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Date: 4/30/2025
Subject: Bike North Newsletter - 30 April 2025
From: Bike North



   30 april 2025              Your Bike North NewsLETTER

Tour de Cowra Thanks John and David!

Thank you, John Williams and David Vasey, who have coordinated the wonderful Bike North Tour de Cowra since 2018.
 
This event takes place in the mid-western NSW town of Cowra every Easter, many members making their way there annually. The long weekend comprises a variety of rides to choose from each day and often ends with dinner in a local restaurant. This year was a highly successful extended version, bridging the Easter and ANZAC weekends.
 
John and David have worked long and hard to ensure the success of this event, the enjoyment and safety of the riders their overriding (ha!) priorities.
 
Over the past years, they have refined and added to the number of rides available, ensuring that future organisers have only to choose from a vast menu, knowing that many ride destinations are available for all the members different riding preferences. The work has been done for years to come.
 
From the printing of maps, detailed safety briefings, phone calls to council to check road conditions, phone calls to venues to organise morning tea availability, careful scanning of ride logs to ensure the safe return of each rider and on a number of occasions - driving each ride in previous weeks to the Tour, to ascertain the suitability of the terrain and conditions.   
 
Many meetings were had, many phone calls were made, the results of their work and dedication are reflected in the many happy hours spent pedalling in Cowra and surrounds over the past years.
 
The Bike North Executive and membership express our sincere gratitude to you both for this remarkable achievement, your dedication and the ongoing success of this highlight of the Bike North calendar.
 
Christine Jessep
with input from Phill Hart, President

... and a word from the organisers ...

Tour de Cowra 2025, Bike North’s premier cycling event, was a great success. 
 
The Easter holiday period from Good Friday to Easter Monday was enjoyed by 45 riders, and the four day ANZAC extension featured 20 riders. Everybody from the Cowra veterans to 1st timers had a fab time. There were no incidents.
 
The social get-togethers, the wine and cheese afternoons and group dinners were all well attended. As always the food in Cowra was exceptional.
 
Thank you everyone for coming.
 
John and David
Team Tour de Cowra 

Gravel Rebels at Cowra

By my reckoning this was my 9th Bike North Tour de Cowra and most my definite favourite! 

During my previous visits I’ve always ridden my road bike with, over the years, using wider and wider tyres and ridden many road based courses handed out to us.  And they were very enjoyable rides don’t get me wrong but could there be more roads out there, hidden gems just waiting to explored if you had the right sort of bike setup?

 
So this year I spent some time beforehand with RWGPS and plotted some gravel variants for each day.  And how good were they?
 

Rogue Hippo!

Bike North members, Kerry Tipton, Sarah Gillis & Jeannette Schut (on separate trips) were surprised to see a familiar face at Chatto Creek on the Central Otago Rail Trail recently.
 
The Gillie and Marc creation 'Come Out, Come Out Hippo, Wherever you are' is a recognisable feature of the Botany Bay Bacon ride!

FOR SALE #1: Specialised Turbo Vado SL e-bike in excellent condition

E-bike + accessories purchased in February 2024 for $5 662.  Selling for $3 500 ono due to owner’s change of circumstance.

Details:
  • Brand: Specialized
  • Model: 2023 Turbo Vado SL 4.0 ST EQ
  • Size: Medium
  • Colour: Raspberry/Black Reflective
Additional features:
  • Specialized Turbo Connect TCD in black
  • Shimano Disc Brake Hose 1000mm in black
  • Power charger (Australian plug)
  • TCD Display (refer to photos for included features)
In addition to the e-bike, the sale also includes:
  • MTS Saddle bag
  • Phone holder
  • Bontrager Charger Floor Pump
  • Original receipt/proof of purchase
  • User manual (and charger) in hard case  
Contact Katherine: katherine.hatton@hotmail.com or 0402 903 433

FOR SALE #2: Aventon E-Bike Stepover

Regular size, like new, 500W motor, 8 speed Shimano gear cluster, disc brakes front and rear.

Purchased 2023, done under 400km.

Hugely discounted $1500 negotiable. Lots extras.

Call Len 0418 220 452



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