What a morning and what a way to wake up!!

Big Goaders received joining instructions late last night from the Fluffettes:

1. Big Goaders – come and wake up with us in the morning.
2. You need to be up and out for 4.25 to be in St Ives for a 4.45 departure
3. We want you to take us to Sydney Plains to see the Lions and the Giraffes.

Well who could refuse an invite like that! There I was at 4.47am (late due to my legs not working as normal) ready to go at St Ives – Magoo, Jenna and Norman all in attendance. We took the ride to Laura via MVR, Forest Way, Spit, Parrawi and then met her after she had been doing Parrawi repeats for many hours.

From here we headed south talking about the beauty of the Sydney Plains. A place that is allegedly far flatter than the North Shore and goes on for miles and miles. Quickly given the topic the discussion got onto the Lion King. The key question was who in the ER’s would be which character in the movie. What a discussion – key conclusions as follows:

•  SatNav – Clearly Rafiki (according to the Fluffettes). His wise words are helpful. Magoo claims that SatNav isn’t as old as Rafiki. I am not so sure.
• Timon – This is Clutters. A youthful and mischievous individual that seems to pop up everywhere and is highly adaptable irrespective of environment ie road bike, MTB.
• Bam Bam – The discussion was about being a power house. Like a charging elephant. Remember that elephants are also very intelligent.
• Bullet – This one was tricky but Pumbaa came up as a joyous fun loving type of character. Also perceived to be the pin up of the jungle – perhaps he should be January in the ER calendar!!!

You can tell the intelligent conversation that was shining through as we crossed the bridge and headed South down Clarence and across to Bourke St. The endless cycle paths traversed each plateau until we came to the link to the Sydney Planes – Mascot Airlink station – a quick turn right joining the path to the biggest planes we could find. The excitement on Magoo’s face as a flying kangaroo descended above her. It was like taking a child into a sweet shop.

A rose between some thorns – Hugh Heffner and the Fluffettes celebrating Jenna hitting her ER target 3 days early – well done Jenna.

Magoo searching for the very rare sea Hippos out near the airport

The only person missing was Magoo’s ER Commuting partner – Comet – he apparently needs to hit 165km’s this week so that Team Comet and Magoo can hit 500!!!! Go Comet.

Normal returns this evening – 5.15/5.30/6pm Outbounds plus a 5.15 Fluffer return (Jenna is in the process of talking herself into this one to cap off a fantastic day)

Fluffettes – Thank you for a fab ride. Definitely one of the best ways to start a day.

Pedal safe

Big Goaders

A carbon copy of conditions for the second best way to start the day, with ERs accumulating at all the right places for their saunter along the OTP. Once more there were multiple pelotons departing various suburbs around the very limits of sensibility to ply their way into town by some of the most circuitous routes available.. So ERs tramped LCNP, Akuna Bay and Northern Beaches, ( i think the MTBs took a rest day ) but needless to say kilometres of pedal power were nailed to the strava wall with gusto and panache.

The OTP accommodated the faithful in its magnificence, sun rise hung for a poets eye on departure, blinded by the light at Archer/Chatswood and illuminating the city for a view across the bridge that the great unwashed on the trains never get to see.

9C has to be perfect riding conditions, just cool enough to have to layer up, but gulping in fresh air and needing to keep pedalling to stay warm, it just makes the ride invigorating, without being uncomfortable.

Yup one of these days this riding lark may just catch on..

As we climb out of the depths of winter, with some really interesting spring classics on the cards, now would be a great time to encourage that friend or acquaintance to maybe join in and give this cycle to work thing a try..membership drive if you will but now there are so many people on the ride at all levels of fitness and ability we truly can offer something for everyone.

The B&T may be getting some competition, YHC noticed some people standing outside what was Bistro Lily next door..they are doing lunch and dinner but seeing us out the front of B&T they said if we put in bike racks and a heater for the forecourt perhaps the ERs would switch venue.. ( actually I made that last bit up ) but they were interested to see how much morning traffic is walking past..

All good for the multitude of return rides..Sydney fine one day perfect the next..

Have a great day all

BT

Morning all

Beautiful morning for it….not too cold, a bit of fog in the dips but nothing that could dampen the spirits of B1M, MRP and Goaders who were toey for action come 5.15am.

