I’ve learnt to swim when I was young. Survival skill. I’ve inherited my running legs from my mom, ex-state runner. Also a survival skill. But cycling is a different matter. It has wheels, so like a car, it’s just to get me from 1 place to another, fast. I would have never expected to race in a bike before (err…only when I was kid racing against the kid next door).

 

 

 

Anyway, the Wilson HTM Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge (geez, what a mouthful) wasn’t a race, but just a mental / fun event of 2 distances : 60km (Beenleigh to Southport) and 100km (Southbank to Southport). Southport is located in Gold Goast. Since I’ve never rode >20km before, I guess I’ll stick to 60km instead.

 

The night before the race, I had my housemate helped me adjust my bike seat & pump up the tires. To my horror, the tire bust, and I didn’t have a spare. In agony, I called my training mate, Hannah asking for help. Thankfully she had a friend who is able to lend me a bike.

 

 

 

 

The event at Beenleigh starts at 8am and it takes about 45mins to get there by train. Yes, it was another early morning. I was “kiasu” thinking that I might need to fight for a space, so I was at the train station about 15mins early. No-bo-dy also. Celaka!! My kiasu-ness got the better of me.

 

 

 

The starting line was pretty pathetic. Not as glamorous as the 100km at Southbank. It cost $1 to keep your belongings at the Clock Room. Well, better than carrying it. We joined the main road where the 100km riders were zooming along. It was a pretty joyful ride, eventhough I didn’t know anyone. Passed a few riders who had their little mishaps eg. tire puncture etc. I was thankful that I was in a fairly new bike, so lady luck was on my side.

 

 

 

Well, the route seemed somewhat familiar as I was here only a week ago doing my Gold Coast Triathlon. It was a scenic ride surrounded by greenery. Oh, I remembered encountering a few riders with antennas sticking from their helmets. I thought it was to receive radio transmission. Seriously! Hannah said it was to prevent crows from pecking. Ahh…so-des-ka.

 

 

I didn’t think I was required to carbo load. So at around 28km, my stomach started growling. Good thing the pitstop was only a few KMs away. A few cyclist passed by me started talking about scrambled eggs with toast. Guess I wasn’t the only one looking forward to the food. It was a casual event. Cyclist lay their bikes on the ground, slowly walking to tents & resting to recollect themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t stay long at the pitstop coz I didn’t want to leave Gold Coast too late. I popped my precious items (like computer game only) into my bikepouch and went on my merry way. Once we were out from the country side into the city, I knew I made it. The weather was cloudy so it wasn’t glaring to my eyes.

 

 

 

Too bad I couldn’t lift up my arms as I cross the finish line or else I’ll fall off the bike. I enjoyed riding the hybrid bike. A hybrid bicycle is a bicycle designed for use on roads and bike paths. The upright seating position was a bliss to my back and I felt more secure when going over rough terrains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 60km ride took me 2hrs 57mins leisure trip to the coast. On the trip home, I took the bus while the bike rode the truck. I can’t express how much I love this ride. Maybe just cause Australia has got better & flatter road conditions compared to Malaysia. But I know our Malaysian riders always love a challenge.