A warm nor-westerly last night rustling through the leaves of the Nor’shore wafting in over the sound of the bongos…damn the natives were restless. As dawn broke, ERs who had been girding their loins in the Sanctified Ives , Col du Colah, Ra de Turramur and all the Wees of Wara started gathering in there clan colours for the winter highland to lowland roll.

Elders piped in, some rarely seen, could not resist the bongo’s call.. 3 FMs in one place, an event Mayan Astrologers predicted would occur in 2012 heralding the end of life as we know it…Drastique, swung into view, Cavewoman, Bucky ( making the catch early today), indeed we were overweight in leading lights( Brownie was even tempted off the Pacific driveway too) , although the gap in formation made by the Chippo and DLHK was noted by YHC.

26 clad in “Egg and Tomato” made the sacred march along the one true path, blazing the trail where Rouleurs have transformed themselves from Middle aged into Mamil, ( and Mawil) from rotund to rake, ( and there were a few rakes on show today)

The honour roll was at gentlemans pace, YHC wheezing into the hills of breath, a balmy 16C making for delightfully sweaty conditions, fooling all those in winter garb, FM Goose stripped down before the off, YHC was not so inclined, and melted in the unseasonably warm air. Old friends chatted, new chums genuflected, and the peloton sallied forth triumphally.

In aviation terms this was a wide bodied heavy…traffic that gets all priority, pushing aside light weights and prop traffic…and we did…traffic was stopped as we passed, lights changed to green on our approach , and the fat controller above smoothed the tarmac and dried the path to ensure all made their way into town in tip top condition.

KOM leaders were a good kilometre ahead of KOM trailers…YHC took up the lantern rouge ceremoniously as it was of yore, then as only the tardy were watching, YHC launched at full gas along the Burlington sprint finding a suitable opportunity to thrash the horses and smash through the threshold of pain. ( You can see how I do like to keep these sprints secret )

A sedate if wind broken correspondent then filtered purposefully through the shambles of North Sydney and SHB to arrive at the B&T in time to see the first sitting finish their first cup of coffee.

FM Goose has again struck gold…watch this space for more about the St Lucy Hill climb, an ER event that will no doubt be the stuff of legend soon.

Coffee / Communion as I call it was exceptional, Vic taking on new staff to manage the avalanche of lycra.

Return to your family seats, clan grounds, or castles when all business for the day is done…Bullet saying his Lunch was the keynote of todays effort, but I have also heard that the 5:15 is tipped to be bus du jour.

Have a good one all…

BT

A two dog night last night and a dingo’s breakfast for YHC on the upper slopes of Monte Dural. Layering up and pedalling out into what would once again prove to be perfect conditions for a ride to the office.

Dry air, clear sky, stars and a gorge, who could ask for more.

I can tell you it was colder today than a mother in law’s kiss down there in the depths of Gall Stone.  The rooster who usually is heralding the dawn at the bridge was a no show..( first best way maybe )

A steady climb out, making way for the utes/trucks and lead foots while keeping a 65 tempo and 130 heart rate, practicing long range cruise for the impending Etape put me into the bosom of the north shore in good time to meet the Fox Valley bus. The legs feeling a little less fresh than yesterday and any urge to sprint / launch off the front / show off / duly squashed into submission. Content to tuck into the draught behind Satnav and get towed into Gordon at an eye blasting 38kph average.

Gordon was at Gordon, as were 20 or so ER leading lights, winter coats looking fresh and clean, our fearless Captain in full regalia scrambled egg on shoulders and cap lead the troops out in tight battle formation. It was mentioned that the dark mornings and cooler air may thin the ranks a little, but it seems the opposite is true, or the call to a ER lunch proved just to attractive to miss…( I can now confirm the Captain’s credit card will NOT be on the bar for the occasion, but no doubt will see a little action)

Cut and paste yesterdays report, all except for the bits where YHC showed any flare, it was an FM ride ( although different FM ) 20 plus and accumulating more along the way..Bucky making the catch at Archer St..

