First we attacked Northbank rd,, which was a little sloppy in places due to cattle crossing. The Bellinger Valley looks great considering winter hasn’t totally escaped us yet.  A stop at the Swiss Patisserie in Bellingen was a mistake as it encouraged everyone to partake of items that won’t be mentioned, only to say it made riding up Hospital Hill all that much harder, enjoyable stop never the less.

Herb Simpson was not detrimentally affected by the unmentionables, in fact it must have given him a sugar hit as he attacked all the hills on Southarm Rd like a madman, passed everyone and was looking for more. Didn’t affect the rest of us like that, further investigation necessary here. The section being upgraded by the council on Southarm wasn’t designed with cyclists in mind and we were all in low, low and puffing to make the top of the hill, just another challenge, of course Herb didn’t notice it was there. Strange that on fairly rough roads and gravely roads we don’t get punctures and yet on the highway it is not unusual for at least 3 people to get a puncture in a 40km ride which is the same distance as this ride. On reaching Urunga it  was apparent that much rain was going to fall and we all made it home before the buckets emptied.

Ron Day and Brian Bailey are still into the weekday rides Ron doing his 50km or so and Brian now  attacking the hills on the old highway, great work. A few people away so numbers are down, but still a good group with plenty of pace.

Coffs Coast Cycle Challenge on the 19^th September let me know if you would like to participate, also the ride to work day on the 13^th of next month.

Next Sunday the 12^th September is a great ride to South West Rocks, meet at the Macksville pool at 8.30 am  ( ride or drive there )

Usual rides on Wednesday and Friday 8am at Urunga BP. More information 66527464

First stage of the ride was from Urunga to Hungry Head where the compulsory stop took place and we enjoyed the magnificent view from the headland. Nobody took up the challenge to ride down to the Surf Club and up the little hill. After discussions we headed for Osprey Drive and out towards the third headland and then a short trip out to the highway where George and Jim left us for their return trip. The return to Urunga was headed by Kerry Drake who with her new bike rode exceedingly well and looked to be enjoying herself, we all pretend it doesn’t hurt and we are enjoying it.

On arriving at Urunga we once again lost some riders Bob Cooper and Kerry dropped off, the rest rode on to North Beach. It would seem some were waiting for their breakfast to settle before taking off, which they did on the way to North Beach and sat on 35 to 40km/hr.  After another enjoyable stop at the surf club  we headed back and Steve Drake and George Hudson broke off to head north to Toormina and Coffs. Then there were two, Alan Brighton and Brendan Braid ( still hasn’t washed his car ) returned to Urunga, we had people going in all directions.

Magpie season and the one is active at the horse stud on Yellow Rock Road and also at Cook drive on the way into Coffs. What’s the solution, if any ? Some are very vicious, I have scars to prove it.

Please note next weeks ride has been changed from Sunday 5^th to Saturday 4^th due to Toast Urunga and Fathers Day. Still 8.30 am at the BP and the ride is along Northbank Rd , return Southarm with coffee at Bellingen.

Rides Wednesday and Friday from BP Urunga at 8am about a 40km ride at your own pace. More information 66527464.

Unfortunately, the day was marred by an unfortunate incident when a passing motorist threw a half full can out the window of a car at one of the riders. This is a criminal act and is highly dangerous as not only could the can kill, but the cyclist can wobble with the shock and get hit by a car from behind. The shock is so great it is near impossible to get a registration number, they are well gone by the time a rider recovers. What kind of mind these people have is unimaginable.

Dorrigo was magnificent and as always I have difficulty describing its beauty and the ride to Mt Moombil showed it off at its best. The day was perfect with no haze and we could see well out to sea

( Murray said Norfolk Island)  over the top of Urunga , and south to at least Kempsey, who knows where. Only 24km from Dorrigo with a lot of bitumen, yes it is steep but everyone made it with a lot of huffing and puffing. Pickets Hill looks like a little lump from the top of  Moombil which is 1050m, a climb from Megan of 350m. What was terrific was the beaut morning tea supplied by Marie, home cooked biscuits and cake, worth all the hills. Brendan Braid said he would not have made it back without the food and a sugar hit. Brendan rode his road bike which was not only a challenge in itself going up, it was just as challenging coming down. Few young riders last any distance but on Sunday Brendan Cole showed us all how it was done, I don’t think he raised a sweat or was out of breath after the big climb. Of course the old campaigner Murray Suckling did it like it was just the usual Sunday ride around the block and for the second time in the week.

Sally Curtis is in training for the Queensland Big Bike Ride in a couple of weeks and did the longer coast ride, Bettyann Austin as usual kept a good pace along the highway, with Dave and Jim keeping them honest. George Smith, Herb Simpson, Alan Brighton and Bob Cooper rode the shorter route. What can be said for Brian Bailey, nothing can stop him that’s why he is fitter than most people many years younger.

