Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

It's been all rain and wind for a couple weeks down here, even on the forecast dry days.

Sad to see that Winter is but a fading memory up this way (Byron to Brisbane etc)

Feels damn hot today !

Here’s a few screenshots gives a general idea of temps at 11 am of a few places :

Really, really windy today - I had my old Canyon Ultimate out today and it's nice in windy conditions.

Parts of Brisbane got to 35.5° yesterday - not bad for a winter's day

Six consecutive days of WIND..........

OMGosh :- no let up, day and night blowing a gale - the local BOM weather station has averaged low 50's wind speed since Monday afternoon and it's now Sunday evening with another day of this (ban me for swearing) to come. No riding for this little black duck.

Few gaps in the Tassie rain. Further up the Derwent Valley is having flood evacuations.

Windy here today too. Didn't get rained though. I am used to wind having lived and raced on Mildura. Keep one hand on the bars and no probs.
Rather it would far cough but it is better than rain.

Thought I could sneak out.
Supposedly dry day but it's pretty consistently on-off-on raining every half hour or so

Bern blowing a gale here. Big gum tree down on Mt Alex.
Glad I took the aero bike with 50mm carbon wheels. Sailed along nicely. Those WR50s are super neutral in the wind.

Fathers Day was a bit more uplifting weather-wise, improved moreso by a collective boozeup with juicy steaks all around.
The worst turn of events took place during the night, with a none-too-subtle fall in the temperature. WFH today (lucky!) has been patently the worst weather imaginable for a very long time — violent wind, rattling windows, pelting rain and hail, an uneasy lull here and there then in returns for another bang-up! Drrrft.

Lost side fence, letterbox downed, trees toppled and powerlines shorted. Considering trees have fallen on haphazardly parked cars (what did mother tell you, never park under trees!?), I think I've weathered the storm (oops, a pun...) comparatively easy...

Tomorrow things should be better, calmer, NICER! Touch wood!

Planned a flex day today but instead of a nice ride in the warm sun, spent a few hours scooping leaves out of the pool and sweeping up leaves on the driveway and back deck.

Past the worst of the cold now and a month of leave coming up. Should be some glorious days in the saddle
Got some new headset bearings coming for the Revolt too, so back into a bit of gravel.
That is after I work out how to disconnect, reconnect and bleed the hydraulic disc brakes. Prepare thyselves for some dumb questions.
Better get out with the chainsaw and hunt down some firewood for next year too.
The only thing I enjoy about winter is the wood heater. Well it is a bit quieter at work too.

It rained quite a lot this morning. Not when I left but caught on the way back. It was quite windy too.

A weekend away camping and bike riding.
What could possibly go wrong ?

The weather at the start of the day was magnificent. A very comfy 16 degrees at 7 am (Queensland time) in the village of Rathdowney, south west of Brisbane.

By the time we arrived in Boonah - 44 km later, half of the distance on gravel - it was getting a bit hot, about 26 degrees.
As you would imagine, it got even hotter on the way back to Rathdowney.
But we did it, total distance 88 km and over 1,500 metres of elevation gain.

So back at the campsite it was a nice warm fuzzy feeling, especially after a beer.
We started to discuss dinner plans at the local Pub
(Yes there is a Pub in Rathdowney, it’s been there for more than a century I believe)

But very quickly some dark clouds gathered to the south. Then the mountains disappeared behind a veil of rain.
But it didn’t look too much of a worry really.

Then came the roar of the wind and horizontal rain. Strong wind that lasted for ten minutes.
The rain eased off, stopped being horizontal.
But then decided to recommence in the vertical direction !

Soon the tents were in a little sea of water (well the ones that were still standing)
As things calmed down and we surveyed the damage we said that the member of our group who had booked a room in the Pub was nothing short of a genius.
Until an hour or so later we went over to join him at the Pub. It was blacked out, power outage affecting the whole town, due to the storm winds
So no food due to no power in the kitchen
Cash only for drinks due to no power for eftpos
And our lucky member informed us that now he had no hot water, and no power to recharge his e-bike or his mobile phone.

But it was still a good ride and that’s all that matters sometimes

That sounds a bit harsh there Elantra.
At least it wasn't cold too I hope?

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 12, 2024 11:28 pm

That sounds a bit harsh there Elantra.
At least it wasn't cold too I hope?

Not really cold at all.
I stayed mostly dry.
Even though the power was out, the showers at the caravan park stayed beautifully warm.

Again it’s another reminder that weather conditions can change quickly.
Also a reminder that the so-called “cashless society” does not exist as soon as there is a blackout. Which is a fairly common occurrence in Australia

elantra wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:11 pm

Not really cold at all.
I stayed mostly dry.
Even though the power was out, the showers at the caravan park stayed beautifully warm.

Again it’s another reminder that weather conditions can change quickly.
Also a reminder that the so-called “cashless society” does not exist as soon as there is a blackout. Which is a fairly common occurrence in Australia

Cold and wet is much worse than just wet. Damp is better again.

I mostly avoid cash these days but yes no good without power!

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 13, 2024 8:51 pm

elantra wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 13, 2024 4:11 pm

Not really cold at all.
I stayed mostly dry.
Even though the power was out, the showers at the caravan park stayed beautifully warm.

Again it’s another reminder that weather conditions can change quickly.
Also a reminder that the so-called “cashless society” does not exist as soon as there is a blackout. Which is a fairly common occurrence in Australia

Cold and wet is much worse than just wet. Damp is better again.

