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.

DAY 14 Stage 10 Griffith to Adlethan

Mal Nash, Jake Thomas, Kevin Garrett and Andy Bayliss pose undrneath Evonne Goolagong's giant tennis racquet for Nick McLoughlin's picture at Barellan today.

Leave 7am 82km

BRUCE Jeffrey might be on his last charity bike ride and intends to make the most of the epic 20-day 2010 Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge.
The 52-year-old Tamworth Regional Council employee has ridden every kilometre of the 1024km so far in what will be between 1700km to 1800km.
It hasn't sapped any of his good humour either, he's one of the more buoyant personalities amongst the 23 riders and seven support crew.
"I told Baz (Barry Walton) this would probably be my last," Bruce said this week.
"I've done five or six so far and you can only go around asking the same people for so much sponsorship. I tried to get a few new young people involved but it is hard for them to do something like this too."
Bruce is a water operator for the TRC and ensures the drinking water is treated for the city's population.
Married to Jennifer he has two daughters, Carly, 22, and Rachel, 20.
Born and bred in Tamworth he joined the charity bike ride a few years back while working for Bath Stewart and Associates (surveyors).
"One of the other employees, Mike Barwick, said he wanted to do some bike riding," Bruce recalled.
"Then we saw the ad in the NDL for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service charity ride. So we decided to do that but unfortunately Mike passed away. But I went on the ride doing it on his bike."
He's still riding Mike's bike, making it even more important for him to complete the full 1700-1800km.
He also "enjoys the social part of the trip"
"The competitiveness in the riding is good too," he said.
"Originally it was even more competitive.
"One of the original riders, Tony Keogh, used to always say, let's make the last 3km into a sprint. You also never know what to expect with each ride and there are so many different personalities."
Today's 82km stage had something of an abbreviated start after Inverell schoolteacher Bob Freeman snapped a bolt on his seat.
It followed a quick word of warning from ride captain Rick Lavers,who said the road from Griffith to Yenda was narrow, unmarked in places and with plenty of traffic.
Keith Lockhart also warned the riders about tiger snakes.
"We're coming into tiger snake country now, especially from West Wyalong," Keith said.
"They're an aggressive snake too. I've seen them stand up and bite a car. So watch out for those little legs Baz," he said nodding to Barry Walton's metrognome appendages.
Out on the road and Bob Freeman's day went downhill, puncturing after passing through Yenda.
"I was riding beside Jack (Gillard)," Bob said of the "puncture king".
"He looked down and said"it'sa puncture - and it's not me."
After replacing the tube bob goes a few hundred metres before the replacement goes flat.
Another replacement tube won't pump up and then another bursts with a howitzer bang just as it reaches 60psi, sending some green slime over an attending Brian Birchall.
"I'm not having a good day am I," he said.
He then rides at 25 to 30kmph alone to catch the rest of the riders up in Barellan, home of former tennis star Evonne Gollagong, and then completing the 34km to Ardlethan.
Sign-posted as a population of 500 Ardlethan it is known as the Home of the Kelpie but is hot and quiet with not a kelpie in sight.
Some quick re-organisation by Barry Walton and he has the whole 31 staying together at the London Hotel Motel.
A hot shower never felt so good.
Today we head to West Wyalong.

Tuesday, March 16

Jake Thomas and Rick Lavers. Jake's trying out riding with no feet.

From the rear of the ride

Andy Bayliss

Carly and Jack Gillard and Barry Walton

Peter Watson, Ken West and Nick McLoughlin on the road.

Andy Bayliss, Mal Nash and Peter Watson on the gravel before today's welcome rest day.

Today is a rest day for the 23 riders and seven support crew.
After arriving in Griffith around noon Monday a welcome day off greeted the 2010 Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge crew.
Ride captain Rick Lavers has a "lazy day" planned.
"Go into town for a late run," he said after a continental breakfast at the Kidman Wayside Inn.
"We'll check out a few things and come back and do a few massages."
Some are off on a wine tour in the bus with Annette and Peter Watson, Brian Birchall and Bill Warburton.
Bill is a "retired" accountant.
He moved to Tamworth in 1971 to work for Ted Carter which became Carter Warburton in time and then had a few changes over the years as Bill's practice merged into various entities.
A few years ago he retired but remains as a consultant "doing a few projects" for some old clients.
"I've still got plenty of things to get involved with," he said while driving the "skippy van" on a photgraphic foray on this tour.
"There are a lot of worthwhile causes out there. This is one."
Brian Birchall "got me involved" he said of this particular event.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service also has a poignant memory for him.
"We lost a son in a motor car accident in 1996 out at Warialda," he said.
"They (helicopter) flew him back to Tamworth but couldn't save him."
While the vineyard tour was taking in three local wineries and a look around the town the Kurri Mongrel Bastards crew were off on a "cultural and historical" tour.
Bobby Fishlock junior, aka Phil Stewart, reckoned they might try and solve the Donald McKay mystery on their "hysterical tour" .
Carly "Charlie" Gillard was off on a session of retail therapy with her mother, Julie.
Bobby Freeman was "kicking back" with the latest Dan Brown book, a late and a look around the town centre.
Jake Thomas and his Werris Creek mate, Kevin Garrett, were doing a little morning washing to try and wash away Kev's woes after watching his mighty Sea Eagles waste a 20-4 lead to be beaten 26-22.
Ride organiser Barry Walton was driving down town to meet the Westpac Bank manager do some community relations work after a 9am media session with the local WIN TV and "laze around town".