Next Sunday 29^th August is an Easy Day Ride starting with breakfast at 8am at the Boardwalk Café and a ride to Hungry Head, for some this will be extended south. This is a special ride for new riders, hope you can join us. More info phone 66527464.

Don’t forget the rides on Wednesday and Friday 8am from the Urunga BP

George Smith made a very uncomplimentary statement about the surface of the road to Bowraville and we agree with him. We all knew that few people could last without coffee before the scheduled stop at Macksville and we did only last to Bowraville. Pat Nichols joined us at Nambucca Heads and rode to near Bowraville with us, great to have her company. Sally Curtis, Bettyane Austin, Deb O’Reilly and Brendan Braid could smell the coffee and were soon out in front. Moroccan Coffee was well accepted as were all the home cooked goodies a great stopover.

Wilson rd back to Macksville was a good surface, in some places better than the Pacific Highway, which isn’t hard as the road Nambucca to Urunga is very rough going for cyclists. It was also good to get a few downhills for a change. A very pleasant stop on the river bank at Macksville was enjoyable and extended much longer than our usual catch-up stop. Great road to ride Wirrimbi rd, got us off the narrow shouldered highway and the Sunday traffic, but we unfortunately had to rejoin the highway at Nambucca. Sally Curtis departed here and then Debbie at Valla Beach leaving just a few of us to finish the ride back to Urunga with a most enjoyable headwind. Was a great ride with some testing hills, getting the muscles ready for next Sundays ride in Dorrigo to Mt Moonbill.

Numbers have been down on weekday rides with several people enjoying overseas trips and it seems more will be out exploring other places in the weeks to come.

Next ride is on Sunday August 22^nd Drive to Rainforest Centre Dorrigo. Meet at Urunga at 8.30 am, Dorrigo 9.15am and ride to Mt Moonbil and back. More info 66572139 or 66527464.

The ride leader set out to confuse everyone once again by changing the ride and taking people places they didn’t want to go. Starting at the inevitable BP we set off at a snails pace with ride leader George out the front. It has been found necessary to do this in an effort to build up frustration so that when it gets too much, many riders take off like rockets and disappears into the distance. All a planned strategy as the confusion is necessary so that they don’t know where they are going and have to wait for him. At Archville Station Road we turned off and rode into Butlers rd where the ride leader pointed out several items of interest like trees, cattle, old houses and a section of unwanted gravel road. He did his best to lose several riders at this turn-off but failed miserably. Turning into Gleniffer Rd we headed towards the Big Golf club where we weren’t having coffee. Over the overpass on Sawtell rd and a right turn at Toormina roundabout. Unbeknown to everyone this was an impulsive decision by G and he took us to the Velodrome. Once again the strategy worked and the riders rode round and round until they were dizzy. This prepared them for the next stage of the confusion. A ride down the path from the Velodrome and across a muddy paddock to a bog hole and drain. Bettyanne Austin wanted to ride across but from knowledge of a previous experience we convinced not to. The skill of all riders was amazing as everyone stepped across several stones in the bog carrying their bikes and balancing on one foot. These tasks are set on purpose in the hope that something will happen thus giving the writer something to write about. Once again the strategy failed.

At nearly every push of the pedal someone mentioned that we hadn’t stopped for coffee yet, this was ignored by the ride leader as he does all requests or criticisms. Coffee was at Sawtell Surf Club where it was good to meet up with Ron Pike who has not ridden with us for some time. The ride leader did have more activities lined up on the ride back to Urunga but decided not to push his luck.

Next ride is on Sunday 15^th August meet at BP North Urunga at 8.30 am and is from Urunga to

Nambucca and to Bowraville, the loop via Wilson Rd back to Macksville, Nambucca, Urunga.  More info

66527464.

Don’t forget our Wednesday and Friday Rides from BP North Urunga at new time of 8.00 am

Seemed a start of 8.30 am from Urunga was a little late but we at least missed out on the cooler air. An uneventful run along the highway through to Bunning roundabout was the first stage of the ride. Although the test of the new bikes saw Jim  and Bettyanne take off Dave, Sally and Debbie were in hot pursuit. Brian Bailey and Herb Simpson took a shortcut to Gloria Jeans. A planned method of attacking this infamous roundabout collapsed in a heap, but we did all get to Stadium Drive without incidence and made it to the University. From there through to the racecourse and then the scenic route around Beacon Hill and onto Jordan Esplanade. A democratic vote ( I think ) changed the venue for morning tea from Moonee to the Coffs Surf Club. The view is certainly better there than the view we would have had at Moonee which looked towards the Pacific Highway and the B Doubles.

