As I get ready to jet off to the summer I am reminded that the July Challenge is but a few days away…

Clear the calendar, order those fur lined tights, strap on the plastic friends because every working day in July is your goal, ( tough to be jetting out to the summer knowing you are suffering but them’s the breaks…)

The car park was dark and the captains spot was vacant this morning when I drove in, a balmy 28C in the car, down to a 7C outside, YHC was not sure if his summer acclimatisation strategy was wise, but stepping into the chilled riding shoes and shivering over to chat with Herb it seemed that 7C was more like -7C , hypothermia kicked in…Herb of course having run the Bobbo gorge was cooling down and peeling off a few layers. HTFU pills notwithstanding, YHC was impressed. A rapid accumulation of ERs arriving timed to minimise waiting occurred as the BOF approached from the south, and before too much ado, it was on…whips cracked, whistles blew, bells doing what they do, and YHC wheezed over the first few hills hanging on to the lantern rouge hoping a red light would slow the leaders down at Killara…a mere 15 or so genuflecting along the OTP.

KOM was comprehensively won by Phantom..after a rolling start at the Tindale regroup, he was off and running, YHC chased from a respectful distance, not letting the ghostly one disappear over the horizon, but putting in a PB to do so..the SUP now dry-ish it was an opportunity to step on it more aggressively through the treacherous Ravi swept corners, and thence over the rise to swing up the scaramanga with style and panache…Chapeau to Phantom needed to extinguish the flames emanating from his backside…form he has not seen for a month or two.

An incident to report going through North Sydney, taking the turn into Lavender Street one of our number slid off and thankfully did no damage except to pride and maybe a bruised thigh…factors involved…sneaking past an amber light, turning too fast, applying power in an inclined attitude while going over a negative camber with white line and dew…or he just stuffed up…but a reminder to all to be aware of how things can all go horribly wrong very quickly.

Another triumph for the B&T, breaking in a new waitress, whose trial by ER was passed with flying colours, 15 served with a smile and American accent. The second sitting arrived as the first left, but it was chilly enough to make the office seem like a good option, so few takers of the second cup. Good to see the TSS roll up and report to half the peloton on their various charges currently residing at the shop.

Returns all booked ..TFS invited to wield the whip ( an up day on the market seems to add about 300watts to his legs ) for another flogging home.

Have a great day all

BT

Morning all

In order to ensure some semblance of productivity from our ER Patent Attorney WBA today – who disclosed that his day doesn’t really start work until reading the ride report – I thought I’d get in early with an amatuer effort……

The few drops of rain overnight and damp roads did little to discourage the ER entourage today – we’d amassed around 20 by the time we hit North Sydney. Long gone are the days when we’d only have 4 or 5 on the pedals in such conditions. Great to see so many out – in fact many I only saw for the first time at the B&T. No incidents, accidents etc which in these conditions is an achievement eh Crashant? Thankfully there was no water covering the drains outside Fort Street Public.

B1 started the day on the right note, exclaiming on looking down the line of Coopz frame towards him “ahhh, you’re quite short”. A master of the bleeding obvious is our B1. Coopz response can’t be published here. B1 mumbled something about cable outer length, but by then the damage had been done. One for the judiciary.

Captain clearly tapering for the BEWDIJ (pronounced “bewdy”) challenge – ie Bike Every Working Day In July. We hope his sniffle subsides in good time for the start of this annual event. Punters keen to see Drastique’s approach this year, being the winner in 2011.

Old Spice accused of revving up the 6pm return last night, then heard later complaining the pace was a bit toey. For goodness sake Brownie keep that peloton in order will you pls.

With Phantom in Hingapore we expect some comical musings live from the exec club lounge later in the week.

Great seeing and reading VD’s commentary of his tour. Keep them coming mate.

Our Facebook forum has confirmed the continued existence of our Dominator, rarely seen or heard at this time of year.

Bring back Half. Without his learned views we could easily think Greece’s problems aren’t all that bad.

C.Hippo rumoured to be making a come back next week, which will align nicely with next Tuesday being ER FTOTM Lunch Club – extensive consultation with Sir Lunchalot has resulted in the same venue being suggested as our last outing – all those in favour – the yay’s have it:

Normal return flights tonight – fasten seat belts for the 5.15pm or 6pm.

Have a good one all.

Mark / Satnav

All quiet up the slopes of Monte Dural as YHC rolled slowly into the Gall Stone Gorge…Perfect conditions for a ride into town, air chilled to perfection, traffic calm, only the odd ute and the ghost of Ernie’s Milkcart making their way through the back blocks. ( All jokes aside once you get out pedalling at that time of day, it is almost a spiritual experience ) ..a balance of breath, effort, working with the landscape, sound of the chain, and wind past the ears…even the ute brigade cannot break through in a fit of smoky rage.

The gorge delivered again as only it can, no matter the temperature going in, climbing out is tropical. Having a new saddle position makes a big difference on the climb, no records broken but some nice new sores developing where the sun don’t shine. Apparently the hip joint and Glutes are the key and I now know where they are…a pain the @r $e.

The bugler was busy last night, keeping the bongo drummer awake..mustering 20 plus on the one true path to call the OFF on the fat of O’barrel.

