It started as a drip, a trickle and eventually become a flood.

4.55 I woke just in time to shoosh my 5am alarm so as not to disturb Lady Dora.

A bite of toast, a cup of team, ablutions, into the E&T and out the door to pedal the crisp, chill dark of pre-dawn Willoughby.

Shotgun quickly located at corner of Penshurst & Victoria. Soon joined by our favourite Freudian, Horatio, for the steady pedal northwards, following the legendary Way of the Dragon.

The Blessed Virgin caught us up and then Daffodil sprouted on the horizon. Thus we were five and soon bound for LCNP, with fingers freezing, keeping a keen and misty eye out for Hobbits.

On cue one appeared, Dopey (by name only) – blasting out of Browns waterhole like a halfling possessed. Only to be followed by another, Stealth.

Foolishly we passed them, swimming against the tide we headed north, down into the hole and then up for a perfectly timed rendezvous with the northern horde who charged towards and then past us. We turned and chased, mad for the hunt – in and out of Browns once more.

Cresting the hill on the other side found Shotgun unloading both barrels into the gutter. Good one son. Better out than in. Fair play for smashing the SS through Browns two times with gusto.

And then we were many, streaming through the back streets. Finchy, Chippo, Bam, B1 & Norman showing how it’s done MTB style. VD leading then peeling off to follow the Parra Path. Admin on the drops and menacing the Kona.

Rhodes – a sneaky slash, Concord – local constabulary out in force with all pursuit vehicles in attendance – not ready to mess with these easy riders, Five Dock, Canada Bay, Rozelle, then Anzac to arrive in a full torrent and wash up on the shore of the Google Cafe.

47kms on the clock and grin on the dial.

Good job team – a cracking ride and a great way to start the weekend.

Great morning for it, conditions..perfect..temps and pressures all in the green, maggies checked and all nesting, power to weight ratio could be a little better but we’ll live with it..ignition and transfer to Gordon in plenty of time to view a few erstwhile ERs pedalling towards start lines of much harder rides than the Mallow OTP that YHC was about to enjoy.

A chilly blast was a bit of a wake up call in the car park..9C on the clock, but with the clear blue sky and large sun, YHC chose to tough it out, and not don the rapha..( nice to know the option is there though ) . It was an eclectic bunch this morning, the weight and might of the financial markets in the form of TFS discussing the next big ferrous challenge with DT..and YHC heard that Saint Nav has found a polly pedal around Canberra for the weekend..250kms, 4000 plus climbing in a lumpy little course through the back country only a mountain goat would enjoy..”we’ll see what sort of shape I’m in for the 3 peaks “ he said..hmm is all I could respond.

Into the misnamed hills of death, and on to the OTP, 20 plus riders in fine form and style, playing nicely with the traffic and bantering on, Friday..beautiful one week, perfect the next.

No accidents, incidents, GOTFR tokens, nothing.. just the second best way to start the day. Of note was a garbage truck blocking the Tindale climb out..interesting to see a rag tag bag of misfits having to form an orderly queue to line astern formation while actually having to pedal up that hill.  The SUP through to Naremburn was filled with grockles ( East Anglian slang word for tourists ) which is also providing opportunities to test the ER resolve to abide in peace. Nice to see though, that  orderly conduct and consideration has become the norm, even a highlight.

Rolling through North Sydney..hmm another opportunity for practicing peace and calm in the face of multiple motorised challenges..but arriving over the bridge and in one piece..priceless… job done.

GG tonight, all the usual suspects will be lined up.. you know who you are..

Have a great day all

BT

Chaos commenced for YHC as the sun poked above the horizon illuminating the  garret at Dural with a bushfire glow , and a quick check of the wind direction ( visible blown smoke) ..decisions.. which way to go ? Strapping the camera on visibly to the right side of the helmet I was keen to see if the traffic along New Line would give a little more room if they thought there would be evidence of agro..so after pumping the tyres and oiling the chain it was onto the OTP Dural route.. and hey the camera created a magic 1 meter clearance.. no ute / Bdouble / Bus agro, and only one P plate GOTFR token..

A gentle push over to Fox Valley as there was time to waste, and arrived just as the bell rang for the 6;30 off.. caught at the lights for a banter and back slap before rolling the well worn path to Gordon. 6 on the Fox valley, followed by  3 more at Heydon and caught by Phil before Turra, making a tight but perfectly boisterous peloton sufficient to create a bike lane on the Pacific highway..all that was missing was the paint.

The ER gathering at Gordon was looking a little anaemic until our arrival doubled those waiting in the traps..and within a short while the stragglers rolled up to double it again making a huge 20 or so ( huge considering there are a bulky number still in transit from Melbourne riding the bay ) ..and chaos again when the Fatty O’Barrel failed to show..20 odd looking riders not able to slip the surly bonds of Gordon until a toot from our friend.. now scheduled for 6:47.. YHC rang the bell at 6:45:30.. putting an end to the confusion and calling a start a start.

It was orderly, but with multiple cars on the first roundabout, we quickly found a small traffic jam, and giving right of way meant a cycle jam ensued. Unravelling in single file put all traffic back in motion with minimum fuss, allowing YHC to slide “arriere du peloton “ where all the laughing was..much to be said about being official lantern rouge.. there is no one fighting you for the privilege. Of note was watching the legs of David Brown, putting in 200 rpm along Lindfield av.. road runner meet DB ..

