Gold Coast Ride in the Premier's Peloton

"Would you like to ride with the Premier?" was the question asked by my CEO's personal assistant. Bicycle Queensland's Brisbane to the Gold Coast Challenge is the largest mass-participation ride in Queensland (I think it got 8000 starters in 2009). The Queensland Premier had run with the idea of a "Premier's Peloton" - sort of like a corporate fundraiser only on your bike getting fit rather than at a dinner getting fat. So with my CEO nominated and then finding himself with an overseas flight booked that afternoon, I got myself down as the one to ride.


Of course it was a chance to push the envelope of what the Tikit could do.

Our smart Queensland maroon "Premiers Peloton" jerseys and the corporate hospitality were great: with a dedicated tent at each stop and plenty of food, drink and a masseur at the finish it was the five star way to do the ride. It was certainly the first time I've had a domestique (the thoroughly dependable Dave Winter). I particularly enjoyed the hammer session after I flatted - a quick change of tube and then Dave and I were on as a two-up time trial on country roads through the cane fields to get back to our group. There were more than a few comments from people surprised to be passed by the pairing of a classic Joe Cosgrove Frezoni and the tiny wheeled Tikit.

I think there was a degree of scepticism over the small wheels, but that was gone by the end of the ride - that's the Premier Anna Bligh and I at the finish.

...Oh and I rode about half way back home to rack up 150 km for the day.