A good tempo start until the fixie ran the chain off the front derailleur coming down nasty little hill….fixed in 5 mins, thanks boys. I was only providing Clutters a chance to catch up….

Picked up Tony at the Forest Way corner – he comes from Roseville proving that it is possible for our Roseville-based brethren and sisteren to join the ride…..great to have you along mate.

All fine down into Akuna but for “the wall” corner where B1M had a slide into the said wall….thankfully all OK with our man….bike recovered well too…”thank goodness it’s not carbon”….”thank goodness it wasn’t Turnip as all that would be left would be a tidy pile of calcium on the ground” (that’s code for great to have you back mate).

Steady pace up and out of Akuna….onto Bayview to pick up Sean, suffering nosebleed being this far north of his Collaroy HQ…great to have you along mate and apols for the slight timing cock-up.

Nothing to report for remainder of journey; rounded out by meeting the throng of 30 or so at the B&T by some caffeinated restoratives.

Welcome new girl Sonya to the fray, fresh from the mountains of the Caymans…..

We do it all again tomorrow….well almost the same anyway….come join the Fluffer.

Thanks for a great spin all.

Mark / Satnav

Goaders and Satnav lead the charge

A pea souper in the vicinity of Monte Dural, and a balmy 11C on the dashboard over to Fox Valley, where a mega peloton was gathering in the morning gloom. YHC, B1c, Onya, Elle, DB, Dave, Teflon, Drastic, launched or should that be sauntered towards Gordon, in a well aspirated and nonchalant manner…the fog of course did not last once crossing the Pennant Hills Road it was into the globally warmed and clear felled North Shore. Nice not to have gridlock through Turra but the tailback still reached the top of Pymble hill.

Once in the starting blocks of the OTP a further 10+ girding their loins for a good roll in. DT, TFS, Bullet, mark, Jamie, Turnip the Strati, and uncleTom cobbly and all ( which means the memory is fading too fast to actually recall )

Several incidents to report..viz…

Strati tripped on roll out..and there were no scathing remarks from the stoker.

Once under way HOD were achieved in ER well managed style, mostly single file and multiple car back calls..however..the car traffic were on show today, first one decided to swing a door open at Lindfield, with a string of vernacular, probably a loud good “morning guys great to see you out and about this fine day” but wind noise and banter prevented me hearing the exact comments. Once through to Roseville another passer on the wrong side of the double whites had to barge in when oncoming traffic appeared.. then a car behind noticed the slip road and stormed through at speed, ignoring the stop sign at the far end, barging into the peloton with brakes hard on ..only to be brought to a stop at the junction of Boundary, when everyone deliberately over took “with extreme prejudice” ..ok just a little belligerence..our hero over took on Archer and made a hasty left turn asap..

Regroups and so on seemed to work well, however the elastic must have snapped, as I noticed a small group of about 6 arrived a good 10 minutes late at the B&T.. Another rap for DT who was shepherding the stragglers.

B&T once more providing essential sustenance to all, a hot coffee minimum..but for some you have to have friends.. alas seating still a little challenging for our host, good thing there are planters all around as each was occupied. 3 more ER pelotons arrived the Epping, Fluffers, and LCNP contingents all arriving after all seats were taken..incentive perhaps for a speedier ride or earlier departure, but if you don’t want to be up before you go to beds perhaps byo stool.

Returns planned for all the usual times along all the usual route options..( except perhaps the Flambie as DLHK is now cooling off in Paris ) it is apparently forecast to turn cold and perhaps wet in the next few days which reminds me to restate the July challenge of riding every working day ..while staying up to watch the TDF …

Q is there a TDF sweep ? is anyone bold enough to back Cadel ?, will Alberto really ride ? Is there a Schlek in the race ?

Have a great day all

BT

It was cold today. So much so that we saw Polar Bears and Penguins prancing through McCarrs Creek (perhaps I had been smoking what Bullet smokes).

9 on the pedals including Fluffette Norman. We had 2 virgin Flufferers this morning – Stealth and Mark – both had found the ridiculous o’clock settings on their alarms and decided to wake up before they went to bed.

