Obstacles can't stop riders

Jeff and Marree Nolan from Toowoomba completed the Cycle Queensland 2010 in tandem.

Scottie Simmonds

DURING nine days more than 1000 cyclists rode 560km, negotiating hilly terrain, a flood and a beer shortage in Mt Perry.

Finally, the cycling enthusiasts, who came from across the country, arrived in Alexandra Park yesterday morning after riding all the way from Yeppoon for Cycle Queensland 2010.

But their arrival was not without causing some havoc earlier on.

On Friday night the riders stopped in Mt Perry to visit the Mt Perry Grand Hotel to sink a few cold ones. But their thirst outstripped the watering hole’s expectations turning the hotel into the pub with no cold beer on tap.

“Something like that has never happened before,” owner Harry Phillips said.

“Luckily we had some stubbies and cans which we could use as back up.”

Mt Perry residents looking for a cold one after the annual dump truck pull on Saturday did not have to worry about beer stocks.

“We had plenty for the next day with the pull, it just needed to be cooled,” Mr Phillips said.

Despite their hangovers, the cyclists were back on their bikes Saturday for the next leg to Gin Gin before heading to Bundaberg yesterday.

Among the cyclists were about eight Bundaberg riders from the Mad Cycologists flying the Bundaberg colours, including Bargara doctor and cyclist Robyn Pollock.

“Every year I say I don’t know whether I’ll do it,” she said.

“But you can’t really say no when it’s in your local area.”

Bicycle Queensland event co-ordinator Leah Lane said Cycle Queensland 2010 had been a smooth event apart from some flooding near Monto.

“We ended up having to bus everyone from Mt Morgan to Monto because flooding had closed the road and we could not get through,” she said.