You are currently browsing the archives for the speed tag.
From Perth to Sydney on tandem pushbikes – Monday, March 29 to Monday, April 26, 2010:
Total distance: 4120.2km
Actual riding time: 145.32 hours
Average speed: 28.3km/h
Now, after all those kms, is it any wonder the boys considered tossing their trusty steeds in the drink? No – just kidding. They couldn’t part with those fabulously reliable Cannondale tandems….
Sir James Mitchell Park was an ideal starting point for the Blind Courage bike ride – it couldn’t have been a prettier setting on the southern banks of the Swan River.
Conditions were ideal for the journey and the boys just loved the cycle tracks around Perth.
Thanks to their personal escorts and tour guides, fellow cyclists Beau, Trevor and Hab, they were able to get through Perth and out onto the open road without too many traffic hassles.
The cyclists travelled well, despite the unfriendly but refreshing easterly breeze that blew all day.
There was a reasonable climb out of Perth and a series of rolling hills leading to Northam, their first stop along the way.
Northam Senior High School chaplain Deon Throne invited the boys to call in and speak to a group of Year 8 and 9 students, who gave them a warm welcome to town.
After enjoying a couple of hours’ respite in the shady school grounds, the team hopped back on their bikes and headed for Cunderdin, via Meckering.
Maths/science teacher and avid cycle fan Mark McClellan joined them for the Meckering to Cunderdin leg of the journey, riding with them in to the grounds of Cunderdin Caravan Park, where Leith and Linda welcomed us for the night.
Nursing sore backsides and aching limbs, the hot showers were a godsend for the weary riders.
After a dinner of rogan josh followed by peaches, they nursed their tired bones and prepared for the next day’s ride which was to start at 7am or thereabouts at the Cunderdin School.
A group of students planned to ride 5km out along the road with the Blind Courage crew – with a police escort from the local boys in blue.
Thanks to the generosity and hospitality of the friendly locals, including park owners, guests and the local museum staff, our stay in Cunderdin was more than memorable.
Along the way I spotted Elvis outside a shop in Mandaring. No fooling. And yes, you can trust me. I’m a journalist… and the pies at Bakers Hill were yummy.
The statistician of the Blind Courage team, Grant, has some interesting little facts and figures for those who like the details, the first of which is that he alone burnt 3445 calories his first day out:
Monday’s ride started at 7.25am Perth time. They rode a total of 163km from Perth to Cunderdin.
Riding time was 7 hours 2 minutes 44 seconds and they travelled at an average speed of 23.14km/h, with a maximum speed of 59.81km/h.
The minimum road temperature was 18.7 degrees, and maximum road temperature was 35.8 degrees. The maximum altitude was 336m.
Their average climbing speed uphill was 17.16km/h; the average incline 2 per cent; maximum incline 10 per cent; average speed downhill was 34.6km/h; average descent was 2 per cent and maximum descent was 7 per cent.
