HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: blp@cypress.com (Bruce Prickett/PROM)
Subject: Australian Bike Challenge
Summary: lets hear about it!
Reply-To: blp@cypress.com.UUCP (Bruce Prickett/PROM)
Organization: Cypress Semiconductor, San Jose, CA
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 05:45:38 GMT

From our local paper here in Silicon Valley,
I read that a San Jose rider won the first
Australian Bike Challenge, taking about 23 days
to ride 3323 miles. I've typed in the article,
and I'd like to hear more about this race/mega-ride:

1) How unique is the route this race took? Is it 
REALLY the first crossing of this nature?

2) What does the Australian press say about the race.
What were the conditions like? What were the final
standings?

3) Any good anecdotes? 

Lets hear from our Australian friends!

The report from this hemisphere:

"WARD WINS AUSSIE RACE OF `SURVIVAL'"
Bill Sunderland, San Jose Mercury News Oct 7 1992

San Jose cyclist Pat Ward on Tuesday won the first
Australian Bike Challenge, a 3323 mile race across
the desolate Australian outback.

   "It was survival, total survival," he said in a
telephone interview hours after winning the event,
which started Sept.12 in Useless Loop, a town on the
Indian Ocean that marks the westernmost point of Australia.
The winner was the first cyclist to touch the lighthouse
at Byron Bay, near Brisbane, on the east (Pacific)
coast of the continent.

  "It's never been done before. No human being ever crossed
the continent on a bicycle on this route," said Ward, 33.
"They said it couldn't be done. We came through over the
worst possible roads you could imagine.

  "It was incredibly desolate territory through the outback.
Everybody lives around the coast, nobody lives in the interior.
There were lots of kangaroos and snakes, though."

  Forty racers started from Useless Loop, Ward said, and
"about four or five have finished. I don't know if there
will be others." He said two other U.S. participants -
Henry Kingman,  from Berkeley, and John Stansted of
Cicinnati, were among the finishers.

   Ward has taken part in five of the coast-to-coast runnings
of the Race Across America, finishing seventh this year. His
best finish was fifth last year.

   He said the worst part of the Australian race was that
"people break down and become really emotional. You have
to wash in a bucket of water, do your own clothes, repair
your own bike. There's just no help out there. Nothing."

   Asked what his plans were, Ward said, "I still don't
know what I won, if anything. There are rumors I might get
a trip to Fiji, and if so, thats where I'll be recovering."
From: Debbie.Rhodes@f88.n106.z1.fidonet.org (Debbie Rhodes)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: Group Ride
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1992 11:07:00 -0500

TO: bdombrow@kittyhawk.ecn.uoknor.edu (Brent Dombrowski)
  >Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
  >Subject: Group Ride

BD> I am a member of an outdoor club at the University of Oklahoma.  We
  >were thinking on taking a 2 day bike tour.  I would like information on a go
  >trail for this purpose as well as cost and places to get
  >bicycles.  I don't know
  >of anyone who has done this before.  The trail should not
  >be too dificult since
  >not all of the people in the club ride often.  Any information anyone can gi
  >me would be greatly appreciated.

   Try calling Susan O'Brien in Norman OK. (She did the Pedal for Power
   earlier this year cross country).  You could also try the Oklahoma
   City Bike Club...they were extremely good to me when I visited in
   February.  They are mainly a recreational group but there are some
   high mileage and touring members.  I am sure they could connect you
   to the right person.  Have a good ride.  DEB

   debbie.rhodes@mcws.fidonet.org
___
 X OLX 2.2 X Hardware protection violation!  User pulled the plug!

 * Origin: Two Wheelers - The Bicylists' Communications Link (1:106/88)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
From: choy@skorpio.usask.ca (I am a terminator.)
Subject: BMW
Organization: University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 21:02:31 GMT


BMWs are Bad Monstrous Wagons driven by Bitching Malevolent Wussies,
who nearly Bag My Wheels. Breathalysers Make them Wet their pants.

Henry Choy

Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
From: davin@hardy.u.washington.edu (David Veale)
Subject: Where to ride near Seattle
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 04:54:46 GMT


I've had a mountain bike in Seattle for the last couple years, and have
gone on some really cool rides, but I'm interested in hearing about other
places that people are riding at.  Any good trails east of the mountains,
or in the foothills on the west side, etc?

One of my own that was really good was the Devil's Gulch trail south of
Peshastin in Eastern Washington. It can be done as a 17mile single track
loop, and goes through some really great terrain.

