In this final newsletter for August, I note the passing of Dario Pegoretti. In other news, the significant achievements of Brian and Jeff are noted, Paul and Anthony share some technical insights, the evolution of gravel bikes is worth checking out, there is an epic ride report/photo collage, more pictures from Thomas and probably a few things I forgot to mention as well. Check out the upcoming rides, and start thinking about your 2019 Oppy adventure now.
My thanks to everyone who contributed content, enjoy.
Moggil Ferry, Ride for no shows – Thomas Matyja
A big round of applause for Jeff Franklin who has broken the Australian record for Audax km ridden in a season. Formerly 18,075 km and with the season not yet done, any guesses on what the new record might be?
Brian Hornby has set a personal milestone, passing 50 000 Audax km, also an outstanding achievement.
Congratulations to you both.
The Queensland Treasurer is going on leave next year and we need a caretaker while he is away. Anyone interested please contact Brian Hornby (0418 711 417) or Kym Raffelt (0431 471 839).
Keen to lend a hand with the newsletter or just find out whats involved? Drop me a line here audaxqld@gmail.com and lets talk.
So you want to head off the bitumen, but not on a mountain bike. Maybe hit the rail trail, but not on a road bike. What sort of bike could do that?
DATE: 12-14 APRIL 2019
VENUE: ANNA MEARES VELODROME, BRISBANE
Brisbane is set to play host to the 2018/19 Six Day Series Final following on from last year’s event on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
The best riders from across the series will descend on the Anna Meares Velodrome to battle it out for the series crown. The final usually includes plenty of drama and expect the crowd to play a major part in the outcome as Aussie riders, including past Six Day London Champions, experience a home crowd atmosphere for the very first time.
The six day event in only three days is part of the 2019 Brisbane Cycling Festival which includes the creatively captioned Tour de Brisbane. If you sign up now you could get one of 1000 spots at the front of the pack, whatever than means.
The event is in support of the Ride for a Metre Matters in partnership with the Amy Gillett Foundation.
From the far north, Gayle reports:
Chris rode his second Audax on Sunday – a 200km ride that circled (read climbed) Queensland’s two highest mountains – Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Ker.
Starting in Innisfail, then up the Gillies Range and down the Palmerston Range, seven riders did the loop, and appeared to have an awesome day out. Lauren was the roving photographer for the 200km crew. Most of the rest of us (60 or more) decided to stick to the flat lands of the coast for a 100km easy jaunt, that became 117km with a misplaced bridge closure.
Smiles all round for Audax in FNQ.
This epic photo collage of the day’s events from Chris Upite and Lauren Erikson.
Ride for no shows – Thomas Matyja
Seems traveling cross country on a unicycle is a thing. I have no idea why this is, but obviously it has appeal for some. Utterly audacious and slightly mad.
Ever wondered at what point your Di2 battery is going to conk out? Maybe had a mad moment and forgot what gear you were in? Needed to analyse derailleur movements to calculate drivetrain wear and ensure your maintenance program is adequate?
Well wonder no more, the Shimano D-Fly has your back. Mark Harris recently went down that road and shares his insights.
Paul Witzerman offers guidance on tires suitable for gravel roads based on his local experience. Paul notes that the gravel roads here are a different proposition to those overseas and harsher on tires as a result. His observations may surprise you…
Legendary framebuilder Dario Pegoretti has died at the age of 62.
By now this is old news, but worthy of mention and a closer look at his life and times. For those of us who enjoy and appreciate hand made steel bicycles, the custom creations of Dario Pegoretti are aspirational and now entirely out of reach. He has built machines for the who’s who of professional cycling, all discretely hidden beneath the team branding. Those with the money and patience could eventually acquire one of these machines built to order, but unlike your purchase at the local bike shop, the maestro would decide how it would be.
There is an interesting Australian connection as well. The Cadnezia oversized lugset employed in the “Day Is Done” frameset was developed in a collaboration between Dario and Darrell McCulloch of Llewellyn Bikes in Australia – but that’s a story for another time.
