riding up Mt Dandenong

A great ride had by all. Although it was cold and wet on the roads we where never too far from a cafe in Sassafras with its renound date and walnut slice. We tried to get the recepie but the reply was as windy, and turny as the road down to Monbulk. There were too many climbs to mention but each had a different protagonist. The most notable would have to be Andy sprinting twice on the final uphills of the day to our highest point near the radio towers of Mt Dandenong, catching everyone unawares.

Nadia again proved the most photogenic with this shot of her cresting the 1/20 Mountain Highway climb.







Everyone was rugged up in the wintery conditions. Joel did smile on the downhill that followed this shot. Then he skidded out and almost lost it on a gravely corner.






And here is the whole team enjoying that walnut slice for the 3rd time for some riders.








We will be back

More hills for tour of suburbs

Andy let us in on a little secret of his and added some nice new hills for the morning tour of the suburbs ride. That was the little secret, the big secret was how his secret training is paying off in the climbing department. On the first few hills he was pointing to how sore part of his leg was as Joel and I puffed to keep up with him. On the last of the new hills, Belmore and Elgar Rd, he left Joel for dead and the handicappers with some major re-calculations for the staggered start up the final hill, Burgundy St.

It was not over yet as Joel surprised all with a sprint up Williamsons Rd that Andy nor Michael could contend with. Even when Michael tried to hold with him, Joel just hammered a little harder and went clear over the top. A roll down the Foote St hill earned Michael 82 km/h on his new rear wheel and together with Andy they started to ride up High St at a good temp. This is where the effort that Joel put in showed as he slowly slipped back. It was clear that Joel would be the rabbit out first on the Cole de Burgundy. Joel 40 seconds Andy 35 (although it was meant to be 30) and Michael from scratch.

The last lights caught Michael but Michael's lights did not go out till right at the top where he took the lead from Andy with 3 pedal strokes to spare. It was all downhill from there and the end of another great morning ride. 6 degrees celcius on the thermometer and the boulevard as always proving the hardest part of the ride with the relentless rolling hills, the rough surface and obnoxious drivers honking at riders. Actually that was Alex driving to work.

Sprinting and breaking wheels

Last Sunday's ride cost everyone dearly with a lot of sprinting. The group was strong with 6 starters. It was meant to be the much anticipated start of our new domestique Tony. Unfortunately he caught Friday night fever and was still recovering. Maybe this Sunday Tony?

Our team had an upset in only the second kilometer with Richard reporting a loose screw in his cleat. The team waited to make sure that Richard did not just give up and overdose on coffee's waiting for us. In no time the "team car" sorted Richard's cleat out and we were off. Our mission was to catch that far off group in front, you know the one, sitting on 35km/h but with such a wind break that you do not even need to pedal to keep on the back. Needless to say we never caught such a group. This could have been due to Damian and the rest sitting at the back trying to preserve legs for the Mordialloc sprints.

And the sprints did come, as early as black rock. Most of it was just playing bluff. Someone going off the front just to check if anyone would bite with a chase. Towards the business end of the ride we all stuck behind someone else just waiting for that last hill before the flat to the Mordialloc pier. It was all on, 43km/h up the last hill was the last turn for Ralph. As the hill was crested Damian and Michael got a gap out front. It was still a long way to go so they played a little cat and mouse. Then from nowhere came the click, click, click of Joel, pulled across the gap by Richard. A whirr of wheels crossed the line. We were all within seconds of each other, we all enjoyed the ride.

Later in the week it was morning hill ride. Even before the first hill Michael ripped a spoke clear taking a bit of rim with it. looks like Andy's secret training on Tuesday had paid off.

Pushing the "soft" button

Well almost everyone can be called "soft" this week, even though there was plenty of riding to be had. The taunting started with Damian adding a "soft" bottom to an email for riders who chose not to do a morning ride this week. Later in the week we found out that he had enough time to work out voting buttons on email as he left the office for greener pastures, there is even talk that his new employer may provide him with a riding kit. It may even be in his contract that leg shaving is compulsory to ride a bicycle.

The riding started with Joel and I on a frosty Tuesday morning. I am convinced that the mercury did not go above zero degrees for majority of the ride. As the sun rose an indicator in Ivanhoe displayed two (+). We managed with the weather but took a short cut in the ride.

Wednesday was the suburban hills again. Joel had a rough night with his tamagotchi (pager) keeping him up all night with cries to feed it. He pushed "soft" and did not turn up. Andy led Damian and myself till we hit the first climb. We gave it all up the hill and as I won Damian conceeded that he is not feeling too well and maybe we should take the shortcut. We did. The big hill was Damian and Andy all the way to the top, with Damian taking honours. I had 2 sets of lights and must have caught what Damian had, comming in last. The start was: Andy 80 seconds, Damian 40 seconds, Michael scratch. It was coffee time in Kew.

Thursday was rest day and Friday I went out with Richard to do laps of Albert Park. The air was heavy with moisture and by the first lap it started to drizzel. The riding was good but I just wanted to be "soft" and finish there. I looked across at Richard who wore neither leg warmers nor booties and I could just imagine how cold that rain must feel at six in the morning, still dark. He was determined so we continued. Somehow the time flew by and in no time we had managed a healthy 30 km's. I struggled another 10 to the office, a hot shower.