Thursday morning "slowcial" bunch ride

[cindy]

I would like to propose a regular Thursday morning social ride aimed at those of us who are less experienced, not quite as fit as we would like to be, and who have family commitments (ie kids plus partners who ride Tues & Fri mornings!). Everyone is, of course, welcome and it would be great if some of the old hands could come along sometimes (especially for the first few) to give us a bit of guidance and a few tips. But please respect that the aim is a slow social ride, not a fast training ride.

We would start at 6am at ANU and do approximately 25km. I will post a link to the proposed route tomorrow (Saturday 17th)!

To wear off the Christmas cheer it would be good to have the first ride on Thursday 29th Dec if there is enough interest, but given that it will be holidays we would start at 8am rather than 6am that day.

The following week, Thursday January 5th, we would start at 6am.

Please post a reply or email me at cindylfisher@gmail.com if you are interested.

[milto]

Hi Cindy

I am happy to come along to the first couple and help out. I don't think I have john's voice but I will try.

[Eleanora]

Hi Cindy

I should be around for the 29th.

[LauraLl]

Sounds great - I'm in.

Will PM my mobile number in case of inclement weather, poo-nami or similar baby catastrophes :)

[bosworth*]

I approve

[cindy]

Great, it looks like from the posts here, from emails that I have received, and from chatting to people that there is enough interest to get this ride up and running!

Milto, thanks for your offer, that would be great if you could come along to the first few. Thanks!

Here is a link to the proposed route, which is approximately 25km. Any suggestions / alterations are of course welcome! I might go out and give it a run later in the week, just to check it out and check the distance!

http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msid=202371837964591905124.0004b450aa0e9181bddb 9&msa=0

It starts at Civic Pool, Commonwealth Ave, across the bridge, around the front of Old Parliament House, up Federation Mall, around the left side of New Parliament House, down melbourne Ave, right onto Stonehaven Cres, then onto Hopetoun Cir, through Deakin and Yarralumla, right onto Schlich St, Empire Cir, Forster Cres, around past the Chinese Embassy, onto Alexandrina, Weston Park Rd, out to the end of Weston park and back, up Novar St, onto Adelaide Ave, State Circle, Flynn Dr, back across the bridge and back to Civic pool.

[cindy]

PS - I think it looks and sounds much more complicated than it actually is!!

[cindy]

This Thursday December 29 will be our first Thursday social ride.

I tested out the route today. It was 24.62km and it took me 59 minutes by myself, so in a bunch we should knock it over in under an hour.

Time: 8am (because it is holidays!).
Location: Civic pool carpark (the carpark on Constitution Ave)
Route: http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ms...181bddb9&msa=0

From Thursday January 5 the ride will be at 6am every week. If it is cold or the ground is wet assume that we are still riding. If it is actually raining (hailing, snowing or precipitating in any form) stay in bed!

Hope to see some of you there on Thursday morning.

Cheers,

Cindy

[milto]

where is the coffee?

[Eleanora]

I'll be there.

[RobF]

Good thinking milto!! Coffee might be a bit tricky in the city this week....Normally I would say Emissions would be the place to go, but I'm not sure that they will be open tomorrow??
I probably can't do coffee tomorrow morning as we are going away tomorrow, but if people are keen and know a bike friendly spot that will open....
In the future I would say make Emissions our coffee spot, as it is close to our start/finish point.

Cindy (oops this is logged in as rob!!)

[Eleanora]

maybe cafe Essen or Milk and Honey might be open. They are both pretty close the the start/finish.

[milto]

This ride may be a good SS option for those inclined that way. I will have to choose my orientation in the morning.

[milto]

Well today I was oriented towards the geared bike. Maybe next time I will try the SS. Will struggle on the hills though.

Thanks for a great ride. It was good to see 10 of us there this morning.

I look forward to seeing more new or slower riders comong along to this one.

Maybe a good idea to alternate the route once everyone knows this route.

There is a northside novice route that I will have a look for.

[milto]

Who is in for this tomorrow 5/1?

[cindy]

I'll be there! I noticed today that emissions cafe just up from where we start / finish is open again so maybe we can coffee / breakfast there?!

[cindy]

By the way....6 am start tomorrow!

[Eleanora]

I'm out this week. Have fun!

[_ABC_]

Just a word of warning: the coffee at Emissions is pretty hit and miss. If you're just after coffee in that area try the Glasshouse Express at the bottom of what used to be the ActewAGL building - now the one that has the hideous 221 plastered down the side.

[LauraLl]

I'm out this week too - I need to use my leave pass to ride tomorrow night.

BTW - The brownies at Glasshouse Express are exceptional (belgian chocolate goodness), if you can stomach chocolate that early in the morning.

[lovetoride]

Just a word of warning: the coffee at Emissions is pretty hit and miss. If you're just after coffee in that area try the Glasshouse Express at the bottom of what used to be the ActewAGL building - now the one that has the hideous 221 plastered down the side.

But the Glasshouse Express has a fantastic photo on the wall inside! Check it out. :thumbup1:

[cindy]

Don't forget "Thursday Morning Social Bunch Ride", 6am, Civic Pool carpark. This ride will be on every Thursday morning. Open to everyone, but remember this is a slow social ride, not a fast and furious training ride!

I have had to change the route slightly, as it turns out that the Weston park gate does not open until 7am.

The route is the same until we get to the end of Alexandrina Dr, then it is as follows:
turn LEFT into BANKS ST
turn LEFT into SCHLICH ST
turn LEFT at the roundabout into HOPETOUN CCT
turn LEFT back onto ALEXANDRINA DR
turn LEFT into NOVAR ST
Continue as per the normal route, up to Adelaide Ave and back to Civic. It is still about the same length (25km).

Link to a map of the route:
http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msid=202371837964591905124.0004b450aa0e9181bddb 9&msa=0

As per Andy's reccommendation coffee / breakfast will be at GLASSHOUSE EXPRESS cafe, so we will finish the ride there, rather than back at Civic Pool (for those who are driving in, note that Civic Pool carpark is only a couple of hundred metres from the cafe!).

Glasshouse Express is located at 221 London Circuit....for those familiar with the area it is the big building with the huge number 221 on the side of the building, near the Indo Cafe. And I have checked that it will be open at that time of the morning!! (it opens at 6:30am)

See you on Thursday!

[cindy]

Don't forget "slowcial" bunch tomorrow morning. 6am at civi pool carpark.
Hope to see a few people there!

[cindy]

As this Thursday is a public holiday we will have a bit of a sleep in and start at 7am at Civic Pool.

Depending on what people want to do and what is open we will finish in the mall (Cafe Essen / Gus's) or at Debacle.

Hope to see you then!

[cindy]

Unfortunately I will no longer be able make it this Thursday morning. Hope you all have a good ride though!