I woke around 426am this morning, staggered out to the kitchen to check the time and was filled with a sudden urge to return to the warmth and comfort of my bed. 

Why was I fumbling around in the dark trying to put one thought process in front of another at this ungodly hour?

I felt like I was the only human being awake at this time of the morning and it didn’t feel good. 

I eventually found my way to the study, slumped into my computer chair and flicked over the pages in my diary on the very unlikely chance that I had got my dates wrong! 

There it was….Easter Ride 6am, Whistle Stop Café Exit 49 Strawberry Farm 

Local cycling identity, Peter Flynn, had invited Cycle Sport News to accompany a group of riders on an Easter Ride through the hills and dales around Pimpama and Jacob’s Well, and as “Cycle Sport News” usually means yours truly, I was the one that had to face this inhuman experience!!! 

Besides, none of rest of our small staff would ever be ready to do anything at 430am in the morning, especially Jamie, who has recently become a father again and we all know what effect that has on health and sanity…..endless sleep deprivation and nappy changes!!  

Peter had proposed the idea of joining the group for breakfast after the photo shoot, but he hadn’t reckoned on the editor of Cycle Sport News being right in the midst of “Project 90”- a personal campaign to lose about 7 kilograms and reach a weight goal of 90 kilograms sometime during April. 

So instead of waiting to launch myself into a bacon and egg burger or a cheese croissant and capuccino, I stirred a glass of Tony Fergusson Expresso Shake and sat back to plan my next move. 

The motor bike ride to Pimpama was a weird experience. 

The sun was still tucked away behind the horizon, car headlights sporadically dotted the highway, and as I rocketed up though Coomera I could smell freshly baked hot cross buns. 

The aroma was enough to almost break my diet there and then, but I remained strong and focused, and by the time I arrived at the Whistle Stop Café, the thought of buns caked in butter and downed with a warm, generous, creamy coffee were put to the back of my mind. 

The large roll up of riders caught me by surprise. 

This was an amazing bunch of people! 

What would prompt 30-odd men, women and children to drag themselves out of bed at 5am on Easter Saturday morning to head off on a 40km bike ride??? 

Fortunately, Peter Flynn, was on hand to give his reasons for dragging me up to Pimpama, and why there was such a bunch of happy, enthusiastic riders standing around in lycra at 6am. 

“I wanted to get you out of bed to photograph cyclists really enjoying themselves” he explained. 

“All going well, we can make this a regular ride each Saturday from now on. It’s a great ride through the cane fields and the suburbs, and anyone is welcome to join us. It’s our way of showing off the sport that we love, and hopefully we can get people into cycling and that’s what it’s all about.” 

Peter is well known as the race promoter for the Tour of the Scenic Rim which will take place at Boonah on the 24-25th July. 

“The Tour is still looking for a major sponsor at this time, so anyone with a spare bit of cash is quite welcome to come and see me” he added.

Who knows? Perhaps that generous sponsor may well show up next Saturday, when riders roll out for another pleasant early morning ride.

Photo: Cycling is for everybody

Copyright Peter Ford (CSN)

Photo: Moto One Media

Copyright Peter Ford (CSN)

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Peter Flynn  - Awesome ride, awesome coverage!   |124.187.95.xxx |03-04-2010 12:52:31 Hey Peter Thanks for a fantastic article about our early morning ride today! Hopefully one day you will be pedalling instead of being on two wheels with a motor to assist - and therefore not needing that diet! Does the Tony Fergusson diet include wine!? Hope you enjoy an afternoon nap! Thanks again, Peter Flynn Reply 3   0

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