The finishes are renowned and Dario himself, although painted as a larger than life character, turns out to be just a man, passionate about his craft. Vale Dario Pegoretti, it’s been quite a ride.
Read more.
Pegoretti Dream Bike.
Peleton magazine.
Click on the ride name for online registration.
Airlie Beach Return (2018)Beautiful ride to Airlie Beach with stops in Calen and Bloomsbury. Wind at your back and open road in front. Lunch at Airlie Beach and then a long slow ride back into the wind.
Start LocationKay Court, North Mackay ContactPeter Robertson Ph: 0497270621 Email: audaxmackay@gmail.com Ride Date: 01-Sep-2018 5:00 am |
Gregor’s Creek Circuit (2018)Scenic undulating ride skirting Brisbane Valley lakes Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationFernvale Futures Centre Carpark ContactRaoul Dover Ph: 0448259949 Email: raldover@bigpond.com Ride Date: 01-Sep-2018 7:00 am |
6 Pack Day 2 (2018)This is the big one !! Day 2 of the 6 Pack starts with some serious sight-seeing on a tour through the beaches and rainforest of the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest. 200km riders start with a quick loop out to Mossman Gorge, before heading north to Daintree Village. They then join the 100km route for a trip across the Daintree River by ferry, before tackling the leg-stretching climb across Mt Alexandra and down through the Daintree to Cape Tribulation. Spot some cassowaries and Ulysses butterflies during a day’s riding through the rainforest. 100km riders can enjoy a little trip across the river, before returning to Daintree Village and Mossman. Or take the 50/50 option with a break in Daintree Village. Enjoy a few hours on a river cruise (at a discounted price for Audax riders), or sample the delights of this special area of rainforest before returning south. Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationMossman ContactGayle Sticher Ph: 0428440411 Email: gayle.sticher@bigpond.com Ride Date: 02-Sep-2018 6:30 am |
6 Pack Day 3 (2018)Day 3 and it’s time to head up the hills, as the 6 Pack makes its way from the coast to the northern end of the Tablelands. Head up the Rex Range, pausing for views across the Far North coastline. The 100km takes a stopover at Mt Molloy pub, before having a small taste of the Quaid Road with its views across the Quaid Dam to the west. Continue to Mareeba, with a little detour to the Golden Drop Winery with its famous Mango wines. From Mt Molloy, the 200km ride heads northwest along the Mulligan Highway through Mt Carbine. The turnaround point is at the Desailly Range lookout. It’s a stiff little climb, but the amazing views are well worth the effort before starting the return journey to Mt Molloy and on to Mareeba. Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationMossman ContactGayle Sticher Ph: 0428440411 Email: gayle.sticher@bigpond.com Ride Date: 03-Sep-2018 6:30 am |
6 Pack Day 4 (2018)6 Pack Day 4 – Start the day with something different. After a few kilometres of leg warming, test yourself with some laps of the professional racing circuit of the Mako Track near Mareeba, before continuing on your way. Take your laps as fast or slow as you please, and enjoy the chicanes, hot-dog turns and hot-mix surface of this closed circuit raceway. The 100km ride then heads up to the greener scenery of the southern Atherton Tablelands, past the new windfarm at Mt Emerald and through the Kairi farming country, before arriving in Atherton – our base for the next few days. Take the 50/50 option, and have a break at Mt Uncle Rum distillery – if you dare. The 200km takes a loop out to the farming country of Dimbulah, then heads north to Lake Tinaroo and Yungaburra before arriving in Atherton. Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationAtherton ContactGayle Sticher Ph: 0428440411 Email: gayle.sticher@bigpond.com Ride Date: 04-Sep-2018 12:00 am |
River Loop September (2018)A social ride followed by a coffee somewhere interesting on Montague Rd Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationToowong ContactTara Horner Ph: 0403972579 Email: frouste@gmail.com Ride Date: 04-Sep-2018 5:30 am |
