The inaugural Wine, Wheels & Whiting Weekend was an overwhelming success. Here are some of our favourite moments from a great weekend in the saddle.
Set against the backdrop of the picturesque Clare Valley and the sparkling Copper Coast, the first annual Wine, Wheels & Whiting recreational ride was a resounding success for all involved. The aptly-titled event saw over 300 participants wind their way through a 125km route beginning in Clare and ending at Wallaroo
Despite the distance many participants took it easy, stopping along the way to take in the beautiful scenery. The perfect weather also brought out the locals, who cheered the riders along as they powered through the final stretch towards the finish line at Wallaroo Tourist Park.
Members of the community turned out to show their support and enjoy the post-event entertainment which included live music and regional food and wine stalls. The event aimed to cater to a wide range of ages and fitness levels; riders also had the option to set-off from the townships of Snowtown or Bute.
This is the first time Bike SA have organised a ride along this route and, judging by the enthusiasm, it’s unlikely to be the last.
Here are our top 5 moments from a magic day.
The Top 5.
The Views
To say the views were nice is an understatement. Riders were treated to a stunning backdrop of leafy vineyards, rolling hills, farmland, canola fields and the odd kangaroo. All topped off with perfect weather. What more could you ask for? We’ll let the photos do the talking.
Leaving the rolling hills of Clare
Some of the wildlife
Farmland peppered throughout the ride
Canola fields climbing Barunga Gap
Wind Farms looked pretty spectacular as a backdrop.
The Personal Best
Whether you cross the line first or last, few things are more satisfying than knowing you achieved your goal. Just look at Phillip Darbyshire, who completed the entire 125km route. You couldn’t find a happier guy.
And his twitter account to prove that he made it to the finish 🙂
The Fans
Every rider needs a fan club, no matter how small.
Locals cheer riders as they make their way through to Wallaroo
Probably the cutest fan of the day
The Climb
A weekend recreational ride is all the better with a few steep hills. Some embrace the challenge, others dread it. But conquering a long, hard climb is the ultimate achievement. Barunga Gap was a bit of a killer – but well worth it.
Andrew Hudson tackling Barunga Gap
Craig Scott almost at the top of the Gap.
Some of the guys who made it to the top earning a well deserving break.
What goes up must go down… flying down the other side of Barunga Gap.
The Finish Line
After 6 hours on a bike, the finish line was a welcome sight for many. Riders sat back with a glass of wine in the sunshine, followed by a well-deserved gourmet dinner at the local alehouse.
And for some – it seemed like a glass of wine was well deserved!
And for a bit of a laugh, be sure to watch this video from the Whyalla Riders Club.
You can also check out the photos on Flickr and Facebook.