				Thanks in advance,
					David Veale
From: sam2747@shuksan.boeing.com (Scott Moody)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: Re: Where to ride near Seattle
Date: 12 Oct 92 19:57:37 GMT
Organization: The Boeing Co., MMST, Seattle, Wa.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]


Other great rides:

MOUNTAIN BIKE:
	Victor Falls -- single track near lake taps
	3 Sisters    -- 25 miles UP (4500') on good logging roads
			(from Buckley)
	Grass Mt     -  Big Hill, then single track down
			(near Enumclaw)
	SunTop	     -  3500' gain in 7 miles on logging roads
			then single track and other fun stuff
	Dalles Ridge -  steep single track UP then DOWN
			(near Crystal)
	Any logging road out of Greenwater.

	Devils Gultch  - from mission ridge and back over #2 canyon
			 to Wenatchess

	Lots of big hills in the Intiat valley.

	Tahyu 	   - lots of single track near Bellfair

	Hood River - lots of single track near Mt Hood.


Road:
   yesterday we did one of our favorites:
	Buckley to Carbon River Ranger Station at foot of Mt Rainier
		on the NW side. 50 miles. Rolling hills.


-- 
Scott Moody   (206) 477-4295   "There are no answers .. just cross references"
     scott@shuksan.boeing.com  
     uunet!bcstec!shuksan!scott
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
From: jsweeney@geppetto.encore.com (Joe Sweeney)
Subject: Team Century
Organization: Encore Computer Corp.
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 13:45:43 GMT

In the November issue of Bicycle, there is mention 
of an organized "Century Team" in Orlando Florida.
It was formed by Bill Erwin and Tom Hury.  Does anyone
know anything about this or know the two men mentioned?

Thanks,
Joe Sweeney
Melbourne Florida
jsweeney@encore.com

-- 
Thanks,				Encore Computer Corp.
Joe Sweeney			Melbourne, Florida
jsweeney@encore.com
From: jimd@pequod.gvg.tek.com (Jim Delwiche)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: Re: Tandem syndrome strikes again
Date: 7 Oct 92 19:32:07 GMT
Organization: Grass Valley Group, Grass Valley, CA

In article <1992Oct6.173222.15095@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> jfw1@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (james.f.whitehead) writes:
...
>
>OK, I give up. What's the attraction of tandem riding that, say, a
>ride together on two bikes fails to deliver? My wife and I both ride
...

Try a tandem on a double century some time, and you'll know.  Tandems
are great for several reasons:

1) Riders of dissimilar abilities can enjoy riding together.  You can
take a stoker of modest ability along for a cruise and not have to
wait or slack off.  With one of those crank elevating setups, one
could take a youngish child along on a fairly serious ride.

2) The performance advantage.  Ever seen a tandem towing a string of
solo bikes along like a locomotive pulling a bunch of boxcars?  The
wind resistance advantage gives a tandem a definite edge over solo
bikes.  It's like you have the ultimate two-person drafting situation
at all times.

3) The high speed descents are fun!  All those solo bikes who passed
you climbing the hill get re-passed on the long wide open downhills.

Jim
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
From: chaz@vicorp.com (Charlie Hileman)
Subject: mtb'ing on Appalachian trail - kosher?
Organization: V. I. Corporation, Northampton, Massachusetts
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 20:08:54 GMT

Is mt biking permitted on the Appalachian trail?  (Personally, I doubt
it, but thought it would be worth asking).  Perhaps the rules vary
according to the state or area?

I live fairly near it, and was considering going on a long ride with
camping gear.  I could probably go much further than I could if I was
just hiking.

And while we're on the subject, perhaps someone knows some terrific
trails in western MA/southern VT area, perfect for camping trips with
mountain bikes.

Many thanks!

	--Charlie Hileman			ARPA:  chaz@vicorp.com
	  V. I. Corporation			UUCP:  uunet!vicorp!chaz
	  Northampton, Massachusetts

Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
From: sacks@spartan.mv.us.adobe.com (Joel Sacks)
Subject: Bike touring in Mendocino County, CA
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated, Mountain View, CA
Distribution: ca
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 17:09:24 GMT

