Mark has been selected by 99 Bikes to ride an e-bike as a part of the 99 Green Team. We still can’t believe it, but there is a German monster locked up in the laundry. Big and black and weighing in at over 25kg, the Cube Nature Hybrid ONE 400 is the bicycle equivalent of a Mercedes Puch G. It has massive tyres, front suspension, disc brakes and is powered by a Bosch mid drive with plenty of grunt. Mark says it is comfortable to sit on and a joy to ride. It simply gobbles hills and has been seen to leave some of the lycra brigade in its wake on the inclines.
Between the rain and the South Easterlies, heading out on Moreton Bay did not hold much appeal over the Easter break. Instead we decided to take Mark’s monster and my ancient Giant around our old haunts. We discovered where not to go again and new rides in the making. Some places have changed beyond recognition.
Good Friday – City Circuit 45km
On Good Friday we rode our typical city circuit then looped out to take in the Gateway Bridge on the return leg with Queensport Drive as a downhill run. We were on the road just before 8am and cycled in along the V1. No changes here up until just before the Goodwill Bridge where the bike path had subsumed what had been car parking before heading out onto the road rather than share the path with a menace of meandering pedestrians with random tendencies. Over the Goodwill Bridge and turn right into the City Botanic Gardens where the fun began in earnest. Seemed like the city had regurgitated most of its occupants onto the shared walkway resulting in a confusion of walkers, cyclists, scooters, dogs, the shirtless, coffee slurpers, random kids, giant prams, narcissistic path hoggers, the simply oblivious and, the occasional bird.
The main path at the northern end of the City Botanic Gardens now curves and glides down to the riverfront, sweeping by a sparkling new (but empty) yacht marina. Along the riverfront we found ourselves close on the rear tyre of a cyclist in front. If we had left any later, I doubt we would have been able to ride at all. One of the biggest transformations was around the base of the cliffs under the Storey Bridge. Swanky cafes, chic bars, microbreweries and restaurants have replaced the grotty tin sheds of the Howard Smith Wharves. The area was thronging with ribbons of people queuing for coffee. Just what you want the day after the easing of a lockdown called to halt the spread of COVID19.
We could not get out of the area, off the riverside bike path and back onto the relative safety of the congested streets of New Farm quickly enough. We were surprised to find New Farm Park closed to vehicles. We sailed on through and took a moment to check out the new public pontoon down by the Powerhouse Museum which, amongst other great features, is truly kayak friendly. The crowds continued to bump and sway around Newstead, even along the Kingsford Smith Drive bike path. Some people will not acknowledge the ringing of a bell, worse, they simply leave their children to scoot or skate any which way but left. Left is usually where the dog remains watching you approach as its lead is dragged across the path with the promise of an ugly entanglement.
We turned off to the relative quiet of Racecourse Rd before heading along next to the Doomben Line. Up and over Schneider Rd overpass then back down to the entry to the Gateway Bridge where a posse of cyclists were mulling around at the base. The monster gobbled up and spat out two of these on the ascent to the summit. The downhill run was with eyes streaming at over 50Kph. Such fun. The paths through Minnippi Parklands were less crowded than the city. People who were walking their dogs or taking their children for a ride or a stroll were more aware and more considerate. Unlike their inner city counterparts, kids who did not get across to the side of the path were firmly chided while their parents passed an apologetic wince. Much of the rest of the ride home along the Bulimba Creek bikeway is as it has been for many years. As always the ride concluded with a final pull up the surrounding hills, not that you would know it on the monster. Mark says the Cube e-bike takes the burn out of the final slug up the hills and makes riding a real joy.
Easter Saturday – Bulimba Creek Circuit 33.8km
We would usually ride this circuit on a Saturday afternoon. The latest change on this circuit is the linking of the V1 down to Birdwood Rd. This is a magnificent piece of infrastructure taking you from Birdwood Rd up over Marshall Rd to join the bike path running alongside the SE Freeway heading up to Toohey Forest. The Cube e-bike makes this gradual haul a breeze. Turning off towards Griffith University and through Toohey Forest is a part of Mark’s regular route to work. For him, it remained groundhog day until we rode past QEII Hospital and turned left onto Musgrave Rd instead of right.
