DAY 15 Stage 11

Ardlethan to West Wyalong

Steve Warden leads out up one of yesterday's testing undulations on the way to West Wyalong.

Geoff Battle and John Mercer on the road to West Wyalong

The riders completed a demanding 79kg leg yesterday, leaving tiny Ardlethan, home of the kelpie, at 7am.
For Steve Warden it is the seventh charity ride he's undertaken but by far the most challenging.
"I'd never ridden 160km in a day before," the 65-year-old cotton consultant said in the pre-dawn light at Ardlethan.
"And we've still got a few long days to go too.
"The highlight though has been the Hay Plain."
Riding the flat, almost desolate Hay Plain was another marathon day of 130-plus kilometres into a headwind.
Steve hails from Milton on the NSW South Coast.
He went to school at Hawkesbury Agricultural College and played first grade rugby union for Gordon, starting in the centres but then moving to breakaway.He played for Central North and Country as well as becoming a Country selector after retiring.
He played much of his Central North rugby career with the Narrabri Blue Boars, winning "two or three premierships"
"I also had a season with Quirindi," he recalled.
He's been involved in the cotton industry since 1964 but is a relative newcomer to cycling.
"Didn't start riding until my late 50's," he said.
How did he become involved in the charity rides?
"We had a friend who was one of the first people airlifted by the helicopter," he said.
"I don't kow how I really got involved in it but it's a fantastic service."
He's also thankful to his sponsors - Caltex (Sue and Glen Mihell), Central Caltex (West and East Tamworth), Forsyths, Cotton Seed Distributors, Freemans Insurances, New Farm, Sygenta, Ramsay Health Agriculture.
After this 20-day 1700-1800km ride finishes in Tamworth next Friday he'll "finish the cotton season off" and then enjoy winter.After this 20-day 1700-1800km ride finishes in Tamworth next Friday he'll "finish the cotton season off" and then enjoy winter.
"I'll see what happens next year," he said as far as another charity ride goes.
Yesterday's ride was tough, he said, especially the last 30km or so into West Wyalong.
Fellow riders agreed.
Peter Watson, the 72-year-old marvel, who has ridden every kilometre so far, thought it a demanding day after dismounting at the Tattersalls Hotel.
"That was a tough leg," he said.
"Those long rolling hills."
Bruce Jeffrey reckoned it was "beautiful, undulating country".
"We sat on a fairly good pace all day although the boys had a rush of blood this morning," Bruce Jeffrey said.
Geoff Battle thought it a "good, hard hit out"
"The hills are good after the flat country. There were a couple of good quick hitouts and we got into West Wyalong nice and early."
Ken West relished the hills.
"I'd rather them than the flat country," Westie said.
"You have to push all the way on the flat. At least you can get a run down the other side of hills. There were some good rolling hills today. I don't like the steep ones though."
It was also a big day for Geoff Newling.
While he blew up in the hills the novice rider managed to ride the 30.4km first leg without a pitstop, thanks to some great help from Mal Nash.
Mal, better known as Chum, pushed Newlo up two rather large undulations and kept him going from the 6km mark to the first stop.
The welcome in was bright and cheery.
Tomorrow the 23 riders have another big day.
Should be extremely tough," ride organiser Barry Walton said of a 133km stage, on both bitumen and dirt, to Forbes.
A Rotary dinner will round off tomorow's activities.