How much a month can change our environment. Last month we saw tightened gathering restrictions, this month we see them relaxing a little. On the good side, our riding events are continuing with some excellent rider turnouts for rides such as the Dirty Boonah Double and Beaudesert Bash.
The Tour de France has seen another Aussie on the Podium – Kudos to Richie Porte on his achievement which I think was a little more than his wife had demanded when giving him a leave pass from the birth of their child. The Tour has had a similar range of weather as our fine region where it was raining one day, beautiful the next and the rain days saw a significant number of incidents – something we all strive to avoid.
We have five weekends remaining this season and now is the time to start thinking about applying for awards. Now is the time to start thinking about which awards to apply for. To see a list of potential awards, go to the Audax Australia home page, select Rides, then My Awards. You can browse using add award to see what awards are there but importantly you cannot apply for any awards until 18th October and all applications must be finalised by December 6th, 2020.
Don’t forget that due to Covid-19 riding restrictions earlier in the year we are able to substitute additional rides from May onwards to supplement our Petite and Year Round Randonneur awards. From the announcement, you must still complete 12 rides, 3 of them will be additional rides from May to October 31.
Conquering Boonah (and discovering my Kryptonite)
This has been a very interesting year with a few new firsts for me. BVRT and now gravel. Read on….
Here is another ride report from our Western Australian region Mr Marston’s Meander by Julie Kenworthy and Perry Raison
Dirty Boonah Triple (August 27th 2020) 56, 111 and 150KM BG. I needed to get the spreadsheet out for this one! 12 riders completed the 56Km between 3 and 3 1/2 hours, 14 riders completed the 111 between approx 5 1/2 hours to 7 1/4 hours and 14 riders completed the 150km from 6 1/4 to 8 3/4 hours. Well done on a tough day out.
Pete’s Bikeway Explorer (16th Augusty 2020) 109 and 202Km BA. Three riders finished the 109 between 5 1/2 and 6 1/6 hours and three finished the 202km in just over 10 1/2 hours.
River Loop (August) (4th August 2020) 50km BA. 7 riders finished in 2 hours 25 minutes.
Almost Downs and Back (29th August 2020) 100Km, 152KM BA, 216KM BA/BRM. A mixed bag with 5 riders completing the 109Km between 4 3/4 hours and just over 6, a single rider finishing the 152 in just over 7 1/4 hours and the 216km between 8 and just over 11 1/4 hours.
Cheap 3 Peaks Challenge (1st August 2020) No finishers for this tough 215KM challenge this year.
Another Great Divide Circuit (12 September 2020) 400Km BRM. One rider finished in 23 hours. Well done.
River Loop September (1 September 2020) 50Km, 100 BA. 8 riders completed the 50km in 2 hours 20 with a solo rider continuing on and finishing the 100km in just over 5 1/4 hours.
Dirty Boonah Double (20 September, 2020) 64, 109km BG 10 riders completed the 64Km route between 3 1/2 and 5 hours with 19 riders completign the 109km between 5 and just under 7 3/4 hours
Beaudesert Bash (26 September 2020) 114Km BA, 200Km BRM. 5 riders complete the 114Km in times between 5 1/2 and just over 6 3/4 hours The 200Km had 13 riders finishing between 9 hours and 10 1/2 hours.
This is a new feature that is being developed for the improved newsletter. This will give you an idea of the Queensland Permanents ridden since the last newsletter. This is a light month for permanents.
| Permanent Name | Region | Distance | Brevet Type | No of Rides | Avg Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Every Which Way 200 | QLD | 206 | BP | 8 | 09:19 |
| Oakey Permanent | QLD | 101 | BP | 1 | 05:25 |
| Pine Mountain Passage | QLD | 101 | BP | 2 | 04:17 |
| Brendale Loop | QLD | 100 | BP | 4 | 04:41 |
| Every Which Way 150 | QLD | 150 | BP | 1 | 06:46 |
| Rockin’ The Suburbs 50 | QLD | 51 | BP | 1 | 02:12 |
| Northside Meander | QLD | 153 | BP | 4 | 06:36 |
| Lockyer Valley Loop | QLD | 104 | BP | 1 | 04:15 |
| BVRT 100 km Gravel | QLD | 102 | BPG | 2 | 06:25 |
| Horizontal One Hundred | QLD | 100 | BP | 2 | 04:35 |
| Anzac Loop | QLD | 51 | BP | 6 | 02:05 |
| Dirty Boonah 150 | QLD | 150 | BPG | 1 | 08:55 |
| Flat Fifty | QLD | 51 | BP | 2 | 02:07 |
| Every Which Way 100 | QLD | 106 | BP | 1 | 04:30 |
| Deliverance (Jimna Junket) | QLD | 228 | BP | 1 | 11:40 |
| Haden Permanent | QLD | 103 | BP | 1 | 05:25 |
| Dirty Boonah 50 | QLD | 56 | BPG | 1 | 02:56 |
| BVRT 50 km Gravel | QLD | 55 | BPG | 1 | 03:07 |
To view the full calendar, head to https://www.audax.org.au/portal/rides/calendar
The format of the upcoming events has changed a bit as I have used this section of the new newsletter tool to save time.
5AM start at The Gap. Challenging ride heading North to Gympie then heading west to Kingaroy for a few hours sleep before returning to Brisbane via Brisbane Valley
Distance: 609km | QLD | BRM
7AM start at the Dayboro Bakery. Dirty Mee is gravel riding at its best. Plenty of dirt single track and fire trail. There will be some sealed roads. hydration pack recommended. Maxxis refuse are highly recommended.
Distance: 75km | QLD | BG
5:30am Start opposite the Regatta Hotel. A social ride followed by a coffee somewhere interesting on Montague Rd
Distances: 50km, 100km | QLD | BA
6am start from near the corner of Recreation Tce and the New England Hwy. Scenic Ride out and Over the Bunya Mountains before returning back to Crows Nest. Hilly.
Distance: 244km | QLD | BA
7am Start at Fernvale. Fernvale to Brassall and return on the BVRT. A fun morning playing in the dirt before morning tea.
Distance: 38km | QLD | BD
5:30am start opposite the Regatta Hotel. A social ride around the iconic Brisbane River Loop, ending with coffee at West End. No registration necessary; just turn up ready for a 5:30AM start.
Distance: 40km | QLD | Soc
6:30am Start at Rotary Park, the Esplanade, Maroochydore. A new ride via a scenic route north to Gympie returning via the coast
Distances: 100km, 201km | QLD | BRM
5:30am start opposite the Regatta Hotel. A social ride around the iconic Brisbane River Loop, ending with coffee at West End. No registration necessary; just turn up ready for a 5:30AM start.
Distance: 40km | QLD | Soc
6:30am start at Marburg. A relatively flat ride around the Lockyer Valley passing through Rosewood, Laidley, Ma Ma Creek, Gatton and Glenore Grove on quiet roads.
Distances: 105km, 201km | QLD | BRM
5:30am start opposite the Regatta Hotel. A social ride around the iconic Brisbane River Loop, ending with coffee at West End. No registration necessary; just turn up ready for a 5:30AM start.
Distance: 40km | QLD | Soc
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.