Yanchep to Lancelin 1994

Yanchep to Lancelin, day 2, Tuesday 6 September 1994. Left the Yanchep Lodge at 8:17. The wind was NE, and it would shift to NW as I approached Lancelin, so it was a headwind all the way. I estimated the journey to be 83 km, so I should arrive at Lancelin at 29990. I reached Wanneroo Road at 29914 and headed north. I rested at 29923, then started off again, feeling quite optimistic because the wind wasn’t too bad and I felt able to complete the task.

Then at 29924, one km after my rest, I heard a familiar snap, looked down and saw the back wheel going wibble, wibble, a broken spoke. I stopped briefly to check and sure enough, it was on the cluster side. I had only brought the small spanner and in any case I would need a big pipe to fit over the end of a spanner to provide leverage. This is a recurrent problem with broken spokes on chain-gear bikes (see 1988 ride account). Since no spokes had broken for a long time I had trusted that they wouldn’t do so during these few days and had left the big spanner behind to save weight; though, in a contradictory decision, I had, thankfully, brought the cluster remover and spare spokes.

However I knew that there would be no service stations on the way up to Lancelin. There would almost certainly be one in Lancelin that could lend me a spanner and pipe, but that was yet 66km away. I hadn’t seen one since the previous day’s stop on the Wanneroo Road, now 20 km back. If I returned there that would really end the trip. I decided to continue to Lancelin, with the option of limping into Guilderton, Seabird or Ledge Point if more spokes broke and the bike really became crippled.

I took another rest at 29942, and reached the Gingin Road turnoff at 29945. There were still 45 km to go to Lancelin, 45 km that would have to be done all the way back when I went to Gingin, since there was no other way.

The topographical map, which shows the contours of the land, shows that this region is gently undulating, not what you would call hilly, but with the broken spoke and the headwind, the pain in my hip and general worry about the situation the road seemed very difficult. Clouds began rolling in from the west – a weak cold front with some rain was forecast – but it didn’t look as though it would affect me.

I took further rests at 29957, 969 and 980. Fortunately I had packed more drink boxes than I thought I would need, because last time I went to Lancelin this road had been a hard grind and I hadn’t had enough to drink. There are some days when the kilometres spin under the wheels and others when each one seems a labour. I was starting to form an idea of staying two days in Lancelin, not trying to grind back to Gingin the very next morning, against what I assumed (correctly, as it turned out) would be another headwind, from the opposite direction.

At last came the downhill run with Lancelin clearly in view. Another spoke snapped at 29986 and the back wheel really started to flop about. The more spokes break, the more the others are stressed. That’s why it is important to replace even one broken spoke promptly.

I reached the expected service station at 29990, at 2:17, and this was when the day gave me something back, because the place was appropriately stocked with tools and a pipe and the proprietor was willing to let me borrow his stuff briefly, or rather, he didn’t care much what I did. I unpacked the bag to get spokes, key and cluster remover, and got the cluster loose in a few seconds (once I had found a bigger spanner to replace the small one he had got for me and also located a length of pipe). After that, replacing a spoke is actually less trouble than replacing a flat tube.

Just then the rain started. I had to remove all my scattered luggage quickly off the garage forecourt and onto the swept but stained floor inside. I would have been safely at the motel by this time had the spokes not been broken.

When the job was done and everything repacked and stowed I thanked the proprietor and bought some food and drink at his shop. The rain still fell so I decided just to rush to the motel and not worry about the bike getting wet. It would only be five minutes.

I reached the motel at 29992 and booked in and dumped the luggage but on reflection, realised that I needed to find a better shop for drink boxes and breakfasts. I usually buy biscuits and things for hotel breakfast that is cheap and can be eaten in bed. I raced back down the road in the rain and back, then at last settled down for a needed rest and a snack between 3 and 4 pm with wet and gloomy weather outside, but the day’s effort a success. At this point I was almost certain I would spend two days here.

After resting I had a swim on the beach just 30 seconds walk from the hotel, as a weak sun peeped through the clouds and a cold wind blew from the SW. It made no sense to go straight back the next day.

Had a nice mixed grill in the hotel bar for tea.

Reading at end of day: 29994. Day’s ride: 87 km. Aggregate: 153. Km/day: 76.5

Charles A. Pierce

Other Days on this Tour:

1. Cottesloe to Lancelin Tour 1994
2. Cottesloe to Yanchep 1994
3. Yanchep to Lancelin 1994 (This post)
4. Lancelin 1994
5. Lancelin to Gingin 1994
6. Gingin to Cottesloe 1994

Places Mentioned in this Post:

Related posts:

1. Cottesloe to Lancelin Tour 1994
2. Lancelin 1994
3. Cottesloe to Yanchep 1994
4. Lancelin to Gingin 1994
5. Clarkson to Lancelin Tour 2010

Tags: Lancelin, Yanchep