MSGong Ride

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

Any advice for a newbie from any of you old hands out there?
Riding tips, training etc...

Any advice for a newbie from any of you old hands out there?
Riding tips, training etc...Ride

Ride lots.

Yes, sounds stupidly obvious, but that's it basically.

Depending on where you live, you could try hooking up with the local BUG and going out on rides with them.

Also, pay particular attention to your bike setup - make sure you iron out any niggling fit issues which might cause pain or discomfort when riding longer distances.

Ride lots.

Yes, sounds stupidly obvious, but that's it basically.

Depending on where you live, you could try hooking up with the local BUG and going out on rides with them.

Also, pay particular attention to your bike setup - make sure you iron out any niggling fit issues which might cause pain or discomfort when riding longer distances.
Thanks for that have been riding, doing 50-60ks around Centennial averaging about 26kph each week on my MtB, hopefully faster on the new Flat Bar Road Bike. As for bike fit I've had the bike professionally fitted to me, cost a bomb but there was a 100% increase in comfort an efficiency.

Next few weeks going to do more hills and one week we'll try the hills in the National Park.

Thing is its hard to do long road rides around Sydney because of the damn buses and idiot motorists, somwhere like Centennial at least gives you some protection.

Ride
Thanks Scotty.

I supose what I was wondering from people who've done it before is
where they go
how far and
how often.

See, if you look at the MSGong site and the suggested training sessions there, the longest pre ride session is 45k's.

Riding around Sydney you stop every so often because of lights, traffic, idiot motorists and buses, on the day presumably the stops will be limited.

The MS Gong Ride is going to finish in Wollongong for the first time in three years.

The course will go over the Sea Cliff Bridge.

Thing is its hard to do long road rides around Sydney because of the damn buses and idiot motorists, somwhere like Centennial at least gives you some protection.

You could always pack the bike in the car and take a quick drive to Calga/Peats Ridge on the Central Coast - Peats Ridge Rd is a really nice place for a ride on the weekends - fairly good surface, nice and wide, and very little traffic. There are also a few uphill sections. The loop from Calga to Peats Ridge and back is 25km, or you ride Peats Ridge Rd all the way from Calga to the Somersby exit and back, not sure what the distance is, but it would give you a fair workout.

The only thing to watch out for is that the Central Coast Cycling Club run their road races there on the weekends - usually Saturday afternoon, but sometimes on Sundays.

You could always pack the bike in the car and take a quick drive to Calga/Peats Ridge on the Central Coast - Peats Ridge Rd is a really nice place for a ride on the weekends - fairly good surface, nice and wide, and very little traffic. There are also a few uphill sections. The loop from Calga to Peats Ridge and back is 25km, or you ride Peats Ridge Rd all the way from Calga to the Somersby exit and back, not sure what the distance is, but it would give you a fair workout.

The only thing to watch out for is that the Central Coast Cycling Club run their road races there on the weekends - usually Saturday afternoon, but sometimes on Sundays.
thanks matagi great idea!

You need to be able to ride at least 45km into a block headwind (if you can do 45 you can do 90, so goes the theory)

The 1998 Gong ride was the worst in history with an unbelievable 40kmh headwind from before Waterfall to Wollongong. Very tough going for the unfit and underprepared (like me!).

So find a nice headwind somewhere and work out how to make forward progress without destroying your knees/rest of self.

You need to be able to ride at least 45km into a block headwind (if you can do 45 you can do 90, so goes the theory)

The 1998 Gong ride was the worst in history with an unbelievable 40kmh headwind from before Waterfall to Wollongong. Very tough going for the unfit and underprepared (like me!).

So find a nice headwind somewhere and work out how to make forward progress without destroying your knees/rest of self.
ugly

You are already fit enough to complete the ride. You have all day to complete, so even if the wind is up, you will get there. Anyway if its windy, just ride behind someone big.

matagi's suggestion for a ride sounds excellent.

You are already fit enough to complete the ride. You have all day to complete, so even if the wind is up, you will get there. Anyway if its windy, just ride behind someone big.

matagi's suggestion for a ride sounds excellent.Thanx Mikesbytes, for the vote of confidence. But if bigness is desirable in the wind, I'll have a veritable peloton behind me sheltering in the lee...:mad:

Thanx Mikesbytes, for the vote of confidence. But if bigness is desirable in the wind, I'll have a veritable peloton behind me sheltering in the lee...:mad:
I'll follow you... :D

Thanx Mikesbytes, for the vote of confidence. But if bigness is desirable in the wind, I'll have a veritable peloton behind me sheltering in the lee...
I'll follow you... :D

+1

Can you post what you will be wearing on the day, just so we don't miss you? ;)

I'm following GeoffS, 11ring and Sideshowbob (if I can keep up)

I'm following GeoffS, 11ring and Sideshowbob (if I can keep up)

Well, if you decide you want to take it easy, you can join hubby and me down the back. :p

+1

Can you post what you will be wearing on the day, just so we don't miss you? ;)Matagi. I'll be wearing a malliot jaune from the sounds of things :rolleyes:, and I'll be checking the BOM site for windstrength and direction before I go.

Thanks for that have been riding, doing 50-60ks around Centennial averaging about 26kph each week on my MtB, hopefully faster on the new Flat Bar Road Bike. As for bike fit I've had the bike professionally fitted to me, cost a bomb but there was a 100% increase in comfort an efficiency.

Next few weeks going to do more hills and one week we'll try the hills in the National Park.

Thing is its hard to do long road rides around Sydney because of the damn buses and idiot motorists, somwhere like Centennial at least gives you some protection.If you are living around Kingsford, do you wanna practice together, coz you mention something about Centennial Park, I used to ride there a lot.

btw, I setup a Team over the GongRide site called, Team Newbie, if you want, just join our team! we are doing some fund raising as well! Everyone are more than welcome to join my team! if you don't wanna play solo on the big day. :p so far I have 3 members in my team ... just raised around $701 up till today. :D

If you are living around Kingsford, do you wanna practice together, coz you mention something about Centennial Park, I used to ride there a lot.

btw, I setup a Team over the GongRide site called, Team Newbie, if you want, just join our team! we are doing some fund raising as well! Everyone are more than welcome to join my team! if you don't wanna play solo on the big dayLeave home at 6.30am on Sunday and ride up to Waterfall, following the gong route. There will be tons of riders on the road at that time, you are bound to find someone riding a similar pace to ride with.

Have a look at the profile map that has been posted on this thread;

http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=444&highlight=

Matagi, did hubby get that custom built frame?

Matagi, did hubby get that custom built frame?

No, he is still in the planning stages, although it is definitely going to be steel and he would like some really fancy lugwork (obviously it is going to be lugged as well). :D

At the moment, he is having fun tinkering with the Miyata and I have also successfully distracted him by getting him to build me up a bike from a very nice steel frame we picked up on ebay for $30.