Monthly Archives: December 2013

Second last way to start the day

Dawn was breaking slowly under a few scudding strato cumulus this morning which made for a steely grey sprint along the Asquith Golf course segment and a cool humid start to the second best way to start the day. For YHC it was a normal work day except it could be described as very much a holiday ride. Nil traffic before Waitara, there was a white van to report .. but looked more like the young driver was heading home rather than to work as he was observing the speed limit and displayed no agro at all.. YHC rolled forth unaccosted.

Fox Valley Road.. rendezvous was a question of me myself and I , the peloton discussed an early departure but got involved in checking the 360 app for DtB who was actually still at home..so at the appointed hour a reduced ER presence was noted but operations were still normal..

Gordon and tumbrels rolling around in the morning breeze, it looked like a solo ER bus would be the sum of it, but at 3 seconds to go Chippo hurled around the corner and doubled the numbers..( YHC was a little concerned as this could mean a hypoxic record breaking OTP but was quickly informed about a run at lunch scheduled so the ride would be at ER normal ( ok BT pace ) . So an on time departure for the second last OTP of the 2013 calendar and a perfectly formed but sartorially splendid peloton rolled out to ply the back streets of the north shore with vigour and enthusiasm ( at BT pace )..

The hills of death rolled over , and col de Lindfield increased the average pace a little, Rawhiti sprint left YHC in a breathless state although Chippo was politely jollying along .. not a single bead of sweat to be seen..then into Hills St and Welshie was waiting at the stop with Hans ( a potential new rider ) which doubled the peloton again.. its an ER thing..seems to double in size en route. ( and one of the issues we need to address with the BNSW boys as they won’t play with us until the bike bus scenario is embraced by their strategic thinking)

Nil traffic into Archer St and a clear run though to the Scaramanga climb, YHC leading ( the only way to not get dropped is to dictate the tempo up front then use elbows to prevent any overtaking on the bike path.. ) meant YHC was first to clear the carpark, in a bit of a haze I have to admit, with Chippo daydreaming on my wheel. The only traffic to Crows Nest was a garbo , and the only distraction there was finding a cafe that was open.. ( sorry flash Xenos was trap shut.. ) we decided to roll on.. What little traffic there was was actually determined to get in the way .. one was stopped at a traffic lights having overshot the stop line by a half car length, the other was a garbo parked at 90 degrees to the road blocking the on coming traffic, but he was busy ..

The lights aligned nicely along Miller St, giving the peloton a boost to the bridge and early arrival at the clam tight shut B&T.. We’ll have to call Vic and tell him he sold out..

Chippo led the way to bar Fredo.. Shut .. Yahoo, shut.. three strikes and he was out.. Welshie, YHC and hans found an extortion merchant on George St next to the Philips foot. $5 a coffee.. beggars though are not choosers so we swallowed pride and coughed up.

YHC then rolled to the office and found the Hobbits ride ensconced at Vivo ( the eatery at the foot of 388 George and an IAG local) ( who wants to go there to quote Chippo )

So it was a perfect start to the day, all the boxes ticked..YHC is looking forward to BDR and alps return to Mt Colah probably on the early mark if at all possible.. will be monitoring the mail list for all your ride reports to destinations around the Sydney basin with interest.

Have a great day all

BT

OTP the recovery ride of champions

YHC was on the blower to the UK until all hours last night so was up a good hour before going to bed for a slow gentleman’s roll into town via the Galstone Gorge. Deliciously cool and slightly overcast making for a perfect start to the week. It seems the gravel trucks and quarry hauliers are still abed at 0530 making for a clear and calm transfer to the lip of the gorge, unfortunately the 5 utes parked outside the coffee shop at Galstone village must have seen me chuff past.. giving me a head start so they could find a few blind corners to attack me on.. no worries the only one that came close saw the camera and gave me the space required..only meter but yes it matters.