KOM BamBam..followed but Schleck and ¼   ..Burlington smell of coffee exploding the peloton into smaller pieces for the sprint through North Sydney and SHB to Communion at the B&T.

The SHB road works were in the way again this morning, and like most road works had zero men or equipment in sight, be a little careful there though as YHC had to brake heavily from the usual 40kph charge.

Lunch still booked at the Bavarian Bier Cafe…12:30  24 York St

Returns by arrangement …bespoke schedules to fit all tastes.

Have a good one all
BT

PS

Half says big hugs to all…and next time hell book a lunch  venue with class at 1/3 the price of BBC..in the bosom of academe ( no credit card on the bar though )

Waking as I do about an hour before I go to sleep, it was still very much the middle of the night when I turned the first pedal on what turned out to be a spectacular morning for a ride to town. Checking the radar for any hint of inclement weather was a waste of time, a blank screen depicting the lack of cloud cover from all angles to about 500kms…but at 7C the temperature was crisp going on dam cold as I charged into the depths of Gall Stone Gorge. Without really intending to pedalling out became a PB driven mainly by the need to climb up above cold air and keep warm in the meantime…so cadence and gears selected to chaff those parts best designed to elevate the core temp and get out of there pronto.

Once aloft on the leafy NorthShore a different climate ensued, a balmy 13C and wafting warm breezes from draughting Mercs and Lexus 4X4s, however still collected a “GOTFR” token from a ute that was not even going my way, must have forgotten his meds this morning and the turrettes just took over.

Rolling to the top of Foxvalley for the Satnav bus stop , I was just in time as it rolled out exactly on time at 6:35 Old Nick aboard with B1 Satnav and YHC causing the usual traffic jam along Pacific driveway, well we took the blame at least, but pedalled trouble free to the Gordon Launch pad…and into a fast growing Monday FM ride…having genuflected and taken a Pugh communion was promised at the B&T…and thus it was so.

A 20 strong bunch of pedallers on the OTP made grate by Ravi, in his birthday suite, ( happy 45th mate ), Crushant took the opportunity to show a little form and attacked early on, the baroudeur though ran into trouble at the top of the Hills of Breath and was passed by a rampant Schleck chased by YHC who then charged onto the Col Du Lindfield. Descending fast and tempted to stretch the peloton but ER ethos observed the traverse through to the Rawhiti sprint was at a mild canter…Stealth made his way to the front, looking for a hill to attack, and was attacked by Schleck in the hope of beating PBs with fresh legs, that section is blessedly short so YHC thrashes out a sprint but can only hold Schlecks wheel not able to find the strength to pass without passing out.

Effort over for the day, social considerations take over and with a cast of thousands on the ride ample opportunity to exchange pleasantries which is after all why its the second best way to start the day.

Archer separates while tindale accumulates, and numbers seem to swell as 22 count achieved at the top of the ER KOM stretch. Once more unto the breach YHC lead the assault on the Scaramanger listening to BamBam and schelck toss up between them who would steal the glory, in the end Schleck motored past me with gas to spare, BamBam commiserated and held 3rd place, YHC in a hypoxic stupor barely able to complete the final few pedal turns to the crest..Schleck already attacking the Burlington sprint. The bunch overtake me as I regain some consciousness I see a red light and relax on the turn WBA and Stealth whip past, red rag to a bull, so digging into reserves I did not know I had it was once more past the threshold of pain into the quiet world where peripheral vision reduces slowly to a tunnel and noise fades to a murmur…until WBA sits up at a pedestrian crossing, unable to comprehend this event I charge past…only realising too late that a person could well have been crossing the road. ( so that’s how accidents happen..note to self…flagellation is fine on a turbo trainer but be sensible on the bike.)

Chastened I made the North Sydney SHB section with aplomb and in company, making no attempt to sprint against the turning lights across Pacific Driveway..and thus into the B&T well down the GC, Schleck taking line honours, already seated having kissed the podium girls and accepting his stage win with grace.

