The second annual Wines2Mines charity bike ride over the weekend didn’t quite go to plan with extreme heat and strong winds making the 390km ride from Yenda to Cobar harder than it should have been.
The group of eight riders were given a hero’s welcome when they arrived back in town on Sunday afternoon.
“This year’s ride was harder compared to last year,” ride organiser Jade Buckman told The Cobar Weekly.
“It was approximately 30km longer, had more hills and the weather conditions were a lot tougher.
“The temperatures on Saturday and Sunday were over 40 degrees and 30km cross/head winds on Sunday made it very difficult.”
Jade praised the efforts of all of the peloton over the three gruelling days of riding.
He said his wife Bonnie (who suffers with Multiple Sclerosis) “was inspirational” riding 310km of the 390km.
He was also thankful that new rider Scott Brown had joined the ride this year as he rode at the front all day on Sunday protecting the other riders from the strong winds.
“Luke Griffiths was the surprise packet,” Jade said.
“He rode near the front all three days making it all the way home.”
Jade also praised his teenage son Chad, who once again completed the ride with ease and the “amazing support crew” for making it as comfortable for the riders as possible.
To date the group has raised $5,000 for Batyr and MS with the money still coming in.