There was a slow start after coffee due to cake etc. at the Surf Club, but ride leader George had this in hand and with three steep little hills in Manning Ave. and Richmond Dr the excesses were soon used up. In fact some were observed walking up the last hill. A run down to Diggers Beach and along Charlesworth Bay rd took us back onto the highway and we headed towards Moonee our final destination.

Unquestionably the heroine of the day was Pat Nichols who had never ridden more than 20 kilometres, actually road 90 km, no mean feat, glad it was her and not me. She will sleep okay tonight if the pain allows her to do so.

On reaching Moonee we did a tour of the creek before heading back onto the highway towards Coffs. A decision was made not to attack the hill over Macauleys and we stayed on the highway and took the easier option to the Plaza and connected up with Hogbin Drive cycleway back through to the University roundabout.

Onto the highway again and once again the adrenalin created a speedy run back to Urunga.

These types of rides are a little nerve racking for a ride leader as we are constantly involved with heavy traffic and the safe option of cycleways and back roads is always appealing. The last thing anybody wants is for there to be any sort of incidence.

As changes to this weeks ride made it similar to next weeks ride the ride will change although it will be all bitumen and a similar distance. Still start at 8.30am at Urunga BP and will be to Sawtell via Lyons Rd, coffee at BIG onto Middle Boambee area, old highway back to Urunga.

Rides Wednesday and Friday 8.30 am from BP Urunga.

But for the main group, the DUBBUG Aesthetes. a brief pedal along the old highway led to the Valery turnoff where we left the traffic behind and headed off into the rolling farmlands of the Bellinger Valley, surely one of the most picturesque areas of the north coast. Most of the ride was on quiet bitumen roads while the dirt roads encountered were in surprisingly good condition as evidenced by Steve Drake and John McCormack having no trouble doing the ride on road bikes. John, and a couple of others, also had to overcome a severe bout of despondency in coming to terms with the last minute golden point loss by the mighty Dragons on Friday night.

I’m happy to report that the ride was dog free although George Hudson wasn’t present so perhaps the dogs took the day off.

The route took us past the Raleigh Raceway and up through national park and state forests before breaking out into the Valery farmlands and spectacular close-up mountain views. Two plank bridges were encountered, an increasingly rare occurrence in Bellingen, but both were negotiated without mishap. A stop was made at a local point of historical interest – a mighty pine tree and associated small memorial plaque for one Vincent Passlow, a local lad from Valery who was just 19 years old when he sailed to France and was duly slaughtered in the carnage of the First World War. The tree was planted by Mr Passlow’s sister , Miss E. Passlow. It is sobering to consider how this youngster, like so many others, travelled across the world from the peaceful beauty of Valery to die so far from home. The current landholder informed us local folklore has it that the area we were riding through was actually called Pine Creek at the time Mr Passlow left home and that he wrote to his family shortly before his death from a place called Valery in France/Belgium. The story goes that the 40 odd families who lived in the area at the time decided, upon hearing of Mr Passlow’s death, to rename the area Valery in memory of Vincent Passlow.

Leaving Mr Passlow behind we rode on through forests, fields and the odd hill with the temperature rising ever so slightly to provide ideal riding conditions. Sally Curtis, Jim Wadling and Dave Hunt made good time in the lead showing that mountain bikes and hills are no more of a challenge to them than anything they normally encounter on the highway. Alan Brighton, Bob Cooper and Brendon Braid cruised along showing little evidence of exertion and likewise making short work of the hills. And we are indeed fortunate to have a rider of the calibre of John McCormack take it steady and ride back with those of us who prefer a more leisurely pace. Herb Simpson fulfilled his regular role as tail end charlie, an invaluable contribution he has provided for so long.

Herb, normally aboard his vintage road bike the ‘Yellow Peril’, appears to have temporarily abandoned his quest to find the terminal velocity of a 30 year old road bike on a steep gravel downhill section, and introduced a new aspect to country road rides. Herb now thinks it a lark to ride a mountain bike with the rear tyre only partly inflated, perhaps to provide him with a better workout or maybe its just some weird engineering thing.

It was noted that development of Hyde Creek Motorway, the H1, continues apace with yet more hotmix being laid. This road is fast becoming a cycling favourite.

In breaking news a ride report is to hand from the highway riders. The Carbonistas rode from Urunga to Lyons Road on the old highway then turned around and rode along the new highway back to Urunga where they all hopped off and admired each others frames.