I'm interested in doing some bike touring in Mendocino county in the next few
weeks, and was wondering if anyone had any experience in that area.  We'll be
biking for just a few days, and were looking at roads like Comptche-Ukiah,
Slynn Creek, Hwy 128 (from Philo to the ocean), Philo Greenwood Rd and Cameron
Rd.  The topo map we have of the area is a little hard to read, and I can't
tell whether there are any killer climbs.  (It's pretty obvious, though, that
there are hills of some sort).  E-mail replies appreciated.  Fairy tales and
horror stories welcome.
--
-Joel Sacks				sacks@mv.us.adobe.com
Adobe Systems Inc.			...!decwrl!adobe!sacks
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides,rec.travel,rec.bicycles
From: Quinn <quinn@cs.uwa.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Australian Bike Challenge
X-Xxdate: Wed, 14 Oct 92 00: 57:52 GMT
Organization: The University of Western Australia
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d12
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 01:22:12 GMT

In article <1992Oct13.054538.12961@cypress.com> Bruce Prickett/PROM,
blp@cypress.com commands:

>Lets hear from our Australian friends!

OK, here goes.

>2) What does the Australian press say about the race.
>What were the conditions like? What were the final
>standings?

I don't read the cycling press by the tele news had a few articles
on it.  What I say is based on what I saw (-;

>Any good anecdotes? 

No but I have some extremely dodgy factoids...

The race was organised by a local lunatic^H^H^H^H^H^H^H adventurer
calls Hans Tholstrup (spelling???).  From what I've heard there
was virtually no prize, the people just competing for the glory (!).

The route was straight across the dead heart of Australia.  Take
a look at a map of Australia.  The western most point is about
latitude 25 (only a few hundred klicks from Perth (and UWA)).  The
eastern most part is about the same latitude on the other side of
the continent.  The race took a straight line between them.

This route took them through about the *worst* possible riding
conditions.  From what I saw most of the roads they were
travelling on were "Suitable for 4WD only".  All gravel, huge
potholes, corrugations, etc.

We're just coming out of winter down here so the weather wouldn't
have been too bad.  Most probably about 25-30 C all the way although
that's speculation -- I'm not exactly sure what the weather does out
there!  No one really is!  No one goes out there.  Needless to say
anyone trying to do this in summer would not survive.

From what I heard on the tele it seemed that the race was almost
abandoned halfway through because of the horrific attrition rate.
There were interviews with a few riders who looked both physically
and mentally wrecked.

The bikes did not fair much better.  There was talk of bikes just
given up in dispair and disintegrating a week into the race.

As to whether this race was the first of its kind I'd suggest it
was.  Surely no one else could me mad enough to have attempted it.

It seems to me that this was just a pathfinding expedition.  No one
was seriously trying to win; they were all to involved in surviving.
If they run the race again next year I think the competition should
hot up.  I hope it does.  The race strike me as truly unique.  It
would also offer a great opportunity for MTB builders to prove their
designs in much the same way 4WD builders use rallies.

Perhaps someone with more real facts can contribute?

Quinn "The Eskimo!"      <quinn@cs.uwa.edu.au>     "Support HAVOC!"
Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Australia
  -- Who lives in the most urbanised country in the world and
     wouldn't survive a day in the outback.
From: keithw@cs.uq.oz.au (Keith Whitwell)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: Re: Australian Bike Challenge
Date: 15 Oct 92 01:22:52 GMT
Reply-To: keithw@cs.uq.oz.au

In <1992Oct13.054538.12961@cypress.com> blp@cypress.com (Bruce Prickett/PROM) writes:

>  "It's never been done before. No human being ever crossed
>the continent on a bicycle on this route," said Ward, 33.

I really don't know what the significance of this statement is, 
especially without the route being made clear.  There
are certainly many people who have crossed Australia by bicycle,
and no matter which route you take, it is unlikely to be a 
recreational ride.  Whether or not these people made the US press,
or any other publication, is another question.  Bicycles have been
in use in australia as long as anywhere else, but because of our short
history, they feature heavily in certain aspects of our folklore.
Wide use was made of bicycles by drovers and so on in many of the 
areas which this ride must have traversed.

The lighthouse at Byron is near as spitting to the eastern-most
point on mainland australia.  There are rocks and such within
view of the lighthose which must be further east, and no doubt 
other islands more substantial.  I would guess therefore that 
Useless Loop is similarly close to being the westernmost point.

Is that anecdotal enough?

Keith



Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
From: iba@kronos.arc.nasa.gov (Wayne Iba)
Subject: Re: Tandem syndrome strikes again
Organization: NASA/ARC Information Sciences Division
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 22:52:07 GMT

jfw1@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (james.f.whitehead) writes:

>OK, I give up. What's the attraction of tandem riding that, say, a
>ride together on two bikes fails to deliver? 

>So what am I missing?

Velocity.

