MORE INFO......

Go to http://rmhcrideforsickkidssa.com.au/ for more information on the RMHC Ride for Sick Kids SA

Monday 25 August 2014

2014 - RMHC R4SK's SA before the pain

2014 RMHC Ride for Sick Kids SA Mildura - Adelaide 

1000k's in 7 days helping raise much needed funds for the Adelaide Ronald House.

As the rider numbers slowly increase and the bikes are dusted off, we are rapidly approaching the 3rd instalment of the RMHC  Ride for Sick Kids SA, and the nervous tension is starting to rise, as I realise just how long ago my Christmas break was!!

Not before have I heard my trusty stallion scream in such a way, as I lowered my now quite plump frame onto it, and almost exceeded the Gross safe Mass for the specialised carbon frame.  I have conveniently prevented my Garmin GPS from uploading any information onto Strava, as whilst my mass has now given me an advantage in descending velocity, the resulting average velocity has me being challenged by my 8 yr old daughter around the park!

Enough said for now, as I have to go and finish my McMate for lunch, and we look forward to getting ready for what is surely going to be another great week of challenge and fundraising.

I will attach my Jenny Craig profile pics as we progress!!!!

November 21st 2014 and the Tour begins.......................

As the Riders and support crew made their way to the Watermark in Glenelg for the SA based crew to make their way to Mildura for Saturday's first leg of the 2014 ride, I caught a glimpse of the now emaciated man we use to call Tex ride in after a jaunt with the watermark crew, and thought to myself the bus was looking mighty comfy for the week.

A short trip in the cars with Paramedic Pete taking a relaxed ride in the passenger seat of one of the support vehicles we casually made our way to the meat pie stop in Renmark.
Little did I know that I had been unwittingly embroiled in Paramedics Pete version of Breaking Bad, as crossing the border with a car full of drugs was apparently frowned upon by the authorities?

In order not to tarnish the reputation of the House or the ride, the aforementioned contraband was offloaded at the border and we passed through Checkpoint Charlie without incident.

An uneventful ride into Mildura on the banks of the mighty Murray River and some time to meet up with this years riders and pick up gear and bikes.

Stifler and crew, Geoff and Mark had been busy not only preparing the bikes but also keeping up community relations with the local establishment and introducing himself to some local retail shop owners, with varying degrees of success.

Briefing and Dinner combined, and I think I had some fish??  Safety Bade took the stage and introduced the support team and riders to each other as the final few riders trickled in.
It would appear that Nuggets new vocation has remuneration that has his travel requirements above that of bus travel, and as his required limo driver picked him up from the front of the plane with flashing light still going whilst in the airport, the coveted 'Muppet' award was ceremoniously given to Paramedic Pete! (Stacey)

After listening to the whimperings of a malnourished Tex at lunch, with his lack of 'Malliot Jaune' awards, after his efforts in 4 cycling tours, Tex was finally awarded his first yellow jersey.
Some say out of Pity? I say awarded to a truly great man, whom enough accolades cannot be bestowed upon. Nice job Tex.

As the House ladies snuck out for a quick night cap or two, the nervous riders made their way back to their rooms for an early night.
I have the pleasure of sharing the first night with the little man.......................Simba (Harry Pitt).
Some may have jumped to the conclusion that the little man was the superstrong Andrew Coldbeck from last year, but alas, the Big Marn has not been able to join us yet and will join the team hopefully on Sunday, apparently it had something to do with a mix up at the airport and children requiring supervision to travel alone on planes that needed sorting out?  Or at least that is what Tex had informed me.

Before going, I have to pass on our condolences to Jami & Merideth Hodge and their family for the very sad news of a passing of a family member this week.  Jami, our thoughts are with you and your family in this time.

So an early night and and even earlier morning to try and beat the heat of 37c tomorrow, and the Peleton starts to roll.


Day 7 R4SK's and the conclusion to another great week

The Muppets and some cyclists come rolling in!

McLaren Vale to Adelaide (Ronald McDonald House) & our families.

Its been the best part of the year, and although I did manage to make it back to the house eventually.........no it did not take me this long to finish!
Somehow, I managed not to publish the last day and a half of excruciating pain for the 2013 RMHC SA Ride for Sick Kids!  partly because we managed to go on an of course excursion, and combined with dropping my chain on a climb and watching the rest of the peleton effortlessly ride off up through the Hills to Mt Lofty for a belated lunch rendezvous. 

I had the pleasure of taking an escape route down to a local North Adelaide school for our Laurel & Hardy performance.

Never before have i felt such adulation in laying my eyes on the Adelaide City skyline as we meandered our way down from Mt Lofty through the Adelaide hills to our final school visit and our final stop at the Adelaide Ronald McDonald House.

Even Ronald eagerly awaiting us at the House was a sight for sore eyes, and as we of burly steel attempted to ride in without the glistening of emotions welling in eyes, it was an emphatic finish to another enthralling Charity ride.

We had completed the task that had been severely gruelling, even to those that weren't packing additional pounds under our lycra.  From freezing morning temperatures with rain and fog to blistering hot weather reaching +40 degrees, to what felt like gale force crosswinds to our 'easy' ride to Robe!  What an experience and an absolutely fantastic group of people to spend a week with, including the adorable 'man child' Coldbeck.

The fundraising efforts of the entire team and that raised by the local McDonald's stores and Licensee's has netted over $200,000 for the Adelaide house!!! No amount of pain endured, could wipe away the smiles of personal achievement and a feeling of contributing to such a worthy cause.

When you roll into the House and see the families and children of the House, and then your own family and support, it is truly over whelming, as we realise that our journey has ended, and those at the house often have a struggle that continues for many years.

So as we close the chapter on this years ride, we open up another challenge for 2014, with a visit to the riverland and Mildura to Adelaide for some more adventure as the muppet train continues to build momentum and helps to deliver a positive outcome for the Adelaide RMHC.

I will attempt to update the official stats before the next ride and some pics, but for now, its time for Mr Lucas to stop eating all the pies and get himself ready for another R4SK's.

Thank you to each and every person that has contributed in any manner, big or small (and yes, i am referring to the man child!), along the way in delivering a stella event and helping raise funds to our charity.  Each one of you is quiet hero and we appreciate everything you do.

Thank you,

Mr Lucas