Meanwhile, back at the Aesthetes’ rural idyll, morning coffee was enjoyed at The Bellingen Butter factory where several partners joined the riders to take in the ambience. After a leisurely cuppa and scrumptious snacks the riders returned to Urunga along North Bank road. The North Bank hills grow increasingly inconsequential the more we ride them and the light traffic on this road compared to Wobbly Way makes this easily the preferred route when returning to Urunga. The fact that your correspondent lives half way along this road and thus only has to ride up half the hills is simply an added bonus. Sally Curtis deputised for your humble scribe for the remainder of the ride and flogged the wearying group the rest of the way to Urunga. They were last seen attacking the next hill with Sally in the lead, the pack pedalling manfully in a desperate attempt to keep up.

Thus ended another splendid Sunday ride with great company and wonderful scenery. Next week there will be an 80 kilometre ride leaving BP North Urunga at 8.30 am and proceeding along the new highway to Lyons Road, Sawtell, Link Road, Park Beach Plaza, Manning Avenue, Charlesworth Bay and on to Moonee for coffee and return to Urunga. The ride is graded medium and will be lead by George Hudson, fresh from a spell down south (info 66527464). Until then remember, as the bishop said to the actress, “life’s better on a bike”.

Allan Fahey

Ride Leader

Highlights of the ride were the new “Road bikes” sported by Jim Wadling and Bettyanne Austen.  Some delays were experienced whilst Bettyanne learnt how her new gears worked and Jim battled with clipping in and out of his pedals.  Regrettably those of us who are perhaps a little less fit were soon left in their wake as they “skilled up”.

Thanks to the steady pace set by David Hunt on the outward leg the “gentlemen riders” (a term coined on Friday’s ride to describe those of us who find it hard to keep up. )were able to stay within sight of the leaders.

The obligatory coffee stop at Macksville was made all the more enjoyable by our meeting up with the mountain bike riders from the Nambucca Bicycle Users Group.

The trip home was a little more frenetic with Bettyanne and Jim mastering their new steeds and trying them out for pace.  David Hunt forsook his previous steady style and kept pace with them.  I don’t know what they are taking but I want some!

As the kilometres passed we lost riders in reverse order to that on the outward leg and there were just three (Gentlemen riders) left when we arrived back at the start point.  Those three had the last laugh as they were treated to coffee and homemade cake by Bev Brighton.  Slow and steady wins!

Altogether it was yet another great day on the bikes.  Great weather, great company, and terrain not too hard but hilly enough to challenge the muscles.

The ride timetable was a little optimistic but, for once the estimated distance (66km) was spot on.

Next Sunday offers two ride choices! Mountain bikers (Contact: Alan Fahey 0266552504) get to travel from Urunga to Valery Rd, Timboon Rd into Little Hyde’s Creek Rd then to Bellingen and back to Urunga via North-bank. Roadies (Contact George Smith 0265682115) get to ride from Urunga to Mailman’s track, Old Highway to Lyons Rd out to North Beach and back to Urunga.

The usual training rides (30-35 km) are from Urunga BP each Wednesday and Friday. Start at 8:30 a.m.

The ride took us along the old highway and much to Herb Simpsons disgust we rode up Perry’s Hill on the old highway. His influenza didn’t help him any and we hope this cleared his lungs a little, even if it didn’t clear his blocked head. Of course we received the usual story from Ron Day, “ don’t know whether I will make it or not “ . Of course Ron made it easily into Coffs and back at good speed, as we all knew he would. On reaching Lyons road our leader took us up some more hills, which he never mentioned in the ride instructions. We turned off Lyons Rd into De Costello dr. then Linden Ave ( which is all down hill ) to Sawtell rd and back onto the highway and finally to the 9 Pin Bowling complex. A lesson to be learned, as Bettyanne found out, people are not too concerned about bikes when backing out of their driveway. Seems we have to make our own arrangements even if it means a head on collision with an oncoming vehicle.

Well, we found we can not only ride bikes but also play 9 Pin Bowling, as we proved on Sunday. Alan Brighton unbeknown to everyone had been secretly training all last week and took out 2 of the three matches we played. Bettyanne Austin was in the lead several times and blew it as did Dave Hunt with a series blows which only knocked over one pin at a time. At one stage most of us had 12 0r 15 points and Bettyanne had minus 6. Perhaps 9 pins is not her forte. Brian Bailey who we must thank for organising it all and who we all thought was a 9 pin bowling guru came last. He brushed this off by saying he was bowling with his left arm, not his usual right arm, yes Brian we know. Betty Hudson acted as umpire and was specially employed to stop people cheating, she had an easy job or else everyone was frightened of her.

Next Sundays ride is from BP Urunga starting at 8.30 am and along Wobbly Way to Bellingen and out to Gleniffer then back to Bellingen for the vital coffee and Northbank rd back to Urunga.

Don’t forget our Wednesday and Friday Rides from BP North Urunga at 8.30 am