne Valley, if anyone else keen you are most welcome. On Saturday we'll be riding (leaving Futter Creek at 10am) to the Many Peaks Pub for lunch at 12, if any other groups want to make a ride of it feel free to join in. It's about 70k's from Calliope to Many Peaks and roughly 50ish from Futter Creek. Touch wood there is usually a tailwind on the way home but not always......as we discovered last year.

Gran Fondo 2014

Been a little quiet on the news front but we are still GO for the first Saturday in September. Still don't really have a good idea on numbers so if you are thinking of coming along I do need to know so I can forewarn the places we plan to stop. Thanks to those that have got back to me.
Things to consider, it will be bloody cold when we start at 4am (so be there well before that) and colder as we head towards the Range. The support vehicles will be sneaking up on us by the time we head up the Range so we can peel off the layers and give them to these guys. No need to carry a truckload of fluids as you can top up from the support vehicles along the way. Bring spares, at least 2 tubes and a spare tyre isn't a bad idea if you can store it. Once again the support vehicles will have spares but they won't always be with us.
Breakfast in Biloela is always great!
Pray the wind Gods are kind and don't give us a headwind from Biloela as we head north (although it does make the trip more Epic lol)
Dululu is just around the next corner.....
The beer is cold and the food is sensational at the Dululu Pub.
It will get harder from Dululu with around 160k's in your legs and the temperature peaking, throw in some little climbs and it will start getting hard for some, but not impossible.
Mt Morgan is a sight for sore eyes but the climb out of it will make the decent much more enjoyable :-)
The ride to the Highway seems to take forever.
The feeling crossing the floodplain entering Rocky sees the pain start to wash away and a smirk starting to replace the grimace.
The feeling reaching the end at the Information Center at the Tropic of Capricorn....... 'Priceless'.
The feeling of the lush grass between your toes when you take your shoes off is pretty special too ;-)

What do you need to do now? Tell me if you're coming!

It's that time of the year!!!!

Not much needs to be said other than prepare yourself! The big roundabout on the way to Gladstone has a particularly cranky critter. I love the first attack of the season, it's like 'what's that noise' and then it dawns on you.....

Boyne Valley Ride

In lieu of the Saturday Dam ride there is a ride departing from the Tannum Coffee Club at 6:30am which will head to the Boyne Valley via Calliope.  For those that want to ride from Calliope the group should be at the Calliope IGA car park about 7:20am.  From there they will head out towards Nagoorin and turn at about the 35km mark.  This will be a 70km ride for those wishing to leave from Calliope. 

Turkey Beach Ride

With a predicted cold morning tomorrow I can't see very many takers for the ride to Turkey Beach (I haven't heard of too many in any case). If you do go I wouldn't expect much company! It gets pretty cold on that road. I would go of course but I have other plans.....like ride when it's warm :-)

Icebergs and The Berg

If you got out for an early morning ride over the weekend, kudos to you.  Saturday was the coldest day ever recorded in the region.  Sunday wasn't far off it either.  The cold, together with the wind chill factor, made for some very unpleasant conditions.  Earlier in the week, while riding in Beecher, the Garmin recorded a minimum of -1.7. 

The Thursday Roll had a good turn out this week with about 10 riders enjoying a firm pace.  Not too firm for one young rider, but a little too firm for his dad who had to take an early shortcut back to the Surf Club.  At least he was honest about it and didn't claim a mechanical.

Someone else must have taken a early turn too, and ended up in Gladstone!!!  The disappointment is etched all over the faces below:

Last Saturday

Last Saturday's ride was a nice change of scenery for most with a very relaxed average of 29. The addition of Haddock saw Robin tackle the beast for the very first time, I think the memories will stay with her for some time lol. By the way Robin you only got to nearly halfway up it....yes there's more
:-)
Dylan was back for a few days and came along for a spin which was nice; would be better if he was a bit bigger and provided a wind break for those following ;-) Apart from the heavy fog, the weather while nippy provided perfect riding conditions. Great to see Daryl back on the bike after a stint of construction and Schalk is looking good for the Fondo. Graeme and Scotty did it easy.
Next change of scenery ride is Turkey Beach road Saturday week on the 19th.

Proposed Saturday Route

Hi all, sorry been very busy of late but here is a proposed route for tomorrows ride. In short it goes over everybody's favorite climb 'Haddock' :-) and then along Kirkwood before heading to Jim Whyte Way to keep away from traffic. Don't try to set any records over Haddock just grind away and get to the top. From there it goes out to Calliope before heading to Yarwun along Calliope River road to Yarwun. Turnaround at Yarwun and head back for a brew.The ride is mostly flat country apart from the obvious bump at the start for a total of around 87k's or so. Starting at 7am sharp from the Maccas at the Calliope Crossroads.
Remember this is only a proposed route, the people that turn up may choose to do an alternate ride.
Wet weather routine is up to you but if it's wet I wouldn't expect any company.