K4K 2008 - A Great Success

Posted: 5/11/2008 4:47:23 PM

The 2008 K4K departed Urban St.Leonards under clear skies and no wind as we set off for the beautiful Hunter Valley. 20 riders set off up the Pacific Highway before taking on the first of the days climbs through Bobbin Head. The legs were well and truly warmed up now as we passed through Brooklyn to begin the 10K climb up to Road Warriors Café and onwards to Peats Ridge.

We started the day with a few flats and a couple of mechanical issues but the group really got some momentum as the day went on and enjoyed the quiet undulating roads of Peats Ridge and surrounds, before we arrived out our day end destination in the Hunter Valley.

Day two saw a few sore legs convene for the morning ride around the beautiful upper Hunter Valley region. Today’s ride was 100 Kilometres in a “morning dash” in order to get home before the traffic of the Jazz in the Vines festival kicked in. Day two is some of the best cycling in the region and the group enjoyed the great open roads, before letting loose on a 20 Kilometre time trail from Broke into Lovedale.  It was great to have the rider’s families join us at the hotel on Saturday afternoon and many of them took advantage of the great weather and fantastic pool for the afternoon. Our grant recipients Gemma and Daniel joined us for dinner on Saturday night where our riders got the chance to meet with them and their families.

With over 270 Kilometres in their legs over two days another great morning greeted our riders as we made our way back to Sydney on the same course as we travelled up on the previous Friday. The ride up past Lemmings Corner and on to Peats Ridge was a beauty. A long steep climb that was a great test for everyone! The crew had the finish in their sites as we left Peats Ridge and were well ahead of schedule. The midday heat took it out of many of the ride group as we climbed out of Brooklyn and on to Bobbin Head. The top of Bobbin Head heralded the last of the climbs and it was all down hill to our finish in St. Leonards from there. The group arrived at 3pm on Sunday to enjoy a few beers and the spoils of their fantastic effort.

The 2008 K4K was a fantastic success and cleared approximately $50,000 for the John Maclean Foundation and directly changed the lives of Gemma and Daniel. The ride group had a fantastic time and are already looking forward to next years event, which will take place on the same course as 2008 and will take place in early November 2009.

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