Hi Everyone,
 
Just a quick note to plant the seed early for this year's MS Sydney to the Gong Ride on the 4th of November.
 
As most of you will know, MS is very close to us all, there are several forum members living with the challenges it brings and there are a number of others very close to our members that are also effected.
 
I am doing the ride this year to help raise as many $$$ as possible to go towards research and assisting those dealing with MS every day of their lives.
Hopefully most of us can chip in a few $$ towards the cause and sponsor me on the ride. Registrations open late June so once I've registered, I will post a link to the MS Australia website where pledges and donations can be made online.
 
I'm setting myself a personal goal for the ride, that is to complete the ride in 3 hours...this is a stretch given I have just started cycling again after 18 years off the bike, not to mention the broken wrist falling off 8 weeks ago!!. It would be great if members could dangle a carrot in front of me by maybe donating a little extra if I can break the 3 hour goal!!!
 
Please everyone, get ready to dig deep if you can, or just throw your support towards the ride!!
 
Regards,
 
Phil.
 

Sounds like a good cause Phil. I would be happy to make a small donation toward the cause when the time comes.

Cheers Damion:)
I went out for a ride with Bud and Steve last night...it really highlighted how much work I've got to do!! They smashed me on the hills but I knocked over 90kms for the night so was happy with that

90kms! That is pretty decent.

Suprisingly it goes by in a flash...was definately easier when riding with a few friends, especially when they are in so much better condition!! Im considering a 100km loop this Saturday morning, a guy from work does what he calls the M's loop, M5,M7,M4 then Northern Road back to Camden...will see if Im game come Saturday!!

Its been a while since the last update...the old legs are coming on nicely
 
 Last night out for a ride with Bud and Steve, was good to be tested to the limit!! I set a new average speed record and a new personal best time for the M7 full lap! 76kms at an average speed of 31.7kph and done in 2h 23mins. I've been riding between 200km and 300km most weekends, it is really starting to pay off. I could almost say Im lucky the head for the Corty isnt finished yet
 
The Gong Ride is getting closer, only a few months away now and Im really looking forward to it. So far with all the generous donations from people, the funds raised are $340301 which is awsome. The taget of $4500000 is definately looking achievable!! As is the under 3 hour goal
 
Last but not least, another shameless plug for sponsorship!! If you have a few $$ you can throw towards a very worthwhile and close to home cause, please click on the link below And not to forget any donation is tax deductable, MS Australia email a tax reciept as soon as the donation is recieved
 
https://register.gongride.org.au/2012-Sydney-to-Gong-Bike-Ride/donate/phileyke
 

We're now inside a month until the big day! I've been cranking out the k's in preparation and have now started doing a few climbs. I've been riding with Bud and just quietly, he is a wolf in sheeps clothing...quite easily smashes us all on the climbs!! 
 
http://app.strava.com/athletes/281087/latest-rides/ee63cd4d00b2943728c4e15e2dc2452df678c7dd

Phil what bike do you have? I also ride road bikes aswell, not as many kms as you though

Hi Stewart,
I started of earlier this year on my old Diamond Back Integral TG, then about June moved to the slightly less old no namer Im on now. Its a second hand bike that the frame was imported about 8-10 years ago as a test specimen...from what I know it is most closely related to a Felt branded bike. It has an alloy from, carbon forks, seatpost and rear clip, runs 105 20 speed groupset and weighs in at 7.8kg for the bare bike with pedals. I really enjoy riding it, seems to be a much better fit than the old Diamond Back and I've knocked out over 3000kms on it now. 
Cheers,
Phil.
 
Diamond Back 25.2
 

Hi Guys and Girls,
 
2 sleeps to go until the big day!!! Its been a huge few weeks between training and anoth ride I did last weekend in Canberra. Im feeling pretty confident of cracking the 3 hour moving time mark on the way down to the Gong, definatately not up for a DNF!!
 
I had my first taste of the terrain that the Tour de France riders might encounter on some of their stages last weekend. I did a ride in Canberra called Fitz's Challenge, it was 209kms and involved over 4000 metres of vertical climbing through the Brindabella Mountains. It was a very 'steep' learning curve in quite a few ways...a taste of what it means to run the right gearing on the bike...confirmation that Sydney really doesnt have any serious climbs to train on!!!...how halfway through the ride is not the best time to realise your not mentally prepared for 16% continuous climbs...and how Cadel must have felt with his stomach bug for the whole Tour, I only had to deal with one for the last 40k's and it beat me with 13kms to go[8~2]
 
Unfortunately it has given me a taste for what serious riding is about, so next is the Mt Buller Classic next March...16kms non stop climbing, then Fitz's 255km Extreme in October before doing the 2014 3 Peaks 240km Alpine Challenge. Hopefully the head for the Corty is finished before I finish all 3 of these rides!!
 
Here is a link to the Garmin Log of my ride... http://app.strava.com/activities/26286983
 
And there were some strange sights as well as many funny story's that went down...the pic below is me laughing uncontrollably at one of the most unexpected scenes you could encounter in the middle of nowhere!!! And all while trying to deal with a climbing section!!
 
Anyway, a big thankyou must go out to everyone who has sponsored me for the Gongride 2012...my total raised so far is $1045.00 which is way more support than I ever expected to see, it really means a lot and it is particularly special as it goes toward research that may well help one of our very own members and other close family and friends that live with MS every day.
 
http://register.gongride.org.au/2012-Sydney-to-Gong-Bike-Ride/phileyke
 
Cheers,
 
Phil.