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Open Kernel Labs Blog
November 02, 2008
OKers raise money for MS victims
Yesterday a combined team (called Keg on Wheels for historic reasons 
of OK Labs and ERTOS riders joined the annual MS Australia Sydney to the Gong cycling event, running for 90km between Sydney and Woollongong ("The Gong"). This event, which attracts well over 10,000 riders each year, is a fundraiser to help people suffering from multiple sclerosis. (MS). The team raised over $1000 in donations from individuals, and more donations are still coming in. Many thanks to all who contributed!
For me, this was the fifth or so time that I participated in the ride, but the most unusual one. The reason was that I only flew from the US back into Sydney that morning, with a scheduled arrival time of 7:05, the time most riders are already at the start or on the way (and certainly the rest of our team would be starting around that time). To make matters worse, the flight was delayed and I only reached the terminal building at around 8:10. Getting home quickly, getting a more solid breakfast than you can in the plane, changing, checking the bikes over, and riding the 3km to the start was all done in record time, arriving at around 9:15.
But when Trudy and I we got to the start there was no-one left! Knowing the route we cycled along the Pacific Highway, and after a few km saw workers picking up the witches hats that divided off a lane for the cyclists. 10km further, after enjoying riding all by ourselves on our own divided-off lane of the Grand Parade at Sans Souci, we passed the first rest stop, where we saw the first riders. We passed more and more individuals and small groups, until we saw the first kind-of field at the hill before the moring tea stop at Loftus Oval, 30km into the ride. From there on we were in the crowd, which became denser and denser. We did a 30-minute stop at Cedar Flats, the official lunch spot in the Royal National Park, but otherwise kept going non-stop. By the time we reached the Finish in Woollongong, we had overtaken the complete rest of the team without noticing it!
Given the late start we were really lucky that the weather was pretty much ideal: overcast yet dry, cool (20°C) and no wind, can't hope for better. But given that we have had several days of 30–35°C in September and October, it could have been different. In the future I'll try to avoid flying in the morning of the ride!
Posted by Gernot Heiser on November 02 at 11:51 PM
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About Gernot Heiser:
Gernot Heiser, Co-founder and Consulting Scientist, never thought he would be in the business world. Prior to NICTA's creation in 2003, Dr Heiser was a full-time faculty member at the University of New South Wales. However, this die-hard academic couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the commercialization of this research. Gernot still loves teaching, almost as much as he loves good wine and good food. And anyone will tell you that Gernot knows his wine.