The bongos were thumping last night, a steady beat, well below 140, stirring the troops who were primed to march a different route to their usual soft commute, a route only a hobbit would love.

YHC waiting for the alarm to go off in the middle of the night…. the many multitudes of ERs  being  drawn by bonds of friendship and wistful sadness .and lets face the bloody drums….and then

sparrows farted ( YHC could not be sure it was  sparrows )

Rolling out of the garret into a pitch dark night ,  YHC  was mostly solo .. .. Billions of stars overhead + an extra B1.

Surfing off the upper reaches of Monte Colah and down to Turra where a dawn service was due to start.

A cloud free chill, clammy with a hint of anticipation.. ( and the weather was pretty good too )

The ER troops were already on the pedal , rolling up to the launch it was wall to wall egg and tomato, obviously the word had got around, and all the cracks had gathered to the fray..lights flashing, voices hushed and plenty of the usual back slapping and bonhommie.  Roll call and  Laurie briefing the multitude to fight fair , no kicking or scratching the usual terms and conditions..  everyone after Andrew , Keith and Grant  became another ER..and the boys lead us out.

YHC enjoys this part of the ride, a 4 km gentle slope ever downward .. cruising in convoy, into that magical piece of forest Browns water hole.. YHC slips a chain, and without further ado is at the back of the peloton waiving a lanterne rouge..some things never change.

Laurie’s briefing said there would be a regroup at the top.. there was. ( Kind of a new experience for our HMOTN ) Rolling out a group which was now about 50 strong, left plenty of time to regain a little breath and say hello to GottaRide.. only she gotta ride a moped..not too embarrassed to wear the colours though. ( quick plug here, if you are looking to dope your bike.. please opt for an electric one )

The ER traffic jam processed to the LCNP stopping normal traffic and turning just a few heads .. B1 would have enjoyed the irony of filling the park with an ER gridlock. So far the pace was sociable, banter the order of the day, Ravi and Comet in the bunch, moon blue as it was big overhead. Then just when you think all is sweet, you hit the wall, the Fullers Slap. It is vertical, with a little horizontal thrown in, pleasure becomes pain, and all the hobbits laugh as they take the front of the group and dish it out. ( only in their minds as hobbits are generally much too nice to laugh ) Satnav was on the fixie. didn’t seem to miss a beat. YHC coughed up a lung. but discreetly rolled to the front of the regroup ( to take a few pictures ) not going to be dropped with half a ride left. ( Meanwhile Andrew and the boys had  peeled off to go back to school )

Chatswoo to the city is well worn OTP territory so how come the hobbits have a windy little track past a grotty little shack on the  way to find the top of Tindale, this being YHC’s first hobbits ride navigation was surprisingly complicated. By now of course the ER peloton has swelled past 60 and even blind Freddy could follow the procession. No doubt the devil would take the hindmost, but there would be plenty of company.

It was a swift transfer through Narrem Burn and a traffic disaster at the top of Crow’s Nest, once onto the downhill stretch there were a few very relieved faces until it became the usual coffee sprint, ( Schleckie had his traffic light greener working overtime ) 58 ERs get entangled in the shambles of Miller St, Schleckie is first in the coffee queue ( I made that bit up as I have never seen the tail lights of Schleckie by this stage of the ride some things never change )

Photoshop was not required to fill the space around B&T, it really was wall to wall egg and tomato some faces there that I had not seen for a very long while, and of course some who could not make it. ( Highlander , Flash you know who you are )

Stragglers rolled in and sat on laps, planters, or stood around gassing in the usual ER way. Vic and  his happy crew turned out about 100 coffees in double quick time, I was well to the back of the line up and was sipping before I had the breath back.

Coffee and company, connection and caring mates, B1 you would have really enjoyed this ride dammit, we really miss you already.

YHC was stirred early enough to calculate the chances of rain to be sufficiently low, such that an ageing Mamil could conquer the North Shore , consume a coffee at the Cava , and be at work before the forecast showers were due.

Thus it was a pleasure to behold only 5 others lining up for a saunter along the one true path, a small but tidy peloton of the uber cool ER phenomenon.

Consulting the time gods, for a sign to depart, as BOF is now no longer scheduled at the appointed hour..YHC self selected to be Lantern Rouge, a role of increasing importance in the face of such greatness, let’s face it YHC could not hope to lead off the front anyway. And statesmanlike YHC rolled out to talk of stately things and be regaled of stirring tales of previous cycling derring do ..ok everyone was cycling in the rain and I was not..

The small group meant few if any regroup stops, and this kept the schedule almost to the second, meaning that Roseville and TIndale , and Crow’s Nest offered no respite but as LR and chuffing at a sedate speed( pre race taper for our heroes ) there was no need. Dry roads and favourable lights, few cars and nil conflicts meant the commute was business as usual, no incidents to report, a perfect day for a ride into town.

