Joint Ride to Barwon Heads: Sunday, 14th September, 2014

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8:30am – Rippleside Park – 6 riders from GTC, 1 from Cycling Geelong.  Where were you?  The cycling conditions were perfect:  the company on joint rides is always congenial: the distance was less than 70km.  Ride sheet completed, Helen led (mainly from behind) David I, Rolf, Peter M (recently returned from shadowing the TDF – and riding all the climbs!), Marie, Zolenko and Ian F.  to Barwon Heads.

As Helen had attended a Strategic Cycling Corridors*  meeting last week, she led the group along the route of the southern SCC – up Gheringhap, and down Moorabool Street to the Barwon Bridge.  From there it was along Barwon Heads Road, Lake Road (where a small dog enjoyed ‘savaging’ the group), and along Thirteenth Beach.  This gave the faster riders the opportunity to stretch their legs.  (It’s impressive the way faster riders are prepared to stop and wait when there is a disparity of abilities.  Thanks!)
Coffee was at Annie’s Provedore where a rare outside table was available.  The usual cycology and philosophical discussions ensued before the group headed over the bridge to Ocean Grove, along Grubb Road and then along Portarlington Road back to Geelong.  With the all clear from the leader (puffing along undaunted a ‘little’ behind the main bunch) David, Peter, Rolf and Solenko cruised away and were soon lost to view.  At a more sedate speed, Ian and Helen enjoyed the mainly downhill run to Geelong where they rejoined Marie (who was riding very strongly as usual) before entering the urban area triumphant to have completed yet another super cycling circuit.
Thanks to all riders – young and old, fast and slow**.  Keep those pedals turning.

*Strategic cycling corridors are short (5-10km) routes that attract/will attract the highest number of cyclists within a reasonable timeframe (less than 5 years).  They are part of the Principal Bicycle network and are given higher priority.  The aim is to fund these to create separated, state of the art, bike paths that will attract people onto bikes for shorted trips. This is certainly succeeding in Melbourne where thousands of cyclists daily use, for example the off-road route along Footscray Road. The Principal Bicycle Network has now been identified for Geelong, and initial Strategic Cycling Corridors identified from north, south, east and west.  (Attending meetings are Vic Roads, CoGG, Bike Safe, and cycling club representatives.)

(For more of the criteria for the PBN or SCCs, ask Helen .  As soon as the SCCs are identified, they will be circulated.)

**The ‘slow’ group’s average was 23+kph.

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