Scribe's rap-up of 2005 Tour de Bong Bong   -  19 cyclists spread over 5 days

 

 

 

Blessed with 5 balmy Spring days and cyclists hell bent upon not succumbing to a single KOM Climb, notwithstanding they were all Ball Tearers, the 2005 Tour de Bong Bong proved a marvellous success.  So much so that there is popular support for a w'end next March staying at the quaint Jamberoo Hotel nestled in the verdant foothills of the toughest KOM Climb of them. Jamberoo is 45 mins shorter drive than to Berry (ie. 2½ hrs in peak hour and <2 hrs off peak driving).  A train from Central Railway Station to Albion Park Rail Station enables only a 10 min pick-up drive to Jamberoo. 

 

 

 

 

 

We made useful contacts with two local cycling clubs who are both proud of the tightly knit cluster of KOM Climbs from Albion Park down to Bombaderry.  Scribe is hopeful of a joint promotion with each of those road cycle clubs next November (2006) under the label of The Berry Ball Tearer (in lieu of the more obtuse tag Tour de Bong Bong), as -

  • $6 a night camping at the lush Berry Showground, awaking to the patter of horse feet doing laps, is bonza;

  • 20m swimming pool next door;

  • nearby Berry train station offers a pleasant, stress-free 2 carriage ecological vehicle to commence rides from Kiama, Bombaderry and Albion Park Rail on 3 of the 5 days to ride all 13 KOM Climbs over 5 days; and

  • the 13 KOM Climbs are all Ball Tearers.

 

 

26 year old, hill devouring, Brian Crawford, a visitor from Newcastle with a six-pack stomach, and a user of www.KOMpm.com, registered a Climb Time for each of the 13 KOM Climbs in the Tour de B.B's 5 days of cycling. During the Saturday evening repaste at our favourite Thai Berry Restaurante, Scribe presented Brian with the $100 booty offered in the Tour de B.B. Bullsheet as an attraction for serious hill climbers to join Muggs each Nov. at Berry.

 

 

 

 

Amongst several noteworthy performances, Tony McD aka Publican, turned in the most noteworthy feat, by climbing every KOM Climb from Wed to Sat inclusive on a double chainring with 32 his lowest gear which meant for every turn of his pedals, Tony was turning his back wheel 39 / 32  =  1.22 times. 

 

 

 

Tornado was a doyen of support. Frank aka ExPat participated over the early days. Bank Teller lost everything at some stage during his Berry escapade, incl his cell phone.  But found it due to quick thinking by the "Phone Finder".

 

 

 

 

Siggy aka Smiling Assassin, Liz, Eric aka PapaBear, and their cycling friends Eve, Paul and Phil joined us for the w'ends rides, as did Martin B and Peter 'n Ang.

 

 

 

Brenda aka Widget and Noel aka Birdy offered much welcomed local support.

 

 

 

 

Pics from the Tour de Bong Bong Picnic Races which produced a fine array of maiden fillies, and others taken over 5 days of Climbing, are at:

Phil has posted a cheque to Brenda B. for $120 for on forwarding to the Berry Shire Council as camping fees at $6 p/n.

 

Scribe    14 November 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Draft Bullsheet for 3rd annual Berry Ball-Tearer from Wed 15 to Sunday 19 November 2006