FM rides..minutes taken…

1. Charity ride…meters climbed being mooted as the target. Bobbo repeats, BBQ in the park, ERs to attempt either side as many times as they can..resting with a sausage in between climbs. Sounds perfect…
2. Beneficiaries, perhaps St something or other schools in Wahroonga..Goose to confirm.
3. Before Christmas…
4. Suggestion re challenge still a work in progress feel free to weigh in.

Dress rehearsal FTOTM lunch…Bavarian Bier Cafe was selected, however as the menu is pricey I would suggest having a burger first and just drinking the bier..unless you feel like a $25 meal with a $ 10 bier.

Other suggestions still possible

The ER home bus schedule is running to timetable order you decide the one for you..make sure you email the group at least 5 times to announce your intentions…

Have a great one all
BT

The sparrows were less flatulent today, or I managed to depart the slopes of Monte Dural before they woke, it was blacker than a B&T coffee with a smattering of fog to make things a little more interesting on the New Line rollercoaster. Temperature was a tricky 9C not cold enough to layer up but chilly enough aggravate the lumbago, so I peeled on the winter gear and boiled my way over to the top of Fox Valley. My lack of training seems to be working, as speed across to the Gordon launch point was 2nd fastest meaning I could have used a harder gear and added a little more pain for a little more gain.

The clear skies and mild conditions drew out the crowds today, YHC losing count beyond 11 again. A magnificent effort after Satnav clearly admonished the HMOTN for their poor turnout earlier in dispatches. Rolling out onto the OTP in all their finery, having removed the winter layers were the north shores finest , Herb unleashing his new weapon for the first time in anger, and shouting “it really makes a difference” yes mate ..it does.

The hills of death ( one of the great misnomers of our time ) were conquered with gusto again, pulses of ERs visible snaking over the landscape due to multiple coloured lights and a varied sense of urgency to arrive at coffee.

Plenty of peloton etiquette on show today, shouting out hazards, intentions and just plain shouting…it was great to see. Our 2 abreast policy seems to be holding out well, if you split the lane into dual carriageway, although with a large bunch it is not always possible to maintain a tight formation, I think the RAF would describe ours as “loose” ( and a bloody shambles off the record ) .. Archer St in mind, I think it is safer to use left lane (until forced over by parked cars ) and cross to the right turning lane at the top if clear..it then gives the lead foots a chance to roar past until we catch them at the next set of lights.

Tindale saw a standard regroup and avalanche into the dip, ¼ and Schleck already sorting out their podium speeches, and leading the charge into Artarmon park, alas as the path was both moist, sandy and covered in a greeninsh tinge of algae Rob managed to repeat Clint’s exploits on the first tight bend losing his front wheel at walking pace thankfully , bruising more than just his ego. It did not look like a bad fall, but hitting the dirt is never fun. HTMON as he is I think he still managed a good showing on the KOM.

A whiff of coffee climbing up the Burlington dash aka Willoughby Rd seems to fire up the crew as all cohesion seems to be lost as the coffee sprint ( which used to start at the SHB steps ) commenced at about West St…suddenly a 20 strong peloton is shattered into groups of 3 to 5… only brought back to a tight formation in the queue for Vic’s wares.

Just a note to all…vote for Vic on http://www.mycoffeemybarista.com.au/CafeDetail/Default.aspx?cafeId=762

The 5:15 is reportedly on time and running to schedule, 45 mins before the 6.

Have a great day all..

BT/Jenny

Ok, have to be honest I am over promising on the revolution aspects of the report – it was just wheel spinning rather than anarchy, but I liked the title…

What a perfect morning for a ride to work. A good group gathered at the gates this morning but not quite the 20+ that we have come to expect of the typical Gordon bus, but our numbers were bolstered along the way and also by a double merger with the B2B crew, initially at Roseville and then again on the approach to North Sydney.

We will take that as an indication that that team transfer talks are going well and Satnav will shortly be announcing further acquisitions of top talent from B2B to the ER bench strength.

