Steam Bowral weekend

15 riders set off from Centennial Park in what initially looked like somewhat dubious weather conditions – but eventually proved to be perfect riding weather.   Apart from taking on a BMW at the Dolls Point roundabout the first leg of the journey was uneventful and there was a glorious view from the top of Bulli all the way down past Wollongong.   At the bottom of Bulli pass, there was a quick swap of drivers and riders and Rowan cleated in to the Mercedes (I’m sure it’s dangerous driving with cycling shoes on) for some more horsepower.   

The bunch braved a bit of traffic through the Wollongong suburbs (still preferable to the freeway) and emerged on the other side to meet up with the freeway at Albion Park.   Nothing much to report on the second leg either except one of our riders with an Italian background had to be told by another rider with an Italian background to stop waving his arms around and talking with his hands as he was riding a bike not at the coffee shop.

Then we refuelled at the infamous Murray Motors garage (the last stop for Cherry Ripes) before ascending up to the Southern Highlands via Macquarie Pass.   I have to say that none of the Steam bunch was fastest up there as Sutherland Cycling Club were doing a time trial up there (now that’s an idea ….).   All the Sutherland riders were greatly encouraged by the Steam group who were thinking thank goodness we’re not being timed up here (Daniele is looking into this).  And we actually got thanked at the top in the coffee shop for all our words of encouragement.   And a big clap to Jane, Jan Davies and Lisa Springer who did their first Macquarie Pass and lived to tell the tale.  And go girlpower – the girls were 1,2 and 3 up there (don’t know what the boys were doing …).

It was a bit brisk up the top, so after a couple of coffees we set off via a very scenic back road to Bowral and finished off the ride at just under 160kms (some of us went up the road to click it over of course).

Rod Knutson did a splendid job organising the accommodation complete with four poster beds and very cold swimming pool.   Rod also organised Savannah restaurant which Steam took over later on that night and got fed more than even a very hungry bunch of cyclists could eat.   There were some incoherent speeches usually heckled by Colin Harris from the floor and apparently a lot of anatomical talk going on at one of the tables (the girls learned a lot apparently about what it means to be a bloke on a bike – possibly more than we needed to know).

So it wouldn’t seem too early, we all put our watches forward to daylight saving so that we could go to bed at what seemed like a grown up hour.

Next morning dawned bright and cheerful and the group set off for Bundanoon to have a coffee at the Olde Bicycle Shoppe and if you think Lisa Springer’s bike is heavy you should have seen the pre-war number hanging up in there.   Then it was all over for another six months or so as we rode back, packed the van and wandered into town to Heather Turland’s café for a delicious lunch.  StateRail did their worst as we travelled back on the train – we did make it back the same day …. but it was bloody slow going.    The weekend had a general vote of approval so we are thinking of doing it all over again next year in either Feb or April for all those that couldn’t make it this time or just fancy doing it all again.

Thanks to Rod Knutson (social sec) for organising everything, Daniele Vanolini doing another splendid job as ride captain, Rob Vanolini for driving the support van behind us all weekend adorned with Steam Racing magnets (we got lots of good attention as I think everyone thought we were pros …) and everyone else for coming along and making it such a good weekend.

Anna Murray