I mostly avoid cash these days but yes no good without power!

@warthog1
Truly excellent weather in the north on the weekend. I know, I was there!
Stayed with old (but still fast as a roadie after 50 years!) friends in Campbells Creek; Saturday afternoon rode out to Elphinstone, then Harmony Way back to Faraday and thence Expedition Pass Reservoir — scene of my infamous MTB encounter with a giant tiger snake in 1994. I declined to cycle up Mount Alexander!! Dinna at the Cumberland in 'maine. Yesterday was a ride to Yandoit via Guildford — Yandoit being the ancestral home of the Swiss-Italian settlers the Gervasonis (relatives of family). A good weekend's riding and I have today to recover!

I can think of a good use for the old Faraday School — a milk bar stocked with Big M and Mars Bars! Bloody long way to the next Munchies Stop ...

Now back at home and the weather has amazingly ... bombed — wet and cool.

CmdrBiggles wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 14, 2024 10:36 am

@warthog1
Truly excellent weather in the north on the weekend. I know, I was there!
Stayed with old (but still fast as a roadie after 50 years!) friends in Campbells Creek; Saturday afternoon rode out to Elphinstone, then Harmony Way back to Faraday and thence Expedition Pass Reservoir — scene of my infamous MTB encounter with a giant tiger snake in 1994. I declined to cycle up Mount Alexander!! Dinna at the Cumberland in 'maine. Yesterday was a ride to Yandoit via Guildford — Yandoit being the ancestral home of the Swiss-Italian settlers the Gervasonis (relatives of family). A good weekend's riding and I have today to recover!

I can think of a good use for the old Faraday School — a milk bar stocked with Big M and Mars Bars! Bloody long way to the next Munchies Stop ...

Now back at home and the weather has amazingly ... bombed — wet and cool.

Good today too. About to do a double Alex hopefully. It'll be pretty slow
Never dropped in to look at Faraday school but go past the sign to it regularly on the way to or from Vaughan and Fryerstown.

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 14, 2024 11:49 am

Good today too. About to do a double Alex hopefully. It'll be pretty slow
Never dropped in to look at Faraday school but go past the sign to it regularly on the way to or from Vaughan and Fryerstown.

Faraday is a bit like Newstead — a slice of a bygone time that has declined to move with the times — and remained better for it!
Nowt makes the 'town' now other than the old school, immortalised (sort of) in a book by Robyn Howarth, who was a terrified 10-year old student at the school when it was subject to the kidnapping. The book's emphasis however, is on her life in the country, not so much the school kidnapping. It does look like a private residence now.

https://www.flyingboat.org.au/shop/book ... rth-r.html

Next trip I will pucker up for the long-haul up up Alexander! Then down the other side (toward Sutton Grange) and have a look at the old red-brick Rabbiters' Hut off left in a field that is carpeted in daffodils in-season.

Impressively the weather in the Deep South has pulled a miracle now! Rain has gone, the sun is beating down and no wind.
Not one to shy away from getting filthy and having fun, I'll degrease the TCR's chain and make pretty again with Mr Sheen.

Ooops, I forgot!
A delightfully black-'n-blue chain is persona non grata to the warthog...

CmdrBiggles wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 14, 2024 12:01 pm

Faraday is a bit like Newstead — a slice of a bygone time that has declined to move with the times — and remained better for it!
Nowt makes the 'town' now other than the old school, immortalised (sort of) in a book by Robyn Howarth, who was a terrified 10-year old student at the school when it was subject to the kidnapping. The book's emphasis however, is on her life in the country, not so much the school kidnapping. It does look like a private residence now.

https://www.flyingboat.org.au/shop/book ... rth-r.html

Next trip I will pucker up for the long-haul up up Alexander! Then down the other side (toward Sutton Grange) and have a look at the old red-brick Rabbiters' Hut off left in a field that is carpeted in daffodils in-season.

Impressively the weather in the Deep South has pulled a miracle now! Rain has gone, the sun is beating down and no wind.
Not one to shy away from getting filthy and having fun, I'll degrease the TCR's chain and make pretty again with Mr Sheen.

Ooops, I forgot!
A delightfully black-'n-blue chain is persona non grata to the warthog...

Gotta admit I've always just wizzed through Faraday and paid it no heed. Fast bit of road at the base of 2 small climbs.
Alex was a bit windy today but almost traffic free. Smacked out a few watts but still pretty slow.

With respect to the chain lube choice, each to their own. You can lead a horse to water but cant make it drink.

The weather here tonight is pretty good, if a bit chilly...

Prior to the ride in magnificent weather on the weekend I had not seen the old school for close to 30 years. I remember it being very overgrown, derelict and generally not worthy of any attention then. In those days ascents and descents of Alexander on MTB were common.

I grieve to relate that my power output is piddly , but I don't care! I'm riding because I enjoy riding, not because I want to be the fastest/most powerful or the glossiest show-pony on two wheels. Screenshot of yesterday's ride; my power rarely goes above 220 megawatts ( )



Tomorra I'm back on the MTB for the regular city commute. TCR is all cleaned and sparkly again and ready for Saturday (when it will probably rain...).

It looks like Melbourne "spring" weather has arrived: up to 40mm of rain forecast for tomorrow with almost 100% chance.

Bugger
A bit here in central Vic overnight and today.
MotoGP is on this weekend at PI so of course it is going to poo

Yep a grey old day here. Battled through it as a reco day.