A staged roll out, thankfully orderly and well managed into the hills of breath. Man Machine interfaces behaving well, banter at half volume, attention to details such as “Car Back” and “Stopping “ being the order of the day. 15 departed Gordon, building to gone 20 by Chatswoo’ and a smart catch by Clive and WBA …Bucky ..where fore art thou…

Only one incident to report…ute ( yeah strange I know ) piled in rudely turning left into Strickland without indicating then barging through again to turn left again without indicating into Chelmsford Ave..missing an accident by a whisker. Rare to see such aggression..but from my vantage point it looked far from unintentional.

Nothing to dwell on though , the pace continued to be at banter speed, which highlights the best reasons to be pedalling in the first place…why would you be on a “silent” train or be jostled on a bus when there are stories to tell and strava segments to attack.

The KOM champ will have to chime in, as YHC was determined to not be up there, seated climbs and listening to planet Bullet…until it was time to lift out of the saddle and raise the heart rate beyond the threshold of pain.

A gentle roll ensued to the B&T , although I did manage to create confusion on the bridge as I chose to use a lay by on the right side of the carriageway short of the road works, it is not really clear where to wait for on coming traffic but as there are bollards everywhere I used what space there was. Derek nearly cleaned up the approaching traffic .

Coffee …well yes, what a turn out , and there were heaps of ERs too.

All set for the return ride, should be another cool one.

Cheers All
BT

With all the yodelling to the tune of some Lion King refrain, the bongos were drowned out by factor of 10…leaving an annoying catchy little Disney tune doing its thing bouncing around the skull like a scratched record ( yes YHC is old enough to know what that sounds like )

Growling into wakefulness almost before nightfall, and onto the gorge run, nothing was moving through the Dural village, even the drunks were still at the bar…

Chilly but dry, no fog, stars and the open road, perfect conditions for a ride into town. Conditions so perfect that the only traffic I encountered into the gorge were two other cyclists chuffing their way up, and one ninja runner dressed in black carrying no lights running down the hill from Hornsby, only saw him because a ute overtaking me painted him in the headlights, you had to be there.

Much ute traffic heading Hornsby way, but it was chilly enough not to have windows wound down, if I scored any GOTFR tokens they were well contained in the cab of origin.

Noticed a few more cyclists on the highway to Gordon, the left lane now seems a lot clearer which might be because traffic is used to being bailed up behind and choose now to occupy the middle lane..I think the end of the beginning has arrived in the battle, “ the few “ seem to have gained ground.

15 on the pedals gathered for the off, Goose aboard defending ride names against a recasting agent, setting boundaries and leading in the FM style , Poombah was squashed quick smart, ‘nuff said.

A rollicking pace on the BOF, the temperature being incentive to generate some internal heat, not sure if there was a rush on but there was a rush on. In a snap the hills of Breath were behind, and YHC was not in any mood to sprint the Rawhiti bends, but there was a hardy bunch up front giving it a bash. The regroup at Roseville growing the peloton by a few more, so keeping the average up…remember the July challenge is nearly upon us, if you have not got your cool weather clothing ready you will regret it…the “every working day in July” challenge is one not to miss. Drastique has promised to lead from the front on that one defending his championship jersey.

KOM was hotly contested, Comet finding himself in the front of field making an effort to hold back the hoards using Team Sky tactics, commanding the pace along the SUP but alas was attacked on the first slope as Schleck McDaid and BamBam tussled for space, YHC was watching the action amid a scrum and was locked in, DT charging along the outside with a snowballs chance, in the end it would have been a photo finish…

A scattered field regroups atop the col de CrowsNest, and the B&T dash commenced immediately, it is interesting to see how the lead riders put just a little bit extra in to secure their seat at the table first..nudge through lights on the change, shove into the line up the stairs ahead of slower randoms, sprint off the top of the stairs..incremental seconds accumulate to ensure a winning combination…

B&T output has now increased, coffee arrives at a swift pace, often before the order has been given…

News of the Sea to Summit beginning to sound like an ER challenge…gauntlets being tossed already, pick one up at your own risk, but who can resist the moniker of “ the most difficult ride on the continent” …if they added the incentive of a Rapha jersey for all those who complete it would be hands down misere…

Have a good one all,

BT/Jenny

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

Morning all

So the first report on the blog on the website….still testing so pls advise thoughts/observations.

The very high humidity this morning did nothing to dampen the spirits of our ever growing band of HMOTN. 8 in the traps at Gordon grew to 13 around the coffee desk at the B&T. DT recalled the days not that long ago when a damp morning would only prise 3 or 4 out of the cot. Nice one lads.

No incidents or accidents to report, partly due to our speed being moderated to within health and safety guidelines. The odd muppet out on the roads dodging, swerving etc – however we rise above such petty actions…..

Great spin home last night via Schleck’s Manly route – many thanks mate for getting us sorted. Unfortunately no Rabbit to be seen. Drastique doing the route on his single speed MTB earnt extra kudos. Watch out for this route getting more regular airing going forward. Departed SHBS 5.30pm and arrived St Ives 7pm. Thanks too for help lads with my flat last night.

Much fuss it seems on the regular outbound route last night with rumours of Clutters taking side streets in order to avoid the Flashboat home. Chippo pleading no knowledge. Inquiry launched.

Rumours difficult to dispel that new boy Colnago Craig has taken the kit and run for the hills – not seen since delivery. Let’s hope he’s not getting cheap copies done in China……

Recruitment really taking off currently – we’ve done up a new welcome email so ensure you grab email addresses when you see folks out on the road.

Departure times assumed to be the 5.15pm Winkie Special and the 6pm TSS Express.

Have a good one all.

Mark / Satnav