Two training weekends down, one to go. Then the big one!
The Smiddy team is putting in the work required to ride 1600 kilometres in 8 days...
Over the weekend of 17-18 July, 35 Smiddy Challenge riders took on the massive task of not only riding 450 kilometres over two days but were subjected to close on 4000 metres of climbing as well. Throw in the chilly morning out of Brisbane of five degrees and the bone rattling zero degrees out of Warwick and the riders knew that they had completed an epic weekend that helped raise their fitness and more importantly their confidence.
The first day out to Warwick will forever be known as P Day, or Puncture Day. A record 25 punctures were recorded, mostly on the new Smiddy Merida bikes. This was a cause of great frustration until the problem was worked out to be inferior rim tape. The sag wagon of Wybrand and Kevy have never been so busy picking up riders and changing tyres for most of the morning. New rim tape will be fitted to all Smiddy bikes when returned for their first free service at 99 Bikes.
King of the mountain was taken out by young gun Jade Myers, successfully defending his crown from last year. Angela Clarke comfortably won the Queen title and managed to even take in some of the scenery on the way up the difficult 17 percent four kilometre climb.
The return journey home was a different route for the first 100kms thanks to the great route planning by Scott ‘the Falcon' May. A few rollers with no major climbs and we got to enjoy a majestic 20km descent down Heffer Creek Road, which heads towards Gatton.
The group rode so well together that the dreaded word "split" was only heard on the rarest of occasions throughout most of the day.
Except for Kevin Enchelmaier (4 year Smiddy volunteer) and Robina Semos (Midi Smiddy rider) we had an entirely new road crew and once again the weekend was a success through their actions. Thanks must go to Jae Marr (UQ Aquatic Centre manager), Jocelyn Hegarty (Smiddy rider Tony Hegarty's wife), Cath Conway (Midi Smiddy rider), Wybrand Du-Toit (Smiddy road crew), Ryan Early (film crew helping out as road crew), and Paul Gillard (future Smiddy rider).
A huge thanks also to our local Bottlemart hosts in Gary and Jo at Warwick's Horse and Jockey Hotel Motel, who provided a free breakfast plus gave us a full collection tin, which was from staff tips over the week prior to our visit.
Congratulations to all the riders who completed an epic weekend and commiserations to Jacqui Doel and Glen Petheley who were involved in a minor bingle touching wheels late on day two. Both bounced up okay but spent a small amount of time in the follow vehicle until deemed to be okay.
Hope to see all Smiddy riders for the Gympie training weekend on August 14-15.
Sharky
P.S. If you wish to donate in support of the Smiddy riders visit their fundraising pages.