--wayne (I feel the need for speed)
From: bhilden@bigriver.Eng.Sun.COM (Bruce Hildenbrand)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: Re: Tandem syndrome strikes again
Date: 8 Oct 1992 20:26:32 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: bigriver-248

In article <1992Oct7.225207.24107@kronos.arc.nasa.gov> iba@kronos.arc.nasa.gov (Wayne Iba) writes:
>jfw1@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (james.f.whitehead) writes:
>
>>OK, I give up. What's the attraction of tandem riding that, say, a
>>ride together on two bikes fails to deliver? 
>
>>So what am I missing?
>
>Velocity.
>
>--wayne (I feel the need for speed)

Uh, I guess it depends on the terrain you ride.  Most tandems get dropped
like a 16 ton weight on substantial climbs, though they can wail on
descents, negative "velocity" seems to be the norm on climbs.

Bruce("I live for switchbacks")Hildenbrand
climb worth beans

From: ecc@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Ed Cirimele)
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 22:37:09 GMT
Subject: SIERRA TO THE SEA '93
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides

Note: This is being posted for a friend. For all inquries
      se below.


                     SIERRA TO THE SEA '93

Sierra   to   the  Sea  is  a  scenic  and  challenging  7-day
bicycle/camping tour, from Northern California's Gold  Country
to San Francisco's Golden Gate.

It begins in the historic Mother Load Country on June 19th and
will visit our state  capitol,  Sacramento  Valley,  the  Napa
Valley,  the  Russian  River,  the  Sanoma  Coast,  and  after
crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, will finish in San  Francisco
on June 29th.

Sponsored   by   Almaden  Cycle  Touring  Club  in  San  Jose,
California. This will be the sixth year  for  this  non-profit
cross state adventure.

Approximately  425 miles long, the tour will average around 60
miles a day.  The  route  is  challenging  and  designed  with
experienced riders in mind.

The  cost is $285 and includes transportation from San Jose to
the start of the ride in Columbia and from  San  Francisco  to
San  Jose  at  the end of the tour, plus all camping fees, six
dinners and two breakfasts, sag support, gear  transportation,
a souvenir water bottle and a T-shirt.

The  tour is limited to 100 cyclists. Entries will be excepted
on a first-come, first-served basis.

        For a brochure and registration form call:
                         408/629-2852
        or write to:
                      Sierra to the Sea
                       483 Madison Drive
                  San Jose, California 95123
           1993 brochures will be mailed in January
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
From: paynter@bnr.ca (Stuart Paynter)
Subject: Re: Rides Between Ottawa and Quantico VA
Reply-To: paynter@bnr.ca (Stuart Paynter)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 92 12:41:25 GMT

I can suggest a couple of rides in the Lake Placid region.
The best thing to do is to stop in at High Peaks Cyclery
and pick up their guide to rides.  One good ride is the
one off of Old Military Road.

Cheers...Stuart
From: poplan@registry.adelaide.edu.au
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: Re: Aus Bike/Commutin' (not shootin')
Date: 14 Oct 92 04:17:51 GMT
Organization: Office of the Registry, University of Adelaide
NNTP-Posting-Host: admin.registry.adelaide.edu.au


Quinn the Eskimo from Perth was just talking about some ride across the
desert here. I remember something of it too. Probably the hardest part was the
Simpson Desert which is mostly in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The weather during the day is pleasant in winter over the whole of the 
interior, but gets freezing at night. "Three Dog Night" got their name from
an allegedly Australian Aboriginal expression for how many dogs you need
around you to keep from freezing.
Hans Thostrup is an Australin/Dane madman who has done some of the craziest 
things ever. He has circumnavagated Australia in an aluminium/aluminum 
dinghy and set the record for driving around Australia in both a car and a 
motorbike. I think he's done some other things too. For the record, I think
it was about 40 hours to get around Aus by car. You there, Hans?
For the most part, though, I think Quinny's synopsis of the race was pretty
good, although I doubt they'll do it again. The local coppers get really
annoyed with all these urban cowboys that end up needing help. In South
Australia they legislated a few years ago to charge $ to people who needed 
self-inflicted rescuing. 
On the subject of commuting and seeing animals, I find it a bit hard commuting
by bike coz I live 40kms from Adelaide, but I do jump on my bike in my spare
time. Had a bit of a chinwag with me ol' mate Adam Garrett at Washington
State about the local wildlife (and I don't mean the local bikers pub).
One morning I was hurtling down a hill to get a bit of speed for the next 
one. Went over a small bridge and there were two kangaroos having a drink.
I don't know who was starled the most. But I know how much you guys overseas
love hearing about our cute fauna. Wish I could tell you the koalas get in
my way, but they're always asleep in the trees. What I find the nicest is the 
local brightly coloured parrots, Rosellas, which fly along next to you 
chirping and whistling. Of course I do the same. The local farmers think 
I'm batty. They know it once I start chirping!
Anyway, just thought I'd have a quick peek at this newsgroup. Sounds like 
you people would be nice to have over for a barbie. What about it, next 
Sunday OK. Lemme know?
Michael J
From: ward@stokes.ae.utexas.edu ((Steven) Ward)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: MTB rides in TEXAS
Date: 13 Oct 92 12:28:35 GMT
Distribution: rec.bicycles.rides
Organization: CFD Lab, Dept ASE-EM, University of Texas at Austin

