I hope everyone is having a safe and happy festive season. Whilst South East Queensland is enjoying cooler and somewhat wet weather please be safe riding wherever you trek in the state.
Newsworthy Bits
Brisbane bike paths – upgrades and proposals.
I had a bit of a rummage around the web to see what goodies were in the Brisbane City Council upgrade bag and found some information on in-flight and proposed upgrades that will see a benefit to the commuting cyclists and us as randonneurs (by removing route length or height of pinches!)
Northern Brisbane Bikeway
The northern side of Brisbane may seem to be a bit neglected for commuters but we have seen some significant works:
– Gateway bikeway – from Bracken Ridge through to Jim Soorley Bikeway. This allows a rider to cycle to Redcliffe from anywhere along the KBB without needing to ride in traffic.
– Bowen Hills to Chalk St Windsor. This upgrade is incomplete but will be segregated bikeway / pedestrian path. It is a bit messy at the moment so take care in this area.
– Proposed is a linkage from Bridge St / Chalk St intersection to the KBB via Wellington St Lutwyche – as a safe cycling route with reduced traffic and priority road markings. What I did find is an existing tunnel under Lutwyche Rd!
What is yet to be developed is a solution along Dickson St out through Eagle Junction and northwards via Jackson St to the Toombul section of the KBB. This section is ridden on the Every Which Way Audax.
Murphy / Ellison Rd intersection upgrade This upgrade is well underway and should be completed early in 2020. The upgrade removes the roundabout with traffic lights and includes bicycle lanes. I am keen on this finishing as it is on my commute to work.
Southern Veloway This has been under construction and the final stage (E) at Nathan has been delayed but looks good and will save cyclists time and effort when commuting from the south. Talking to a shop assistant working at Bapaume Rd the reception to the veloway has been mixed – locals are unhappy, perhaps because of the view and construction activity but he is looking forward to seeing an end to the roadworks and incidents – he estimates two cyclists a week are hit by cars outside where he works.
Western Freeway bikeway at Sumners Road is getting a bikeway tunnel incorporated into the design. We saw the early stages of construction on the recent Yeronga Medley and this will give Ride Organisers a bit of a headache as it will remove approximately 1.5km from an out and back route.
What I have yet to find is any planning information for the Dandenong Rd Roundabout at Mt Ommaney.
Second Jindalee Bridge – The state government has funded a short track feasibility and detailed design for additional capacity across the river. Here’s hoping for a wider pedestrian / cycle crossing.
Indooroopilly Riverwalk – Works were proposed to start this month at the Witton Barracks site. The new route will remove the horrible pinch on Radnor St / Riverview Terrace but there will be a bit of a climb at the end of the riverwalk.
New Audax bling!
You should have received information regarding the new Audax badges that are being introduced this season. The link to the information is https://audax.org.au/new-award-medallions-2020-2023/
The new medallions will be available in January or February 2020 so please be patient until they arrive. This gives you an excuse to make all the ride distances again to get another set of both medallions (one per ride only)
Ride Reports
Make Your Own ride report
The ride reports section of the website has had a couple of tweaks added (thanks Thomas):
- works with all the current Ride Reports (no lost ride reports)
- includes a Ride Date
- allows the user to view, add and edit Ride Reports from one screen
- works better on smartphones
How to create a ride report:
Go to the Audax website www.audax.org.au then select login from the menu bar at the top.
Once logged in, select media then My Ride Reports from the menu
On the right you will see a button “create a ride report” and click on it
Follow the directions in each box and tell your story.
If you want to insert photos – select the insert photo button above the main text window. Remember that all photos must be smaller than 1MB
Recent Ride Reports
Brett Fyfield has created another Youtube masterpiece for his Bedrock permanent 200km
Lloyd and Jimmy from FNQ put together a ride report from Rudolph does Road and Rudolph does Dirt. I am amazed at how the FNQ team manage 130+ riders on the day, not only with registrations but catering too! Read and watch the day’s event unfold http://www.longrides.bike/
Audaxmas Christmas Party (December 21st, 2019), 18 hole MG. 44 attended the SEQ Christmas function which was a cocktail event followed by 18 holes of mini golf. It was a pleasure to see a good turnout for this year’s party and to catch up with people we see rarely. We had guests from as far away as Toowoomba and Atherton. I have compiled all the photos into a photo album here
The mini golf winner – there can be only one….If you have your completed card can you send a photo of it to qld.communications@audax.org.au so I can announce the winner of the yet to be manufactured trophy.
Completed Rides
Smashing Mee (30th November 2019) 200Km BRM. This event saw one rider complete in a time of 9 hrs 40. This is one very tough ride.
Rudolph does Dirt (December 8th 2019) 56Km BG. A whopping 56 riders completed this ride in times from 2 hrs 22 mins to 4 h 3/4 hours.
Rudolph does Road (December 8th, 2019) 70Km BA. 42 riders completed the road course. Times ranged from just under 2 3/4 hours through to just over 4 1/4 hours.
Peachy Mee (December 7th, 2019) 51Km BA, 107KM BA, 152Km BA. This ride was restricted to 152km due to extreme temperatures on the day. It was very hot around 11am near Ferny Hills. Well done to all.
4 riders completed the 51km route in times from just under 2 1/4 hours to 2 3/4 hours,
4 riders completed the 107km route from just under 4 3/4 hours to just over 6 1/4 hours
6 riders braved the heat for the 152km route in times ranging from just over 6 hours to just under 8 1/4 hours.
