Spring Cycle 2021

[AndrewCowley]

The Spring Cycle is on for 2021. Sad news though, they have dropped the 105km course.

[queequeg]

The Spring Cycle is on for 2021. Sad news though, they have dropped the 105km course.

"We have decided not to operate the 105km ride this year and focus on the 50km Classic Ride & 10km City Ride as there are already a number of endurance rides getting back up and running around NSW. For our rebooted event we wanted to focus on being accessible to all, including family groups of all ages and those new to cycling who might be participating in their first cycling event. This includes giving us the opportunity to run an adaptive cycling wave to enable adults and children living with a disability to join in the fun!"

[AndrewCowley]

Weird reason when those other events mentioned have been around in years past and yet they still chose to run the 105km event.

Pity because it’s a fun day cycling in parts of Sydney where I never otherwise ride. Some sections of the route are pretty good too. The last 30km or so through Prospect and then heading back to Homebush via the old canal are great.

[g-boaf]

Weird reason when those other events mentioned have been around in years past and yet they still chose to run the 105km event.

Pity because it’s a fun day cycling in parts of Sydney where I never otherwise ride. Some sections of the route are pretty good too. The last 30km or so through Prospect and then heading back to Homebush via the old canal are great.

You could just organise some meetup and loop by a local cafe for some nice coffee and make their 50km ride irrelevant too. The cafe would love the business I suppose. And the whole lot would be on cycleways.

[familyguy]

My 13 y.o. daughter wants to do the 10km ride with me, so I will avoid the 50 this year. I did it with a newbie mate last time out and it took a lot longer than expected, but was pleasant enough. He did want to do the 105 but I suggested he wait till next time to give that a go. He will have to wait to Gong Ride to get over 50 again.

[queequeg]

My 13 y.o. daughter wants to do the 10km ride with me, so I will avoid the 50 this year. I did it with a newbie mate last time out and it took a lot longer than expected, but was pleasant enough. He did want to do the 105 but I suggested he wait till next time to give that a go. He will have to wait to Gong Ride to get over 50 again.

He could always do some Audax rides, which start at 50km, and they only cost $6…you can also pay extra (another $8) to get a medal when you finish. There was actually a 150km loop on mostly bike paths that was run a couple of weeks ago (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22875228)

[peter]

New date: 16/10/2022, essentially cancelled.

I think it's sensible to drop the 105km option, taking too long for marshals/volunteers to stick around. and riders aiming for 105km are the more capable ones who can easily ride the Western Sydney section on any other day.

The real highlight is obviously the Harbour Bridge, then perhaps Circular Quay and Pyrmont areas, after that it's just suburb cycleways and back streets. Nothing super interesting for $100.

[AndrewCowley]

Logically dropping the 105km probably makes sense. But I used to enjoy it. For people who don’t usually ride out west, it was a fun and somewhat novel day out. The last bit, through Prospect Reservoir and then the disused canal is great. Nothing special I guess for cyclists who live out that way but not everyone does.

The overall route was somewhat ingenious, connecting up all those shared pathways in a way that was probably never intended. Would get royally lost trying to do it otherwise.

[peter]

The last bit, through Prospect Reservoir and then the disused canal is great. Nothing special I guess for cyclists who live out that way but not everyone does.

That's a fair comment, have been riding the canal regularly back in the days, sort of took it for granted. It is an excellent infrastructure for the locals and a very interest ride for people new to explore the area.

[andrei]

New date: 16/10/2022

On this weekend, apparently rider packs were sent out to Sydney residents who registered prior to 3rd October, got mine in the mail today. Otherwise I believe registration is still open until Friday and you can pick up on the day.

Interesting to read about the 105km ride, it's still mentioned on the website but no course listed, so it just continued further west? I rode the M7 the other week but yet to do Prospect Reservoir.

[trailgumby]

New date: 16/10/2022

On this weekend, apparently rider packs were sent out to Sydney residents who registered prior to 3rd October, got mine in the mail today. Otherwise I believe registration is still open until Friday and you can pick up on the day.

