Mon-Tues day

Monday after riding down to check the post box at Cabba I checked the state of parts delivery at "Cabarita Beach Cycles -- o266761519" they had arrived so when I returned home I doubled the Giant with the old Peak MTB to get the service done by Jeff. I then decided to do the circuit on the old bike, stopping in at Hastings Point Headland to watch the whales on their way past returning to the Southern Ocean.

There were a at least 4 and they were quite close to shore and very energetic. I hung chatting with a local for a ½ hour or so then started back on the road finishing the 20k in a slow and steady flow.

Tuesday after checking the PO I found out the bike would be ready in a couple of hours. I road the Malvern Star down to double the Giant home a little later.

Then after getting home I took the now smooth gear change Giant for a quick circuit. 

Of note today and yesterday I monitored the Magpie and its approaches.

When there was 2 riders side by side it did not come close at all, When I was doubling the extra bike it approached but did not swoop closely.

But when I was just a single rider it swooped and clacked, making contact with the helmet up to 8 times .

It seems this Magpie might get a bit confused when there is more than one target.

All passes were made with no attempt to scare the bird off not even turning the head or raising the arm nor making any reaction to strikes when they came.

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The Primary Site of Tweed Coast Treadly - URL
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Mooball State Forest - Cruise

Will do a cruise through the forest tomorrow via Cudgera Creek Road and see what the fires did if anything. (hardly any sign of a fire at all to be seen) Also check out any of the changes to the fire trails since the dry period earlier in the year ended(still very much the same). Tomorrow looks good with the forecasted temperature between 15°C-27°C (only got slightly above this) and the wind from the east nor'easter at blowing at 14-20km/hr.

I've updated this post, after the ride was completed. 

I hope the mozzies are less in the forest than they are at home, I'll still be taking the "RID" as I am a bit of a sook when it comes to mozzies.....(not a problem not even when we walked around the creek at the bottom of Palmvale Spur Road)



Sunday dawned dry with  lots of scattered cloud. The wind was lightly blowing from the South very early, during the ride it swung to the East NorEast and strengthened but was not noticable until we left the forest and started on our seperate ways home.

Chris from Life Cyclearrived first having already completed the 61kms(48kms after edit) down the coast (phew!) from his place. He and I set off towards Marks instead of waiting we met just before the turn off to Kanes Rd, so good timing all round.The days cruising then started with all of us turning into Kanes Rd then on to Cudgera Creek Rd and we were all keeping up as we crested the ridge to the turn off to Wabba Rd, (even the old bloke ME though I think the others were taking some pity on me) . This was the most arduous section of the ride where at one point we all had to get off and walk for about 30 meters, it was just too rough a surface, (long grass mixed with lots of 100mm diameter rocks interspersed with small spots of loose gravel)  for the steepness others of better skill and determination may of been able to ride it, with some luck.

Heading into the forest along the lightly grassed gravel fireroads which was quite easy after the previous short climb/walk. We continued to just cruise along the spurs and saddles as they presented themselves in the shadow of the forest so stayed cool even when the sun came shining through the dispersing cloud.

Mark was the first to leave the group. He left via gated "Private Property Keep-Out" end of the Palmvale Spur Road exit of the Mooball National Park, he had work to do that afternoon. (he still would have to ride Palmvale Road then over the hill to Reserve Creek Road, then via Buglers Quarry Road(?) on his way home to Clothiers Creek Road. heh!heh!) 

After Mark was out of sight we, Chris and I, doubled back upwards to the top end of the Palm Vale Spur Road, As it turned out it was an easier ride than I had at first thought when coasting so far down it. We just kept peddling in low gear all the way to the top..... Chris doing a repair to a loose light fitting halph way up, allowed me falsely, to arrive at the top first.

Then it was just a matter of taking the gravel road all the way "down" to Quarry Road and the Reserve Creek Intersection. Here was where Chris  and I separated he going home to the Gold Coast via Tomewin (another 300m climbing and ~50k), me via Reserve Creek and Round Mountain home (170m climb), The ride for me ended with nothing left of my 2litres of water and jelly legs and 2hours over the time i had allowed that is 3:00pm.

After beginning the climb on Cudgera Creek Rd we didn't see another car or truck until we got to back down out of the National Park onto Wardrop Valley Road. And it wasn't until nearing the end of my ride that I was disturbed by a local hoon in dad's 4-wheel drive blowing his horn and skimming past on an otherwise empty road. Boys will be...!

National Ride to Work day - Roundup

The inaugural National Ride to Work Day has exceeded our expectations in terms of registration numbers, media interest and senior management endorsement. We've been bowled over by the huge effort people like you have made to make this day really count.

The official stats are:
Over 3000 workplace coordinators
More than 70 community breakfasts around Australia
More than 30,000 registrations so far - stay tuned for final figures!
Up to 90,000 participants Australia-wide - based on 2/3 of participants not taking the final step and registering

Do you know participants in your organisation who rode to work today but didn't register? Can you help us by encouraging them to sign up? Registrations are open until 5pm, 24 October 2007. All registrants will still be eligible to win one of the 14 TREK bikes, and they'll increase your chances of winning a prize in the TravelSmart Workplace Challenge.

At this stage, we encourage you to send people directly to the registration page https://ride2work.bv.com.au/home.

Thanks for helping us to build the foundations for an ever bigger event in 2008. We'd like you to be among the first to know that National Ride to Work Day 2008 will be on Wednesday 15 October. Put it in your calendars now and get it into your organisation's calendar for next year.

Many thanks for your part in the success of the inaugural national event.

