Cobram 116k ride

 

Hi

I've been back for about a week from an Audax ride in Cobram which went quite well. My Aunt (actually Dad's cousin, but who cares?) lives up there and I like to catch up with her. I am also familiar with the rides and country that Rodney Cruz runs for Audax and have done 100s, 200s and 150s before. The trip started off about 10am from Melbourne and I drive up the Hume, around Shepparton, then on to Strathmerton. There is a great op shop and bakery / cafe in Strathmerton, and I stopped for about an hour. I probably already have enough crap at home but I bought some more in the Strathy op shop. Retail Therapy!

Then I drove on through Cobram (found another op shop, a HUGE one!) to my Aunt's on the other side of Beruga, and arrived just on time despite a dely due to bridgeworks. We chatted a while, then I headed back and checked in to my Motel. After that  I ambled around town, got some bakery stuff for the ride the next day, then settled down for a pensioners pot and parmy (chicken parmigiana) at the pub. 

Back at the motel, I mapped out the ride for the next day, writing names on all the roads and distances between turns. Also I slightly rejigged my plastic map holder (I'd made it that morning) so it would work and pedals and things wouldn't bang into it.

Strathmerton Autumn leaves

Strathmerton Autumn leaves.

In the morning I was up early but when I got to the start I didn't have my gps with me. There was time to go back to the motel to retrieve it, but I didn't attempt to, and it turns out I'd left it at home anyway.

The ride went well and Charles, Geoff and I rode together for the first 10k or so, after which Charles and I scooted on ahead. We had morning tea at Nathalia, then ploughed on. Charles finished a few minutes ahead of me and we had averaged over 20kph for the ride. 15kph is the regulation speed for this type of Audax ride so we were very comfortably within the time limit. The map worked ok even without the km readings from the Garmin. There was only one corner that was in doubt and that was turning into Campbell Road on the way back, where there was no street sign. But in that case, Charles was just a bit ahead of me and I could follow him.

Thanks to Rodney Cruz for organising the ride. I plan to be back, maybe with friends next time to share the delights of the Cobram area.

Cruzbike mod

 

Hi  

About this time last year, I fixed up a Cruzbike, and have now started a new mod on that bike.The upgrade is to accept one of my plywood tailboxes, which carry about 50 litres and provide a full aerodynamic tailbox behind the seat.  I have been thinking of this for a while and have only been on it seriously for the last week or so. Firstly I reinforced the front seat area, then I brazed and bended a tube to support the back of the seat, and finally printed a (white) spacer to go between the seat and the support. For now I am waiting, the existing Cruzbike shocker would not allow the 'box to clear the back wheel, so I am waiting on a new shocker. Regards  Steve Nurse

Update, May 3, 2025

The bike is finished and on the road now. I put a bit of effort into it and repaired the corner of the tailbox and tried to make sure there were no pointy screw ends luring inside the tailbox. I went for a few tests rides on the hilly Kew Boulevarde near where I live and the main impression was that it was quite smooth riding up hills and relatively easily to maintain 10kph on hills. In my mostly untrained state, I thought I did well to get a 17.3kph average speed over about 24k.

If I have time to work on the bike, I will change it from its current 26 / 20 config to 20 / 16". That should lower the seat a bit and make it a bit faster.

Regards

Steve Nurse

Bay City Roller Preview

Bay City Roller Map  - the ride runs on the east side of Port Phillip Bay, and south of the Melbourne CBD.

 Hi

 For quite a few years now, I've done the Audax Buckley's ride, a trip around Port Phillip Bay. That ride is not on offer this year, but I decided to go on another near-equivalent, the 200k Bay City Roller. You can't do 200k without training, and I've been out riding for 3 days now and have done some decent rides and had a few interesting things happen.

 

Lorne and back from Airies Inlet late last year - this ride was in drizzle and I'd developed a bump in the front wheel by the time I got there. I didn't dawdle and rode straight back after doing a U Turn at the roundabout above the lifesaving club. I spent some time over the next day or so fixing the bike and was ably assisted by my 3 year old grandson. He can use a pump and let air out of tyres.

 

Yesterday I rode 50k in a bit over 3 hours - quite slow but I spent a bit of time resting, taking the cranks off to get at a squeaky bottom bracket, and trying to put air in a slow leaking tyre. Wanted to do 40k on Kew Boulevard but ended up doing 50. Quite happy and I resolve to get a new pump and tubes the next day.

At Home - ouch

Rear frame is out for inspection

pic at roadside.

Yes, really ouch.

Early in the morning the next day, and my legs are aching a bit, but I get up and am on the road by 8am, and start off quite well - but then the back wheel starts touching the corflute fairing over bumps, and then later all the time. There's something wrong, and on the bridge over the Eastern Freeway stop and pull things apart, and there's a decent sized crack in the frame. I walk the bike back the few ks to home, and straight away head to the local bike shop and buy the pump and tubes I was after. Ride was 2 hours and 13min for just over 32km with a few stops, not too bad. The walk home was not too far - later by text Mary said she would have picked me up. But I was quite happy walking

Leaning trike module

And coffee table -

bikestand used for the switcheroo and maintenance to make -

this!

Back home and after a rest I'm ready to fix the bike, and as I did early last year, swapped the rear bike wheel module for the trike module. I was able to use my coffee table as a bike stand and did repairs and switcheroos, swapping the rear modules, swapping the combined seat and tailbox.

On Jan 3 I managed 62 k in just over 4 hours. Heading out, I ran into a rainstorm and got drenched, but the rain stopped and I kept going. Bike going well, a little slowed by rain.

Today's ride including cycling attire. I bought the shirt at an op shop with Mary, and rummaged in the draw to find the  leg covers, arm covers and Buff. Quite a relief to find the Buff, it's forecast to be 30C on the ride day, and its really hard to maintain good sun protection when it gets that hot.