YHC has a view that rain and wet roads add to risk, not really from a bike perspective , more that the driving public are nearly twice as stupid when windscreen wipers are in use.. I can ride to conditions keeping the bike the right way up, using plenty of extra brakes and all that jazz, keeping bigger gaps, thinking ahead more, but sitting as I was on the bus in the pouring rain and watching cars dice with each other taking advantage of the bigger gaps and generally menacing each other fully ignoring the conditions, it makes me feel a little more vulnerable while in that environment on a bike.

The weekend is at least looking like a good one for a hurl , no doubt there will be a tide of ERs swirling the various national parks, beaches bushes and now swimming pools..

Have a great one all
BT

Assalamu Alaikum.. ( yes YHC has just made it back from the Sahara Desert .. a little sandy and fragrant of fresh camel )

Getting up before the dawn to test my mettle against the thrills of the OTPe, and the New Line Road wake up adrenalin rush, it was what I like to say “perfect weather for a ride into town”..

Darker than the ace of spades, YHC was concerned that the lights would fail having been dormant for 3 weeks, but as it turned out an ER peloton formed at the Loftus Rd turn off for a very gentlemanly paced trot along the Epping way. Greg was as wheezy as myself so keeping things to a sensible 24km average was not going to be a problem, and as DtB was a DNS, no greyhounds to pace.

A delicious Beecroft decent ended in a dead end at the turn off, some nice person has signposted the path as a pedestrian path, so YHC took the other option only to be stopped by concrete barriers a little further up..no worries climbing to Epping at a conversational 7kph was just as good as sprinting that short section. Once through to Vimera, Simon showed up, (Dobbo a late starter, and TD rampant elsewhere), the OTPe proceeded with vigour and enthusiasm, if only at a snails pace.

3 peaks of Epping were scaled and a small but early peloton of the OTP were spied on Scarramanga Pierro ? and wife a tandem with unattached stoker, making it to town the second best way.

The march over to the SHB via OTPe variant along Amherst St, and thence the freeway took us to the cafe formerly known as B&T for a schedule caffeine hit at 7.30.. The legs beginning to complain but all communications were switched off from around Loftus, luckily the autopilot continued to function.

Have a great day all,

BT

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

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

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 )

Well another perfect day for a ride into the office, YHC was up in time to see the sun poke above the horizon and  pedalled into a deliciously 14C clear morning sans Bdoubles on the New Line road.. you have to be out before 6 for that privilege. OTPe combatants mostly MIA just the usual suspects lined up at the loftus kick off.. DtB and a slightly jaded correspondent. No records in mind, PBs and cups all having exactly zero influence today, it was all about enjoyment ( ok no cranking up to the threshold of pain or exerting to the point of hypoxia.. I know some in ER would regard this as the opposite.. no enjoyment without cranking to near death )

Beecroft threw up a couple of choice reds, and a glimpse of the Dulwich Hill mob.. but nice little cruise into the ridiculously designed M2 alternative route. DtB was in form and pushed the pace to arrive at Vimera about 5 minutes early, in time to see Dobbo thrashing over the hill attempting KOM while Lobbster was on the Omnibus.. once en route of course no more silly explosions of power and enthusiasm ( until we reached Scaramanga, and the “safety group” of the ER OTP.. about 5 minutes ahead of their normal time.) OTPe therefore was pedalled with grace and aplomb, in a well aspirated pace sufficient for chit chat..jollity and slow enough for YHC to keep up. Then that all changed .. as mentioned the greyhounds of ER baying for their early coffee seats at B&T sparks flying off their rear derailleurs .. the sight was too much for Dobbo .. he tried to hang back but half way up Scaramanga the temptation overcame him and heezgorn off like a botfly was on his tail.

The OTPe crew proceeded in stately manner along the freeway heading ER greyhounds off at the pass.. acquired Blue Stratos along the way ( I think he caught on as we climbed the Naremburn bridge ).. and managed to arrive at Milsons Point just ahead on the roundabout which can only be described as  perfectly timed.  Not that there is any competiveness or racing on the commute.. official reports will say no accidents, incident, or illegal activity..

SHB was glorious, sometimes you have to wonder why anyone would cross it at a sprint..

Arrivals at B&T sufficiently spread out to ensure no queue beyond about 3 deep and various ER menageries settled in for a well earned and much appreciated coffee.. Bullet was an early departure, along with Phantom heading up to Surrey Hills and that shop..I am sure there will be tears at bedtime when the credit card bill arrives..

Anyhow, Sydney is going to turn on a warm and mostly dry return, make the most of it as apparently we are headed into a heatwave followed by another cool change with rain and storm for the weekend..

Cheers BT

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