National Ride to Work Day Team

Cabarita Beach Cycles - Semi-Final

All's well! When I went for my bike ride today, (after the dentist etc see earlier post if you are really that interested) I called back into the "Cabarita Beach Cycles" Shop, just to see how it was going, Humphery was finished. Yeah! So I doubled the repaired bike the 4.6kms home and then decided that i should take it out for a spin, (about 30kms) Anyway jumped on and it felt a little cramped after my everyday bike. But I got used to after a few k's. I rode to Cabba and got attacked by the Magpie then rode over Clothiers Creek Rd to the freeway and then down to pottsville-cudgera creek turnoff, chatted with a motorcycle cop on the overpass using his radar gun trying to catch speeding motorists travelling north, then onto Kanes Rd and home. It went well and will be a good second/spare hybrid bike when required. But the price was a little more than I wanted to spend ($170)  as he had to replace both front and rear brake calipers. The derailleur worked smoothly and the chain and cluster didn't show as much wear as my usual bike does but the rear tyre may have a very slow leak. 



So removal of the black mark is complete!!! and everyone should give Jeff at Cabba Cycles a go!

Cabarita Beach Cycles - Update

The promised turn around time on the repair has come and gone. When I dropped the bike in yesterday morning I was assured it would be ready later that afternoon. As I had some things to do I thought leaving it until the morning after my, what seems to be perpetually booked, visit to the Dentist at 9:30am would be cool. Not to be when I got to the shop he said "sorry! got busy yesterday" "it will be ready at 3:00pm today".

He had not started on it.... a tiny black mark.

Hope he can fulfill his second completion schedule. I don't need the bike desperately, though it would be nice to not waste the time checking to see if it is ready to be picked-up.

At least he says he has ordered the chain and cluster for the Giant.

I will upload a picture of the results on the old Malvern Star - Bogart. I'm thinking of nicknaming it Humphrey

Big Brown

Today I transported the old Malvern Star Hybrid to the New Cabba bike repair shop. To get it road-worthy (approx$150 for new cables, degrease and lube, brake pads and a new rear derailleur with a re-truing(?) of the rear wheel) when I get it back I will get main use bike overhauled, but the parts will take a few days to get delivered. A rear cluster and chain.

After pushing the Malvern Star alongside as I rode my bike, (getting off when I got to the Magpie attack point then walking and surprise surprise it didn't attack!phew! when i was walking with bikes on either-side and hands full). I rode with the wind up to kingscliff and around to Chinderah Metal Recyclers to see if they had some 150mm steel rings I could use on a project I am working on, of course they didn't but did have some pipe I could use but their cutoff saw was faulty so.....

I then decided to agonise with the wind and traffic down the freeway to home. After the continuous slog I was finally in the home stretch on Round Mountain Road on what I describe as the "Turf Farm Hill" up from the Dooley's. As I approached it's crest a Pied Currawong dove down to the road surface about 4 meters ahead. As it came to about 150mm from the ground a 2 meter Brown Snake doubled back on itself striking out at the bird attacking it's tail.

Thanks to the Currawong, who flew off with no bite or other ill effects, I had seen the snake with enough time to slow down and avoid us crossing paths.....  another day...

Todays weather brought to you by....

Well the National Ride to work day would of had a nice or nasty start. The wind has been strong most of the day and wont slow up this afternoon for their return journey. Also the showers were nice.



Well our breakfast was nice and there were no traffic incidents at all, so a good morning all in all. We look forward to next year when we can do it all again. By then I might have to get a more comfortable saddle to handle the rough terrain on the way to work , and also organise champagne and strawberrys instead of this years toast and tea

Ride-to-Work Day

Well tomorrows the big day....


and we will see if there is anything happening in the Tweed Coast area.

My work place has decided to turn it into a big structured affair!

Me, Myself and I will leave our bikes on the verandah tonight so that we can peddle the 12 meters to work, park the bikes in the designated one off secure parking spots arranged for this special day, then walk back to the verandah to get involved in the big breakfast I have planned for us ride-2-work newbees who made this special effort on this special day....

Maybe I'll have 2 slices of toast instead of just the usual cup-o-tea.

Sorry I needed that!

Something to...

Well it's been a while since my last.... blah-blah....

Anyway I haven't bothered to post until there is something new besides the weather, wet and stormy of late. So here goes...

A new Bicycle Shop has opened locally in Cabarita. A 9-5 weekday supply and repair store stocking Huffy and Giant amongst other brands all at reasonable opening store prices. I'll get some parts and servicing done on my bike in the coming weeks, The drive chain is stretched and the rear cluster needs replacing from wear and tear. (mainly it's lack of maintenance after riding some of the local dusty roads but mainly it is slackness on my part and some small part due to the kms we have travelled since we met last February)

In other news my daughter has returned from Japan. Which is very nice listening to her regale stories of her first OS trip!

And lastly I have finally got permission to access the Moobal Forest from Cudgera Creek Road and so will be able to complete some cruising circuits through the forest and Wardrop Valley in the coming months. But will wait for company. In amongst the hills and bush fire trails, being so far from aid and the closeness to some slithering sun loving reptiles could result in.... anyway I asked about taking another rider or two with me and that's cool.

While I'm here might as well say today's ride saw a wallaby, a goanna, and a live brown snake (cudgera creek road hill) and yes, you guessed it... the swooping attack of the nesting Magpie(s) resident on Round Mountain Road near the Hastings Point Sewer Works.

I'm not sure but it seemed like it was 2 separate birds as the attack was sustained over a distance of at least 250 meters. With me getting a weary arm from waving it about above my head as "the bird?" performed its ritual drop out of the sky, wings beating into a stall and then lunging at the helmet with it's beak. Ah Spring!