Ketones.. the alternative source of energy.. you get to use these if you do not consume sugary drinks and staples like bread. I am now as they say in the blogs “keto adapted” what this means is that I can chuff along in a slow and well aspirated manner, pretty much all day..but have little top end power for the sprint.. thus it was great to arrive at the top of the gorge with the legs to do many more.. but alas being a Monday..it was an OTP on the menu rather than a DtB 170km all points of the compass path around the northern beaches..but I felt like that would have been a nicer option.

Gathering at the Roland av bus stop , Teflon and B1c aboard then Xena all made our way through the Turra debacle .. nicely congested to within an inch of gridlock. Then through to the Gordon rendezvous, where 25 more ERs had grouped for the second best way. A cohort of Sydney’s finest rolled out on time, and were blessed by minimal traffic and gentle tail winds to assist along that well worn trail. Pink Stratos took off early to give the peloton a little something to chase, and was caught before the Rohiti sprint. The regroup on Hill St bringing now 30 ERs to heel, made a nice meal for the Archer st shredder to digest.. and a well parked car just short of the Tindale turn, provided a choke point that choked..

YHC by now was content to slide to the “arriere du peloton” to give the ‘lanterne rouge” a little company and also to enjoy rolling through to North Sydney at social chat pace.. paying due respect to Andy Schleck McD as he was doing the opposite and sliding to the front to cane it across the bridge for a place in the coffee queue and to rearrange the tables at the B&T..

All being well with the world ( except for Finchies NDE ) the B&T was BAU and worked their magic to make 40 coffees in 10 minutes as ERs arrived through various routes to slap backs and regale with witty repartee and wisdom. Much conversation about the triumph that was the ER “festive season” party.. ok let’s just call it Christmas..

Departures ( whispers of a cheeky Flambie or MMMT are scheduled ) if the forecast is correct conditions will be “perfect”

Have a great day all

BT

OTP Tuesday blast

A bright clear morning, and YHC was out and in amongst it .. straight into the Subi over to Gordon before anyone could snaffle my parking spot which is now around the corner from the launch. Chinz curtains ruffled as i set up the bike and gave the locals a glimpse of the second best way to start the day.

14C and dazzling sunshine make for a heady mix, and this was soon enhanced by the sight of 25 plus gathering on the OTP for a chatty roll into town. Let’s just say all the cracks had gathered for the fray, and no old regrets as it seems that wicked enthusiasm has triumphed. Our little band was only one of three, Flash was spotted, making his way towards a hobbits run, and of course the Fluffers were unleashed from Snives at 5:15..

The process of moving ERs along the OTP has now become almost as natural as breathing, there are pulses of riders, which form at about 50m intervals and then accumulate into a bunch at junctions and lights.. and from my vantage point today well to the front at the start of the ride and well to the rear at the end, I can attest to the general good behaviour and bon hommie all around.  There was a car that transgressed the rules of common sense by overtaking at the crest of Lindfield avenue, you get that, and cameras will make these fools think harder if they are indentified and evidence is available.. but that is encouraging a them against us ethos which is counter to the ER mentality of doing the right thing, and trying to get on with everyone. I confess to wearing a camera, because it generates a good metre and a half clearance along New Line road..where the locals have yet to be convinced Cyclists are allowed.

The shredder was effective this morning, and the Tindale regroup was an effective coagulant, thus proceeding through the Artarmon park was a longish single file affair with style and aplomb.. to be completed by an assault course of walkers up the scaramanga..again ER colours showing manners to all concerned.

The coffee sprint was launched as usual from the top of Crows Nest, needless to say Schleck was already well into his coffee before YHC arrived, the motor on my bike running on diesel with speed limiter ..in definite need of a tune up..

Shambles,  mayhem , and queues around the corner for coffee as the a multitude of lycra piled in, let’s hope they change into business wear before the Lunchie Yum Cha special this afternoon.

Return busses all ready and waiting for the off.. I will be on an early one.

Have a great day all

BT

( see I avoided all talk of the evil wheat )