STAGE 9 Carrathool to Griffith 82km

We leave the Carrathool Community Hall at 7am, farewelled by swarming mosquitoes in their thousands, bound for Griffith.
The previous afternoon was a relaxing one at the Family Hotel Carrathool where licensees Donna and Gino Scutti looked after us graciously.
They also waived accommodation costs and charged just $16 (chicken) or $20 (steak) for dinner!
Their pub was built in the 1880's with a classic hardwood bar.
Jack Gillard and the boys depleted their red wine supplies, Geoff Battle drinks them out of lime and Steve Warden has to find a substitute for tomato juice in his drink.
On the road Shane Paul organises a peloton so the riders can work together to push up the speed.
It reaches around 25kmph.
"We were moving," said peloton-novice Tim Coates.
The Tamworth Chamber of Commerce president and the peloton blow apart when we hit 12km of gravel.
Tim jumps in the support bus to have a chat with Brian Birchall.
"Discretion, valour," is all he says to Birchall.
After the flyers have created a 4km gap between the strongest and the slowest we regroup for what is an easy ride into Griffith and the Kidman Inn Motel.
At one break Jack Gillard has a laugh about his fellow riders.
"I've been called Barry, Ross and now Allan," he said.
While he is called Jack or John by his fellow Kurri Mongrel Bastards his real name is Edward John Gillard.
His tall mate Phil Stewart laughs about it on arrival in Griffith.
"He doesn't mind going by Edward either," big Phil alias Bobby Fishlock junior, alias Phyllis, said
"His wife (Julie) calls him Edward."
Jack/John/Barry/Ross/Allan is also king of the punctures stopping to fix another flat just outside Griffith.
Quote of the day goes to Goog Davis.
"I don't have corner graphics," he said in reply to a question from Brian Birchall in the tailing bus as to what was up ahead.

STAGE 8 Hay to Carrathool

Jake Thomas, Martin "Morton Porker" Parker and Phil "Bobby Fishlock junior" Stewart at the Family Hotel bar in Carrathool.

Leave 9am arrive 12.50pm

A short 60km stage today. A coffee late run and arrive in Carrathool just before 1pm after a leisurely run for most. The exception is Inverell teacher Nick McLoughlin who drops back to help a struggling Geoff Newling try and stay in touch with the group. After a painful 6km ride Newlo retires to Brian Birchall's bus leaving Nick to make up a 2.5km deficit to the rest.
He carves 1km off that distance before, firstly, Shane Paul and then Mal Nash and Andy Bayliss drop back to help him catch the group.
They do it impressively relinking with the group about 12kms from Carrathool.
"I thought it might take me an hour to catch them," Nick said later.
"Then when Shane, Mal and Andy joined me we were doing about 25km/h."
He was quite happy to see the Carrathool sign.
Andy Bayliss said the "Hay Train" of the day before had developed into the "wide load" with the riders able to form a large group spread across the quiet Murrumbidgee River Road.
The small town has a sign-posted population of 99 but "that's cats and dogs", said Andy Bayliss.
One local told us it was more like 23.
Some are staying at the Family Hotel and the rest are roughing it at the local hall.
Anna Bay miner Jack Gillard said it "was good to be finished."
"Good to be home," he said.
"Carrathool is home for the night. Any shelter in any storm."
Tamworth's Keith Lockhart, the chief cook and bottlewasher, is enjoying another charity ride in the support crew.
"It's all going well," the retiree said.
"Everyone's been cooperating and helping out."
He is rising some two hours before the riders depart each morning to prepare breakfast.

"We go and have a capuccino after they all leave and then go out the road and prepare lunch," he said.
Port Fairy massage therapist John Mercer continues to enjoy the 2010 Mountain Bike Challenge.
He also passed on best wishes to his children, Brandon and Amber Evans, who are following the ride on the blog.
Also Annette and Peter Watson pass on their best wishes to one of their grandchildren, Sam, who was ill late last week and taking a day off school.