We rode by some 1980s excess when heading for a series of parks in MacGregor before eventually popping back out onto the V1. We continued on out until the end of Warrigal Rd where we dodged the motorway on ramp traffic to cross into Holmead Park. This is the beginning of the return circuit home and not much has changed along here. The area is very green with the recent rain and the creek is flowing. In places the re-vegetation with indigenous shrubs, grasses and trees is progressing well and the weeds are under control, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Some places are very beautiful, it is often quite shady making it a reasonable summer ride and a place for a picnic.
Easter Sunday – Indooroopilly Circuit 36.8km
Time to head west. Back onto the V1 heading inbound towards PA Hospital, but instead of continuing on the City Circuit, this route takes you up over Ipswich Rd by the bus station then back down behind the PA Hospital. Here a cute bicycle size boom gate patrols the heavy vehicle entrance to a Cross River Rail works entrance. Up the hill next to the Dutton Park Cemetery before whizzing back down to the Eleanor Schonell Bridge across to the University of Queensland St Lucia Campus. Once away from the riverside campus the hills start to undulate around the perimeter of the St Lucia golf course. Part way we pulled up under a shelter to put on the raincoats and check the route which eventually popped us out next to Indooroopilly Train Station. We turned left to cross the river again via Jack Peasch Bridge. Major works on the Indooroopilly Riverwalk were well underway and look like an interesting ride for later in the year once completed. The return leg via the Riverloop takes in some magnificent homes along the riverfront, the site of the former Tennyson Power Station (now the Queensland Tennis Centre) before heading along the Brisbane Corso to the base of the Eleanor Schonell Bridge. Despite the rain there were surprisingly few cyclists out and about. The home route took us back along the bike paths behind Stones Corner Library, through Wembley Park to cut back up through the back streets of Coorparoo. Mark again claimed that the e-bike took the burn out of the final ascent and was a joy to ride.
Easter Monday – St Lucia Circuit 41.7km
Was the final ride over Easter. While the forecast rain action was all offshore we took the chance to go on one more ride which is essentially a variation of the City Circuit. Leaving at 7am we took the V1 into Southbank, went across the Goodwill Bridge and turned left to ride along the northern riverbank. Impressive groundworks are underway for the development of the Queens Wharf project. The number of people out and about was progressively increasing. We followed the riverfront around through Toowoong back down to the St Lucia University Campus then circled back over the Eleanor Schonell Bridge. From the park at the end we headed up a very steep street before popping out onto Gladstone Rd. The Cube managed this and every climb with ease. We cut off down the very steep Sankey St where a mongrel dog ran out onto the street and went to bite Mark on the leg and received a headful of shoe for its effort. Once down by the river we followed the southern bank of the City Reach before cutting in after Dockside for Mowbray Park. This new section of cycle way along Wynnum Rd takes you to Canning Bridge, after which it was back to the usual narrow footpath. The last of this circuit turns right at the next set of lights and heads down to Norman Park. We cross a small bridge and take the bike path network behind Coorparoo State High School, across the Coorparoo Common before starting the final ascent for home.
What is remarkable is that people’s behaviours towards cyclists seems to be diametrically opposed. From the gracious and considerate. Today an elderly woman stepped out onto a narrow street to check that the road was clear for her husband to drive out of their garage. Another motorist who saw us come up to a crossing stopped without us having to put a foot on the road. To the utterly stupid. Today a couple heard the bell, stopped to look before they stepped out onto a shared path, yet failed to restrain their small dog on a long lead. We have also been pleasantly surprised by how supportive many other cyclists have been. While some whizz by when we have stopped to take pictures, quite a few have slowed down to ask if we needed assistance. I guess that is one of the benefits of wearing fluoro shirts and daggy shorts.
