(Story supplied bu Russell Drowley)
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| Some of the Northern Ghostriders Peloton gathered at the start - Feb 14th 2009 |
Wow what a day. 12 dedicated riders lined up at Craigieburn Station at 10 am on Valentines Day 2009 for a ride of a life time. Where else could you ride through creeks, under tunnels, alongside lakes, through national parks while in the company of some of the most dedicated riders in the state. They came from near and far to be there on this auspicious occasion. Two riders, Ken and Peter travelled all the way from Inverloch to be at this history making event. Neil and Colin, from the Bendigo Chapter of the Warbies travelled from Bendigo. This ride promised to be one that would go down in the history books and people wanted to have their names officially recorded so they could read about themselves being part of history.
Sadly the day was marred by a thick blanket of smoke haze caused by the bushfires in and around Melbourne during the past week. This was a constant reminder that we were some of the favoured ones who came through that disastrous day last Saturday unscathed. Our sympathies and encouragement go out to those, for whom life will never be the same again. We salute the hero’s who toiled valiantly to protect us all.
My first impression riding into the station right on 10am was the fact that there were more riders than I had expected ready to attempt this history making event. There was some shaking of hands and hello’s and introductions and then it was down to the business of a serious ride. Psst, Dennis. I have the solution to a problem person in the peloton. One known to bolt ahead of the pack. “Hey Mal, could you go tail end Charlie for me please today.” Mate worked like a dream. He behaved himself all day which was a major miracle actually and only bolted once right near the end of the ride. Thanks Mal.
So off we headed. We meandered along the paved bike paths along Aitken Creek, Craigieburn down through Roxburgh Park and then on through the Broadmeadows Valley Park in Meadow Heights. Heading down past the lakes in Roxburgh Park there is a wicked downhill section under the tunnel at Somerton Road and some nearly had their peddles touching the pavement on the fast corners. Some people saw numbers on their cycle computers they had never seen before. These Warbies have adrenalin in their blood and they were starting to get excited.
Then the creek crossing came into view and eyes rolled while some smiles widened. Some chose to walk, while some chose to ride at speed to test the laws of physics. Guess who. Check the video for a clue. Then it was up a steep climb to the top of the hill and up through Greenvale of which someone corrected me in renaming it “Brownvale.” It certainly is dry over this side of town.
Woodlands Park and it’s dry rocky and sometimes sandy surface tested the skills of some of the riders. It’s hard to convince someone that its better to go a little faster in this tricky terrain but happily by the end everyone had honed their bike handling skills even further. One relatively new member of the true Warbies got a taste of “single” track and it seems we may have a new recruit for a quick spin around Lysterfield Park in the not to distant future.
The Bakery at West Meadows was an ideal lunch stop and I am sure everyone enjoyed the time for a relaxed chat instead of concentrating on keeping the bike upright and pointed in the right direction.
After lunch it was back on the bikes for the home run. Down through Gladstone Park and then south along the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. Then up the Jacana Hill on to the Western Ring Road Trail. The ride continued along the Ring Road trail until we turned and headed north and for home up the newly named “Galada Tamboore Pathway” (Wurundjeri language for "stream waterhole") which follows the Craigieburn Bypass Road all the way to Craigieburn.
So we rolled in to Craigieburn Station having accomplished the great ride and broadened our knowledge of Melbourne’s Northern Suburbs.
Thanks everyone for making this a great ride. Bill, Wendy, Danielle, Charlie, Mal, Ken, Peter, Liz, Colin, Neil and Karen. Hope to see you all again soon.
Check out the short video clip at; http://picasaweb.google.com/russelldro/Warbies?authkey=-mHn8WuNDjM#5302894469423852226
(Click on the View HQ Video on the top right of the video if you have a broadband connection.)
I hope to have a feature ride every two months. The next one will go west towards Greensborough. Stay tuned on the Warbies Web Site, Northern Ghostriders section. Anyone wanting to ride during the week or on Saturday morning send me an email or a text.
Happy Cycling,
Russell Drowley.
0407 842044 russelldro@gmail.com