Although some were AWOL today (having checked out Bam’s ride report there is a suggestion he and ‘arry just got lost) we did see the temporary return of our very own Drastic to give the SS MTB a shakedown and make an attempt on the legendary ‘6 coffees before morning tea’ ER challenge.

Whilst we await the Strava posting of this very special caffeine segment the FMs are considering the photographic evidence produced by the Red Light Cameras between Gordon, the CBD & back – I am sure it is just coincidence but his return does seem to have elevated the level of Amber Light tickling.

Scaramanga KOM was taken out by ¼, no doubt working on his fitness before the big move north to St Ives on Friday and the commencement of a proper commute, but this was not without the scrutiny of the stewards who cast a very close eye on how YHC nearly put Phantom into the hedge leading to a possible impeding charge.

Coffee was convened at the B&T for a full debrief on this and any other incidents, the minutes would reflect the full detail and findings had they been taken.

There has been a definite increase in the popularity in the scheduled commute buses in the evening, the ‘5.15 Ball Chaffer’ and the ‘6pm Gentlemen’s Roll’. With the arrival of the dark evenings the Christmas tree like sparking of a well-stocked groupetto makes a lot of safety sense. If you are travelling later in the evening there is a good chance one of our overworked lawyers will also be working late and be happy to make up a mini peloton for the journey home so get a note out on Google Groups.

See you on the ‘6’

Schleck

What a great day for a ride in, devo I had to be on a train..spotted BamBam in the shambles at the top of the SHB stairs on his way back to work.

The 5:15 bus was over loaded last night, it seemed to be the popular choice for the charge up the shore, a gentlemanly pace across the bridge, building slowly to a crescendo along the Miller st blast then at a comfortable ER chat tempo for the OTP home.

Highlights being a bulging 12 plus peloton, displaying a varied array of flashing lights, moving with aplomb and courtesy ( while creating a certain amount of breathing space ) in among the traffic through North Sydney. FP was well populated, and swelled numbers to what would be a record if such things were kept, the formation broken with a large gap where Chippo would have slotted in…( ok he would have been off the front tapping out a quick step to everyone else’s waltz ) .  The Goose was aboard getting in a few kms before heading up to  Brizvegas  for the rest of the week..making a space for the Captain to fill.

If this is how the 5:15 is usually run the ticket price may have to go up 10%…

Have a great day all

BT

The champagne was on ice today as the post Anzac Dawn service commenced…traffic at Dural much reduced due to the “weekend” starting on Wednesday in true Aussie tradition.

I departed the slopes at my usual time but the bike turned left towards Galston by mistake, the clear air, and perfect conditions just too hard  to resist , and being a few minutes behind schedule meant a chaffer was in order to arrive on time .. took it a bit easy down into the gorge, I don’t mind the dark but really would hate to come off in dry conditions with mostly the Ute brigade for company. As it was I managed to climb out faster than usual, and collected only a couple of “GOTFR” trophies from the knuckle draggers.

Rolling through Hornsby it was clear my efforts were not sufficient to make the OTP by the appointed hour, so it was down the Pacific driveway to Chatswoo’ in the hope of making the KOM before the peloton arrived. All plans seemed to be thwarted as traffic lights turned red on my approach, making progress a frustrating stop start affair, eventually found Mowbray rd and headed into the Tinadale dip at terminal velocity..only to have to jam on all ancors at the bottom to let a large black SUV have right of way as the thing did not look or stop. Once onto the SUP fresh bike tracks indicated that the stampede was ahead, again thwarting a plan to be waiting at the top of Scaramanga with the camera. And once more the threshold of pain being breached to make the catch on the second slope, Comet providing a backstop and excuse to turn off the steam.

A pleasant roll through the Burlington sprint, followed by a sedate coast along Millar and then the usual SHB thrash to the B&T, for double shot of the b/s and coffee…noice one.

Returns flights are scheduled to depart at the usual times, no discounts for showing up early but you may enjoy the ride more in the light.

Have a great one all
BT