Interesting to read about the 105km ride, it's still mentioned on the website but no course listed, so it just continued further west? I rode the M7 the other week but yet to do Prospect Reservoir.

Can you share a link to that? There is only a 10km and a 50km event, so far as I'm aware.

See you at the start line.

[andrei]

Can you share a link to that? There is only a 10km and a 50km event, so far as I'm aware.

Sorry it's just on the map when you hover over the rest stops, there's mention of 50km and 105km riders

https://springcycle.com.au/50km/

[AndrewCowley]

Sorry it's just on the map when you hover over the rest stops, there's mention of 50km and 105km riders

https://springcycle.com.au/50km/

It's a map from a few years back. There is definitely no 105km option this year.

I asked them about it, and got a response back saying they dropped the 105km option because they wanted to focus more on the shorter, more casual & family focused options. My guess it is likely a cost cutting measure.

[trailgumby]

Sorry it's just on the map when you hover over the rest stops, there's mention of 50km and 105km riders

https://springcycle.com.au/50km/

It's a map from a few years back. There is definitely no 105km option this year.

I asked them about it, and got a response back saying they dropped the 105km option because they wanted to focus more on the shorter, more casual & family focused options. My guess it is likely a cost cutting measure.

By the time I ride to St Leonards Park and return from SOP it will likely be a 100km day for me anyway.

I'm a bit annoyed that jerseys were not sent out with the rego plates and are pick-up from the start.

[familyguy]

Will be doing the 10km, purely because,I signed on with my (now) 14y.o. to do it 2 years ago. She's not going to make it this weekend, but I'm taking the chance to ride over the bridge anyway. Home, North Sydney, 10km course, home should be about 30km. Back home by 9 to do my days tasks.

[trailgumby]

It turned out to be a very warm and sunny day. Great weather and the feedback from those crossing the line at the 50km mark was positive. There were a couple of kinks that will need to be ironed out for next year, but they weren't major and we'll tackle those in the post-mortem. I had the responsibility of guiding one of the VIPs, so it quite cruisey, but he and his friend both did very well to complete their first ride of this length.

[andrei]

It turned out to be a very warm and sunny day. Great weather and the feedback from those crossing the line at the 50km mark was positive.

Yes gorgeous weather and a fun ride, thought I might struggle with the distance but started at 7am and crossed the finish line in a bit under 3 hours, including around 30 minutes of breaks, and then a further 20km ride from SOP to home by lunchtime.

Thanks to the organisers and volunteers.

[familyguy]

It turned out to be a very warm and sunny day. Great weather and the feedback from those crossing the line at the 50km mark was positive. There were a couple of kinks that will need to be ironed out for next year, but they weren't major and we'll tackle those in the post-mortem. I had the responsibility of guiding one of the VIPs, so it quite cruisey, but he and his friend both did very well to complete their first ride of this length.

Saw your ride buddy. Pity he's not responsible for transport! A good chance to demonstrate shortcomings.

Kicked off in the first wave of 10km riders, great to see a lot of families taking part. Getting out of Tumablong Park wasn't very straightforward, but given my lack of knowledge of the area, that wasn't a surprise. I got to Kent St eventually and back home, coming off down the steps at Milsons Point just as the 10km sweep rider went over the bridge.

[peter]

Sounds like a great day out. Were there police escort at the start (highway patrol, motorbikes)?

[trailgumby]

Saw your ride buddy. Pity he's not responsible for transport! A good chance to demonstrate shortcomings.

It's a pity he's exiting politics. No-one I've mentioned this little escapade to has had a bad word to say about him. I thought his proposed reforms to building and planning for long term sustainability were exactly what we need to ease housing affordability and move our urban environment to being people-centred going forward, and I'm pretty peeved that the top end of town got him moved out of the portfolio, and I'm saying that as a small-scale private developer.

But I think he's just tired after 15 years of it. With polling trends against the Perrotet government indicating a change is likely, why would you go back to opposition? He's earned a break and some time to himself to build a normal life.