Tamborine Short Circuit (December 15th, 2019) 86km BA. 5 hardy riders braved the climb on this event in times from just under 4 1/4 hours to just under 5 1/4 hours.
Maintenance thingies
A number of you know that I have been experimenting with Paraffin Wax for my bicycle chain lubricant over the last couple of years and I thought that I would report on my progress so far. In the last two years, I have ridden approximately 20,000km using 5 chains between two bicycles on a rotational basis. Whilst I have been experimenting with the change intervals from between 300 and 500km I believe that the 500km is more of the sweet spot.
Important things to be aware of:
- You can use a spray lubricant if your chain appears too dry to get you home. You just need to immerse the chain in turps or clean and re-wax immediately.
- It uses mineral turpentine and methylated spirits to clean the chain before re-waxing
- the mineral turpentine can be re-used (you must let it settle for a couple of weeks and decant from the top using a gentle pump)
- Make sure your indexing is good before you put a freshly waxed chain on as the changes are a bit sluggish for the first 30-40km.
My results have been pretty good so far, a pretty clean drive train, reasonable shifting (once I run each chain in, have a straight derailleur and hanger) and using the Sheldon Brown method of checking chain wear, I am in the region of 1/64th – 1/32nd inches of elongation at the moment. Bearing in mind that the replacement elongation for a chain is 1/16th of an inch I am very well on my way to get somewhere around 10,000km per chain based on these results.
On the down side, I did discover that a chain must be dried or immersed in turps after removal in the interval prior to re-waxing to prevent rust developing or seizing up the chain. I have just thrown out one chain as the roller has seized to the side plate.
I will continue the experiment and report once I start wearing out the chains.
Upcoming Rides
For a full roundup of all calendar events, have a look at the Audax website https://www.audax.org.au/portal/rides/calendar
Tuesday December 31st – River Loop Social Ride
5:30 am start opposite the Regatta Hotel. This is a loose group ride with assembly locations at key points along the ride. Breakfast at any open Cafe in West End Tara will give details on the day. This is a good warm up / recovery ride before the 11 out of Eleven. Just turn up and ride, no booking necessary
Saturday December 28th – Festive 500 Part A – 200Km BRM
5am start at Ferny Grove. Looking at completing the Festive 500 in two rides? This is the start of your answer!
Sunday December 29th – Festive 500 Part B – 300Km BRM
6am start at Strathpine. Looking at completing the Festive 500 in two rides? This is the end of your answer!
Monday January 1st – 11 out of Eleven – 111Km BA (Supported)
6am Start at Dutton Park. Start your 2020 by riding the first Audax in the new year on this supported ride with a shiny revised route.
Tuesday January 7th – River Loop Social Ride – 50KM / 100KM BA
5:30 am start opposite the Regatta Hotel. This is a loose group ride with assembly locations at key points along the ride. Breakfast at Plenty in West End. 50km is an extended River Loop via 17 Mile Rocks and the 100km gets an extra loop over Mt Coottha to Wacol and return.
Saturday January 11th – Esk at Night – 101Km BA, 201Km / 301Km BRM (Supported)
2PM start at Esk. Starts at Esk for a fully supported afternoon ride to Toogoolawal, Mt Beppo, Somerset, then part way up the Hampton hill before reaching Esk around sunset. Night leg Esk, Fernvale, Lowood, Lowood loop, Laidley, Gatton, Coominya and Esk.
Sunday January 12th Colt 50 – 53Km BG
6:30am at the Tolga Pub. Welcome to the first Audax ride in FNQ. This
year is off to an adventurous start on backroads, road reserves, rail
trails and bits of black stuff. Starting and finishing at the Tolga
Pub, this scenic route will take you to bits of the Tablelands that you
never knew existed.
Ride contains 33km of unsealed road/tracks. An off-road capable bike (mountain, hybrid, cyclocross, etc.) is highly recommended.
Tuesday January 14th – River Loop Social Ride
5:30 am start opposite the Regatta Hotel. This is a loose group ride with assembly locations at key points along the ride. Breakfast at Plenty in West End. Just turn up and ride, no booking necessary
Saturday January 18th Every Which Way 107KM BA, 150KM BA, 200Km BRM
6:00am start at Tudor Park, Clarks Rd Loganholme. These rides head into the Brisbane City via Logan road & the South East Bikeway. The 200 km goes to Scarborough before returning over the Gateway bridge & the bayside suburbs. The 100 km returns over the Gateway bridge & follows the Bulimba Creek bikepath.
Tuesday January 21st – River Loop Social Ride
5:30 am start opposite the Regatta Hotel. This is a loose group ride with assembly locations at key points along the ride. Breakfast at Plenty in West End. Just turn up and ride, no booking necessary
Saturday January 25th Mt Coot–tha Loops 51KM BA
6:30am start at Anzac Park Toowong. The iconic Brisbane Saturday morning ride. The front, the back and the Gap Creek loop. (With time left over to mow the lawn in the afternoon). This year special! Free Coffee/Milkshake at Bean on Dean after the ride.
Tuesday January 28th– River Loop Social Ride
5:30 am start opposite the Regatta Hotel. This is a loose group ride with assembly locations at key points along the ride. Breakfast at Plenty in West End. Just turn up and ride, no booking necessary
That is a wrap up for the this edition of the newsletter. If you have any articles, please send them to qld.communications@audax.org.au. If you have any ride reports, please enter them on the website.