The local bike shop tells me that there aren't any really
good places to ride in Texas.  A smattering of respones from
my previous posts indicates that this may not be the case.

Please, if anyone knows of good places to ride, send me some
details.  If I get enough information on places to ride to
warrant posting a summary, I will do so.

Steve Ward
ward@cfdlab.ae.utexas.edu
From: jaslow@bissun.kodak.com (Russell Jaslow)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: An indepth look into ultra-marathon cyclist, Dennis DeLong.
Date: 13 Oct 92 19:48:22 GMT
Article-I.D.: pixel.1992Oct13.194822.24352
Organization: Eastman Kodak
Originator: jaslow@bissun

Have you ever wondered what it was like to participate in a 3000 mile
bicycle race?  Or wanted to peek into the secret training diary of someone
crazy enough to race 3,000 miles?  Pondered what a person thinks about or
even fantasizes about (PG, R, and even X rated) after he has ridden
without sleep for days?  Wondered about how much pain and suffering the
human body can take?  (You'd be amazed!!)  Wanted to attempt something
like this but wasn't sure if you had what it takes?  Or just plain WHY?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then follow 1992 Midwest
Qualifier winner Dennis DeLong through his newsletter as he prepares to
compete in the 1993 Race Across AMerica (RAAM).  To help finance this 
grueling event, Dennis is publishing a newsletter that will detail his
training, fund raising efforts, inner thinking, and all the current
news as he receives it from RAAM headquarters.

There will be five (5) issues to be sent out in February, April, June,
July, and then a follow-up edition after the race.  A $20 donation will
help get Dennis to the starting line next summer.

If you wish to help Dennis DeLong in his quest to win RAAM '93, please
send your $20 donation to:
                     
                    Dennis DeLong
                    370 McCall Road
                    Rochester, NY  14616

Don't miss out on this opportunity to find out first hand the effort,
dedication, pain, and joy of preparing to meet the challange of perhaps
the toughest endurance event in the world.

[Note -- I'm posting this for Dennis.  You may email me any questions,
and I will get them to Dennis.]
-- 
Russell Jaslow         |Spec Racer #33 Finger Lakes Reg|NY RANGERS|My employer
Eastman Kodak Company  |In memorium: Andrew Spiller,   |and the   |has nothing
Rochester, New York    |Cynthia Bishop Halstead.  Keep |Cup!  Why |to do with
jaslow@bissun.kodak.com|the damn drunks off our roads! |not dream?|my drivel.
From: ward@stokes.ae.utexas.edu ((Steven) Ward)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: MTB rides in TEXAS
Date: 8 Oct 92 00:30:52 GMT
Distribution: rec.bicycles.rides
Organization: CFD Lab, Dept ASE-EM, University of Texas at Austin

Subject says it.  I'm looking for the best rides in Texas.  
I will post a summary if response warrants.

mil thanks
Steve Ward
ward@cfdlab.ae.utexas.edu
From: gcarter!gcarter (George Carter)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides
Subject: Re: Bike touring in Mendocino County, CA
Keywords: mendocino rides
Date: Thu, 08 Oct 92 22:44:39 PDT
Distribution: ca
Organization: SFBAC

There is a unique and terrific two day loop in this area.  Take
Orr Springs out of Ukiah to Mendocino.  Beautiful road, very little
traffic, substantial 8 or 9% grades. Ride up 1 to Fort Bragg and 
put the bike on the Skunk Train (they required bungees when I was 
there).  Take the bike off the train at Willets and ride down to
Ukiah.  Obviously, counter-clockwise and Mendocino start point
also possible.  There are no logging trucks on Orr Springs because
the trucks have their own private road across the valley!
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.rides