6 Pack Day 5 (2018)Day 5, and the 6 Pack riders head out for a day of sightseeing on the 200km or the 100km Tour of the Tablelands. Visit Tolga, Kairi, Yungaburra, Peeramon and Malanda, with plenty of stops for coffee and photos. Check in at theNerada Tea Plantation, where you have a great chance of spotting a tree kangaroo. 50/50 riders can break their journey at the tea plantation visitors centre, with plenty of time to visit the factory and sample the local tea and scones before returning to Atherton. It’s a leg tester for the 200km, with a visit to Watsonville and Herberton, then a stop-over at Nerada Tea Plantation for some quick tree kangaroo sighting. Enjoy some little side-trips around (or up-and-down) the backroads of Topaz Range for the best views of Mt Bartle Frere and Mt Bellenden Ker – Queensland’s two highest mountains. Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationAtherton ContactGayle Sticher Ph: 0428440411 Email: gayle.sticher@bigpond.com Ride Date: 05-Sep-2018 6:30 am |
6 Pack Day 6 (2018)It’s the final day of the 6 Pack, and the rides take different routes for the trip back to Cairns. The 200km riders travel south for a scenic trip via Malanda, Lake Eacham, and the Cathederal Fig tree before heading down the Gillies Range. Ride up the Goldsborough Valley before heading out onto the coast. Cruise north through quiet back roads between cane paddocks, hopefully aided by the southeasterly breeze. The 100km ride heads down the Gillies Highway, and takes the back roads into Cairns. Both rides finish at the Holiday Inn on the Esplanade. Enjoy a meal on arrival, then lounge around on the deck and share a drink and stories of your adventure as other 6 Pack riders arrive. Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationAtherton ContactGayle Sticher Ph: 0428440411 Email: gayle.sticher@bigpond.com Ride Date: 06-Sep-2018 6:30 am |
The Half Carton (2018)You may have done the 6 Pack, but this one is the Half Carton. This ride is a cracker. Leaving from Atherton, it takes in the best of the Tablelands High Country, before heading through Ravenshoe and Millaa Millaa. Ride down the Palmerston Range and into the amazing Cassowary Coast region. Visit Mena Creek, then take a quick spin around beautiful Mission Beach before heading to Tully. You can then choose to take a stop at this 267km point, or head out for a 90km legspin up and down the Tully Gorge Road before returning to Tully for some shut-eye. Day 2 starts with a a few backroads to El Arish and Silkwood, before a little leg tester into Etty Bay. Enjoy brunch on the beach, then head home to Cairns with (hopefully) tailwinds all the way. Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationAtherton, Far North Queensland ContactGayle Sticher Ph: 0428440411 Email: info@audax6pack.longrides.bike Ride Date: 07-Sep-2018 5:30 am |
Scenic Rim (2018)Begin with a scenic ride to Mt Alford, Carney’s Creek followed by a dirt climb over the range to Koreelah State Forest. A beautiful tour along White Swamp Road and another climb to Tooloom Lookout. Return via Urbenville and Woodenbong with a memorable dec Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationBoonah ContactKym Raffelt Ph: 0431471839 Email: kym.raffelt@gmail.com Ride Date: 08-Sep-2018 7:00 am |
Spring Castaway (2018)As good as a seaside holiday. Head North to Brighton, then feel the wind in your helmet as you meander down the Eastern coastline; taking in Wellington Point, Cleveland Point, Victoria Point, and a quick pass through the Gold Coast. Mostly flat.. The course includes bike paths, and roads, and an easy sprint home along Veloway 1. Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationAnzac Park, Toowong ContactTara Horner Ph: 0403972579 Email: frouste@gmail.com Ride Date: 15-Sep-2018 6:00 am |
Roller Coaster Ride (2018)Starting on the edge of Brisbane’s northern suburbs and heading west towards the hilly Brisbane Hinterland, this ride will offer you stunning views when climbing Mt.Mee and flowy rides through cattle property’s as well as breath taking downhills on serpen Please check the Audax Lighting Rules and the Reflective Garment Guidelines.
Start LocationKallangur, QLD ContactChristian Weiss Ph: 0431401507 Email: christianweiss27@gmail.com Ride Date: 22-Sep-2018 6:30 am |