They've gone and ruined my holiday

[enzed]

I'm in the mood for some whinging.
For the past 3 years I have been a volunteer in Big Rides in 3 Australian states. "Big Rides" are 9 day supported cycling holidays, and is run mostly by volunteers. There's the Great Victorian Bike Ride, NSW Big Ride & Cycle Queensland. I just got an email from Cycle Queensland, and have been told that my volunteer application has been declined. I have been a catering volunteer in all these rides, and that makes me a regular. I'm usually on the catering short-list for up and coming rides.
But this years cycle Queensland is way up in North Queensland (I'm from Sydney) and I don't think many regular volunteers from sydney will be accepted on this trip. They're providing some "free " transport from Brisbane, and I have no trouble paying my way up to Brisbane to meet that transport. It would have been a great trip this year, getting a chance to see North Queensland. It just shows that experience from dedicated volunteers doesn't mean much at all.
Oh well, there's always the Great Victorian Ride - I may even ride my bike on that one.

[crazycanuck]

What a bunch of numb nuts! You'd think that if there are dedicated volunteers who are happy to venture up to N Qld they'd accept them!!!

It's not that expensive to fly to Qld from sydney anyways....!!!!

Did they say why they wouldn't accept you-other than the distance.

It's nice to see you're volunteering at the events. I'm sure there are many folks who appreciate your time & effort!!!

The Great vic bike ride sounds like fun!

c

[enzed]

Here's some more on the matter. While on the NSW Big Ride, I happened to be talking in a pub with the boss of Cycle Queensland (He was a rider/part-time volunteer).

He assured me that there was an option of transport leaving from Brisbane, and if I put my name down early I'd have a good chance of getting it.

As soon as the vollie application forms came out on the web, within the week I had filled it out & faxed it to Queensland. So I was one of the first to apply for the transport.

Here's the Email I got
Dear Louise
Thanks for your application to be part of the volunteer support crew forCycle Queensland.
We complete an assessment process to:· match volunteers to their team preferences· assess where we believe they will best fit· balance availability· balance transport needs (this has been the biggest challenge this year)
In 2006 our recruitment program has been very successful and we arefortunate that many people have applied.
Unfortunately this means we arenot able to accept all the people who want to come.
While we wish we could take everybody, on this occasion we are unable toplace you in a team and as such your volunteer application for CycleQueensland 2006 is not accepted.
The world is kept ticking by good people who volunteer their time for anynumber of reasons.
We warmly thank you for offering your time and hope youwill consider applying in the future.

I would be prepared to fly to Cairns, but it seems they're already made their mind up.

I will miss not being there. I've gotten to know so many people over the year (Volllies/cyclists & caterers). I will miss the tent city & evenings spent in country pubs.

Hey, at least there's always Victoria. With not going up to Queensland I'll be able to save some money. So I'll be able to pay to ride the Great Vic & have some spare pub-money to enjoy.

[light_sabe_r]

That's a real bugga enzed.
I think maybe it's the location this year though. Who wouldn't want to volunteer to go to NQ. It's so GORGEOUS up there!

I'm not ready to do a big tour like that yet. I'm thinking about it for next year :P

[enzed]

You should try one of these trips. Last year I decided to ride Cycle Queensland (Goondiwindi to Broad Beach). My bike is a trek hybrid & I'm not the fastest cyclist around. But I did it, without using the sag wagon once.

The hardest day was 109Km from Inglewood to Stanthorpe. There was a headwind for part of the way, and all we passed was farmland. Luckily, I found myself a cycling buddy for the day & we spent the time chatting among ourselves & with other cyclists.

Another day, from Killarney to Boonah, we rode up to McCarr's Lookout. The view was amazing. We then rode down the hill into the valley. It was a steep & winding downhill, once in awhile I'd have to have a break to let my brakes cool off.

I also was a part-time volunteer in the catering tent. By the end of the week I was starting to get tired, but I never not turned up to a shift.

Here's a photo taken at broadBeach. It's not the best pictures ever taken of me (I'm the one on the right), but it's the only one I've got.


The only problem is now I realise I can ride these trips, I just can't afford to do them all.

[kiwi girl]

Wow enzed that's a bummer

Me and BF ae still thinking about doing Victoria this year (we've done it the past two years) but I am having issues getting off work so it might have to be NSW in March (plus I'm a bit apprehensive about the hills on the Great Vic this year)

Please know that riders appreciate the efforts of the vollies even if the organisers don't

[enzed]

Hi kiwi girl. About the Great Vic, the hills do a look a little bit intimidating. The NSW Big Ride should be flatter. Its supposed to a loop ride near the coast. I'll either be riding it or volunteering, or maybe both. I might be me serving you dinner.
The time spent in the catering tent chopping veges doesn't seem so bad, when I get to have so much fun & get to travel the country. As long as the cyclists are well-fed & happy, I've done my job. The extra thanks from the cyclist is nice though, and is what keeps me coming back.

How's the weather in Christchurch at the moment? I've been there a few times, as some cousins of mine live down here. My family is based in Palmerston North, and it's a bit cold up there at the moment.