Okay, I decided to go out for about 40 today and ride most of the course. Things did not work out ask planned.
For starters, decent roads are not something the Aussie's appear to be in favor of. The coastal highway was the roughest road I've ever ridden. Non-stop vibrations driving up through your arms during the entire ride.
Flatted at about 15 miles out. Maybe a good thing because it took me better than 20 minutes to change my tube since I've only ever had one flat.
Resumed my ride and met up with a couple of other riders who were riding the entire course. I decided to hang out with them so I could learn how to navigate Laurieton and find the turn-a-round. About 30 feet from the turn-a-round, I flatted again. Now, I had brought two spare tubes, but only one CO2. Lucky for me I was with two other riders and they helped. Changed out my tube and inflated it only to have it blow right there. Borrowed a tube and another CO2 and after all 3 of us inspected the tire and rim, got it changed out and inflated. Stopped by a bike shop in Laurieton and bought 3 new tubes and 4 new CO2 cartridges. Geez!
Headed back to Port Macquarie and enjoyed the good vibrations all the way back. All in all, about 55 miles today, but I got to see the entire course, which was a good thing. It's a fairly flat course with just a few steep hills scattered throughout the course, most of which are short enough to power up in less than a minute. It's really the rough pavement that makes this course so tough. I wasn't sure if my bike would hold up today. I honestly felt like something was going to rattle loose out there.
By the time I was done, my teeth hurt and I had a killer headache from the rough ride.
For starters, decent roads are not something the Aussie's appear to be in favor of. The coastal highway was the roughest road I've ever ridden. Non-stop vibrations driving up through your arms during the entire ride.
Flatted at about 15 miles out. Maybe a good thing because it took me better than 20 minutes to change my tube since I've only ever had one flat.
Resumed my ride and met up with a couple of other riders who were riding the entire course. I decided to hang out with them so I could learn how to navigate Laurieton and find the turn-a-round. About 30 feet from the turn-a-round, I flatted again. Now, I had brought two spare tubes, but only one CO2. Lucky for me I was with two other riders and they helped. Changed out my tube and inflated it only to have it blow right there. Borrowed a tube and another CO2 and after all 3 of us inspected the tire and rim, got it changed out and inflated. Stopped by a bike shop in Laurieton and bought 3 new tubes and 4 new CO2 cartridges. Geez!
Headed back to Port Macquarie and enjoyed the good vibrations all the way back. All in all, about 55 miles today, but I got to see the entire course, which was a good thing. It's a fairly flat course with just a few steep hills scattered throughout the course, most of which are short enough to power up in less than a minute. It's really the rough pavement that makes this course so tough. I wasn't sure if my bike would hold up today. I honestly felt like something was going to rattle loose out there.
By the time I was done, my teeth hurt and I had a killer headache from the rough ride.
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