STAGE 7 BALRANALD TO HAY

Jack Gillard and Phil Stewart lead the "Hay Train".

Barry Walton receives some help from the Red Baron (Ross Dobson) and Tim Coates after his second fall.

Alan Moyle at Hell's Gate on Hay Plain.

Mongrel Bastards day (from left) Phil "Bobby Fislock junior" Stewart, Carly "Charlie" Gillard, Alan Moyle, Bobby Freeman, Shane Paul, Martin Parker, Jack Gillard, Rick Lavers, Steve Warden, Maurice Doughan, Barry Walton (front)

Saturday March 13 – 131km

It was a red letter day for Mongrel Bastards Day to Hay.
That was how Barossa Valley to Tamworth Mountain Bike Challenge race organizer Barry Walton described the 131km trek from Balranald to Hay.
Ride captain Rick Lavers had called for the day to honour the hard-charging efforts of the Kurri Kurri Mongrel Bastards Cycle Club Inc over a number of years.
Martin Parker, Jack Gillard, Phil Stewart, Maurice Doughan and Alan Moyle are five of the Mongrel Bastards who have toured the country and Africa raising funds via their uniquely named groups.
At various stages the likes of Rick Lavers, Shane Paul, Barry Walton, Steve Warden and Bob Freeman have ridden with the Mongrels, Lavers, Walton and Warden forming their own chapter based at Tamworth’s Calala Inn.
Jack’s 27-year-old daughter Carly, re-named Charlie by the raffle runner at Hay Bowling and Golf Club Saturday night, has also ridden with the Mongrel Bastards.
A tough headwind for the big day made it an apt “mongrel bastard” of a day, Walton said, especially after he had his second fall of the 20-day marathon.
The day had started at 6am at the Balranald Caravan Park after the Balranald Pony Club women had provided us with another feast on Friday night.
Inverell school teacher, Bob Freeman, changed his usual pre-race routine to cater for another big day.
Usually he takes a berocca and some multi vitamins but ate more and stretched “for half an hour”
“On top of the 250km over the last two days another 130-odd makes it a tough three days,” he said in the pre-dawn light.
“Having a good solid dinner last night helps too.”
Tamworth handyman, Andy Bayliss, was looking forward to the 131km stage.
The 160km two days previous had been his biggest ever day on the bike.
He’s been riding four years, started riding mountain bikes to take part in a previous charity ride that was based “around Armidale”.
“Then I rode one out in the Pilliga and another ride (starting) at Glen Innes,” he said.
His pre-race routine is simple.
“I just try and make sure I’m right and the bike is right,” he said.
“Make sure I have a bit of food because this going to be a hard day, one of those days where you have to grin and bear it.”
He’s right as a North North East headwind makes it a testing time, forcing the riders to form the “Hay Train” across the flat plain.
It’s a day where bus driver, Brian Birchall, makes his ride debut.

Stage 6 Robinvale to Balranald 83km -7am start 12.30pm finish

Brian Birchall wins his criterium at Balranald although it appears Carly Gillard may be the only interested spectator. Bad luck Birch!

The 23 riders and seven support crew left Robinvale Caravan Park crossing the Euston- Balranald Bridge across the Murray River at 7am. Back into NSW they now headed to Balranald where a special treat awaited them. After arriving at 12.30pm the riders settled back for a picnic lunch and were entertained by support bus driver Brian Birchall. Brain raced his own criterium and followed the Berri criterium earlier in the tour when John Mercer shone.

Birch was unchallenged on Geoff Newling's "super quick" bike. Mt Mongrel Bastard Alan Moyle reckoned he might teach it bad habbits.

"He's going too fast on it," Alan Moyle said.

Birch jumped off after what he estimated as a 10km ride and reckoned he and Newlo could perform a tag team operation over the next couple of weeks. Newlo suggested he stick to driving the bus and picking up the dead bodies.

Brichall has had slim pickings so far and on a day where heads winds made it tougher than normal he only had two occupants. TYomorrow the mountain bike challenge leaves at 6am for Hay, a 130km burst down the Sturt Highway efore taking on the local Hay Bowling Club members in a lawn bowls tournament. One interested person in the mountain bike challenge is Peter's "Fat Cat" Malcolm. He rang to offer his best wishes to ride organiser Barry Walton. The former Newcastle and Inverell Hawks Rugby League star now runs Rafters of Guyra a popular restaurant, and is one of the organisers of tomorrow's Top of the Range Mountain Bike Challenge which is also a fundraiser for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. He helped to establish the mountain bike event last year with 60 riders.

"We have 100 to 120 riders this year," Fat Cat said.

"And we have some pretty good riders too."

He is also a handy rider as well, Barry Walton said.