Well I must admit when TRAVEL FORCE suggested CHARMAINE GAIR join us on this years Tour de Cure just 9 weeks out from the ride I was hoping that Charmaine was an accomplished rider and already clocking up the km's. Far from an accomplished rider, Charmaine's riding experience was to and from work (14km each way) a couple of times a week. 
I am very pleased to report that Charmaine has taken to riding much better than I had hoped and much quicker than I had prayed for. With an athletic background in running and personal fitness Charmaine started this campaign from a better fitness base than most of the other TDC riders. Having said that, cycling fitness is a whole other ball game.......ok wheel game! Getting your body comfortable on a tiny little seat for 6 - 8hrs a day , riding anywhere from 100 - 200km through the beaches and gorges around Sydney will challenge anyone new to the sport.
On our first bright and sunny Saturday in almost a month, Charmaine joined the TDC peleton and headed up the HWY to take on the might Gorges. The 34km from our Club house (MIASEY'S MILITARY RD) to Berowra is a steady climb through some narrow streets in the dark. 14 of the Tour de Cure's best charged up the HWY and Charmaine in only her 2nd bunch ride and 6 TDC training ride, kept pace with the peleton to their turnoff in to Bobbin Head. We kept our steady pace up the HWY to Berowra where we descended in to the gorge to catch the car ferry to the other side.
For those that have not been to this place it is certainly worth a drive one weekend. Lush farms, sweeping hills and beautiful Australian wilderness surrounds you for most of the ride. One thing a cyclist gets to know is that what goes down must come up so our decent whilst a lot of fun only hides the formidable hills on the other side. I say formidable as for a new rider the gorges would be something you undertake a couple (3 -4) months in to your riding. In her 2nd week of training and 6th ride overall with her previous longest ride being 65km and here were are, 45km from home and 55km in to our ride and we start climbing. Not easy by anyones standards!
Like the trooper she is, Charmaine gritted her teeth and pushed her body up the hills at I might say, a pretty handy pace. A pleasing sight for me knowing we have only 6 weeks to get her ready for 1200km and 9568m vertical over 9 days. Not to mention we need to ride at an average speed of 28km/hr in the peleton.
Catching the TDC peleton as we rode to Glaston Gorge we doubled back with them and did Berowra in reverse.................It is a harder climb on the way out this time and again Charmaine impressed all with her courage to not lose too much time on the peleton.
With 6 weeks to go Charmaine is well down the road to helping us find a cure for CANCER.
I am very pleased to report that Charmaine has taken to riding much better than I had hoped and much quicker than I had prayed for. With an athletic background in running and personal fitness Charmaine started this campaign from a better fitness base than most of the other TDC riders. Having said that, cycling fitness is a whole other ball game.......ok wheel game! Getting your body comfortable on a tiny little seat for 6 - 8hrs a day , riding anywhere from 100 - 200km through the beaches and gorges around Sydney will challenge anyone new to the sport.
On our first bright and sunny Saturday in almost a month, Charmaine joined the TDC peleton and headed up the HWY to take on the might Gorges. The 34km from our Club house (MIASEY'S MILITARY RD) to Berowra is a steady climb through some narrow streets in the dark. 14 of the Tour de Cure's best charged up the HWY and Charmaine in only her 2nd bunch ride and 6 TDC training ride, kept pace with the peleton to their turnoff in to Bobbin Head. We kept our steady pace up the HWY to Berowra where we descended in to the gorge to catch the car ferry to the other side.
For those that have not been to this place it is certainly worth a drive one weekend. Lush farms, sweeping hills and beautiful Australian wilderness surrounds you for most of the ride. One thing a cyclist gets to know is that what goes down must come up so our decent whilst a lot of fun only hides the formidable hills on the other side. I say formidable as for a new rider the gorges would be something you undertake a couple (3 -4) months in to your riding. In her 2nd week of training and 6th ride overall with her previous longest ride being 65km and here were are, 45km from home and 55km in to our ride and we start climbing. Not easy by anyones standards!
Like the trooper she is, Charmaine gritted her teeth and pushed her body up the hills at I might say, a pretty handy pace. A pleasing sight for me knowing we have only 6 weeks to get her ready for 1200km and 9568m vertical over 9 days. Not to mention we need to ride at an average speed of 28km/hr in the peleton.
Catching the TDC peleton as we rode to Glaston Gorge we doubled back with them and did Berowra in reverse.................It is a harder climb on the way out this time and again Charmaine impressed all with her courage to not lose too much time on the peleton.
With 6 weeks to go Charmaine is well down the road to helping us find a cure for CANCER.
Nice riding Charmaine.................keep up the good work!
1 comment:
Dear Coomsby,
It it nice to know that Charmaine GAIR (note the spelling), is doing well.
A good analogy as to what Charmaine is attemping to do is like me as a 68 yo runner taking on emile zadapec.
She IS a champion!
Rob.
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