Perfect weather for a roll into town, provided you have no objection to wood smoke, but temperature in the 20’s wind calm, viz a little blurry beyond about 200 metres ( that is with my glasses on ) there would be few who would complain about that. Tindale regroup was sufficiently long to be door stopped by the Tindale residents action and progress group, dedicated to stop all action and progress in Tindale.. politics as we know it.. a do it yourself get it done sort of thing, we salute them..

There were all the usual suspects on the SUP, and ER morning discipline on show ensuring all runners, dogs, prams, children and pensioners using the path were left unshaken, if a little stirred. It is after all a stiring sight to see this rag tag bunch.. filtering through in a blur of egg and tomato.

Regroup at Crows was in stages, half and half, making a safety sized bunch to attack North Sydney in waves, the late comers and YHC appreciate those who go over the top first, by the time we follow all lights are green and traffic looking out for cycle traffic.. even the 612 let us past only to take the turn into Lavender from the right lane around those waiting for the filter right to change green.

B&T churned out the caffeine in spritely fashion, having had an orderly arrival in small groups led of course by the OTPe and all various groups from all suburbs ..a phenomenon soon to be marketed to tourists as one of the great migrations of Sydney.

Loins to be girded for return rides, look to the web for your preferred option.. and recruits are required for a 3:45 departure ( that is AM tomorrow for a Gettalong with Flash ..go on you know you want to )

Have a great day all

BT

YHC was roused in the middle of the night again, pitch black and blinking as the alarm insisted it was time to be up..everything else was certain it was not. Not even a hint of Bdouble or essence de truck out on the Old Northern, it was definitely dark out there.

Motion by pedal to the Loftus rendezvous, in a deliciously cool predawn daze.. YHC resumed automatic pilot while the brain claimed one or two moments of REM making one last attempt at a sleep cycle.

Danny the Boy and TD arrived within mere seconds of each other from different directions, kicking the OTPe in action with a minute up the sleeve. TD on the Bundy ( one day he may be able to afford gears on it but not today, it was configured with some tiny cog on the back and was looking for pain ) Dtb and YHC found a gap in the Beecroft traffic and sauntered into the rollercoaster lottery, TD held back and chased, but as there were multiple red lights we all arrived at the railway tunnel well gassed and perhaps a PB up the ramp. Alas I had selected the wrong gear ( must have put the wrong legs on ) DtB and TD flew past, leaving YHC in the dust.. The rest they say is history.. OTPe is really is a ride of two halves.. the good bit was over, and now there is a ridiculous roundabout network of interconnecting back streets which spit you out at Delhi Rd.and then interrupt normal progress by a succession of traffic lights and junctions.  Lobbster set a cracking pace from Vimera, a rolling boil for the 15 minutes up the 3 Epping climbs..YHC was cooked to a turn by pacific highway only to be overdone at Scaramanga.. limped over the SHB in time to rearrange the tables at B&T. Composure was just re-established as the ER OTP arrived and a pretend nonchalance betrayed by steam and sweat.

ERs arrived from all points, the new Manly chapter arriving as the first wave was leaving, the TSS was also a visitor, 9 weeks off the bike and feeling it, banter and tall stories of week end rides, Canberra, MTB exploits, 200plus Audax, Goader’s hill fest, there was pathos, hyperbole..all the devices used..

Choice abounds for the return rumble, blazing sunshine expected as afternoon is misnamed as evening.

Have a great day all

BT

The garbage trucks of Monte Dural were running a little later than usual so YHC was not roused from slumber until the last minute.. a quick cup of tea followed by a positioning drive to the Gordon car park ensued.. then realised that the temperature was at a barmy 8C ..shocking considering there was no warning of these near wintery conditions. I thought global warming had taken care of this.

Good thing there is always the Rapha jacket option curled up in the bottom of my kit bag.. you know you all want one.. well you would if you knew the fact that Rapha gear makes all conditions perfect for a ride into town.

A mere dozen on the pedals accumulated on the OTP , mallows all, crystal pace in for the Friday relax and recuperate session before Goaders launches a team into the stratosphere via every hill in the district, or Flash saw tooths his way through 15 gorges.

Slight overcast then saw us shivering into the Hills of Death, YHC quietly falling to the rear of the peloton and offering a few sympathetic words to those laughing in the rear carriage..and then got overhauled by the B2B peloton , the effervescent Mike Peppou greeting us with “did you think this was the stragglers of the ER peloton.. “ to which I replied “ no I am the straggler of the ER peloton”..

Good thing everyone waited for me at the Hill St stop.. by now I was breathing a little better and could carry on a conversation with the best of them. The sun poked its nose out behind the clouds and things started to look much more like the weekend. The group was split and reformed through Chatswood, our “highway patrolman” on the white Beamer Bike managed to negotiate a safe passage past us without cosying up and all was well with the world..problems all discussed, resolved, mooted and minimised.. exactly what you need on a commute.

Bar Fredo ..hmmm nice sunshine, we moved their tables out from under the shade into the blinking light..and they managed to delay the moment of delivery of caffeine almost to perfection..YHC was gagging for coffee, and could barely contain the enthusiasm for it, just about every order of food was trotted out before a single wiff of the large flat white.

Busses are a booked for the GG and all points of interest north at the usual times, YHC will hopefully be on an early one..may have to delay to join the 5:15 express. A beer is already calling..

Have a great day all

BT