Several times each year the Ghostriders conduct rides which are specially designated "Social Rides". These rides are conducted at a slow pace and are intended as ideal opportunities to invite non-riding partners and friends to share some of our passion for cycling. Our first such Social Ride for 2009 was conducted on Saturday 3rd Jan and it was fantastic to see so many non-regular riders join us for the day.
Although the ride officially started at COGS it was not until we reached Woori Yallock that we were joined by at least 6 guest riders, making it easily our most successful ride of its type we had ever conducted. After brief introductions were made we proceeded up the track towards Warburton. Although an accurate head count was not done we had in excess of 25 riders, make an impressive spectacle as we gently made our way towards the lunch stop.
The fine weather and holiday season had obviously encouraged large numbers of other riders to try out the Warburton Trail, although it horrified me to see that several were not wearing bike helmets. I have to admit that, after seeing so many riders saved from serious injury by their helmet, I have no patience or understanding for anyone who would ride anywhere without such protection. Hardest of all to understand are the parents who take their children out on the trail without themself wearing a helmet. What a pathetic example to set !
I was impressed to see the way that the guests were enjoying the fine conditions. In fact there was a happy and relaxed feel throughout the group. Near Launching Place we met up with Noel and his wife Jenny. Noel had turned up with a large brown dog that must have weighed about 3 times as much as he did. It surely must have been carrying a liberal selection of horse genes in its DNA. He explained that he would be "training" the monster dog by dragging it alongside his bike all the way to Warburton and back again. When I reminded him that would be about 30 km he said that the dog did that many km before breakfast every day. The man and his dog were soon out of sight.
Unfortunately when we arrived at Milgrove we discovered that the coffee shop was still closed for the holiday season. This meant that we all had to continue up the hill to Warburton, hoping that at least 1 of the shops there would be open for us. At Warburton the only place we could find was the Good Food Place at the far end of town, but were dismayed when they told us that the "kitchen had run out of food". And they weren't kidding - the only things left were coffee and cakes. I suppose if one has to starve there are worse ways than this. We proceeded to settle down for a long session of coffee drinking and cake eating.
All the guests seemed to have acquitted themselves well and were enjoying the happy chatter outside the cafe. But where was Noel and his super dog ? They were nowhere to be seen. It was not until a few minutes later that a rather battered and bloodied rider finally arrived, being pulled along the road by his galloping canine. Apparently the dog had seen something of interest off the side of the trail and had dragged Noel from the bike and through a blackberry patch in pursuit. With copious cuts and abbrasions Noel looked like he was starting to doubt the wisdom of bringing his canine collossus out on a bike ride. The dog, on the other hand, looked like it was just getting warmed up.
With tummies full and faces asmile the group started to wend its way back to the waiting cars at Woori Yallock. We again proceeded at a slow but most sociable pace and regrouped at the Launching Place crossing. It was so pleasing to see the way that the day was progressing. Even my wife Maggie, who had not been out on her bike for over 3 years, seemed to be enjoying herself. With only the final short section back to Woori Yallock I knew that nothing could now stop everyone from completing the ride.
It was only as I was packing the car that I realised that Maggie had not arrived back at Woori Yallock. I looked up and could see her riding with Lothar but it was only when she drew closer that I could see that all was not well with her. With a large cut on her knee and a patch of raw graze on her shoulder she explained that she had got her foot caught in the toe clip and fallen on to one of the metal dividers. It was not the ideal way for her ride to finish and I could not help but feel guilty that I had not removed the toe clips before we started. Apart from the injuries Maggie said she had actually enjoyed the ride.
Although we ended up at the medical centre for a tetanus shot and some professional bandaging, the first social ride of 2009 had generally gone very well. It is obvious that there is a need for these types of rides and we will endeavour to make them an integral part of our annual program. Congratulations to all those who joined us for the first time.