SatNav was on fine form despite being 3 minutes late along with Norman – Both of you wake up 3 minutes earlier please. Perhaps he had been doing Bobbin Head repeats on his Fixie as a warm up. Robert was so wrapped up that anyone would think he was cycling in Scotland (not the Island but the big cold place above England). Lunchie allegedly stopped at Manly and had a Bacon and Egg roll which was tucked into his back pocket and Admin was riding his pimped up loan frame as a test ride for his warranty job.

All in all a great, if not a little cold, ride with all safely delivered to the B&T at 0745hrs.

Great ride. Thanks.

Allambie return for those interested tonight at 5.30 SHBS/5.35 SHBN. Please let me know, or use the calendar, if you are riding.

Welcome Pierre to your first Fluffer.

A great ride today with 7 starting and Matt catching up by Manly because he was 3 minutes late to the Pittwatter junction. 3 minutes……..why does everything happen in 3 minute blocks on the Fluffer.

I’m surprised for such a youthful individual it actually took Matt until past Manly to catch us!!! Must try harder Matt. Simba – apparently Matt wants to be added to the ER email so could you pass his email name onto SatNav please.

Other riders today included SatNav, Scott, another Matt (Scott’s son – was actually kicked out of bed by Dad), Ivan of Terrigal and Mark the Pope. From this description you can deduce that we clearly had a lack of Fluffettes which meant that Beauty didn’t blossom until the sun rose at South Curl Curl. What a stunning sunrise this morning.

Also as self appointed diversity officer outside of the Fluffettes there was also no Mavis. This is concerning and he is alleged not to have ridden at all today which clearly I don’t believe given that he gave me so much abuse for catching a train yesterday. Next thing he will be doing is leaving work early today. He has to be careful he doesn’t pick up the new ‘Soft Lad’ moniker that is starting to fly around.

The pace was a little hotter than normal, I was really hoping that Pierre was going to call an ease up, but all stayed silent. Looking at my Garmin on Mona Vale Road we were travelling at 32km/h, Down McCarrs we descended fast and then sped along Pittwater Road in a rolling group that was impressive – great calling from all and good lines…………

Arrival at Manly at 6.38 which was the earliest for a while and a B&T landing at 7.32 with the OTP. Well done to all the riders.

Reviewing Strava it described my ride as Tough. That Strava thingy is a funny thing. How did it know that I had 10 bottles of beer last night and 5 hours sleep. Does this mean that Strava is actually a female with Extra Sensory Perception as good as Mrs G. Very worrying.

Normal returns tonight at 5.15pm and 6pm. There is an additional ride that I am running at 5.30pm from SHBS routing via Mosman, Spit, Allambie, Forest Way and St Ives. Schleck, Ivan the Terrigal and myself are confirmed. The pace is Goaders pace (remember lots of climbing so i’m responsible for the pace…..).

Have a great day.

Pedal safe

Big Goaders

My sons last night observed I appeared to be spending almost 10% of my time cycling, including sleep time, and asked me if this was an optimal life balance.

Now that it is put in those terms, it does seem a little……

A few fleeting doubts did cross my mind about the wisdom and necessity of getting up at 4:20am, to commute to the city via Parramatta, using a MTB.

However, Pink Stratos soon set me straight – she implied that if I took a softer option, such as the Fluffer, I’d be in breach of rule no 5.

But once evicted, I discovered the morning wasn’t quite as chill as I’d been expecting, and began the 20 min ride from my place to the start at the top of kissing point rd.

Soon I was hurtling down the hill towards Brown’s waterhole, with Bam-Bam, Norman and… er..…damn, I wish I was better with names, your face, clothing and bicycle is clear in my mind. Sorry about that.

I’d not done any of this ride before, so it was all new to me, and what a treat!

The early track is a bit rough in places but not excessively so, has great rock steps to ride up and down, almost all friendly but fun

It didn’t take long before I was fully warmed up- temperature just right for this exertion level.

Several creek crossings – after I’d got one damp foot, I remembered that setting pedals at 3 and 9 o’clock is best for these.

A set of planks resting on mud and water, pick the wide plank, be confident, don’t think too much – hope the wheel doesn’t slide off cos that mud looks deep – phew.

One fabulous bit of singletrack weaves through trees, with a series of rocks forming upward steps – pick the line, low gear, high revs, flick the wheel – I could just manage to ride up most of them, great fun.

A couple of small drops look like cliffs as I approach in the dark, my dual lights just revealing a blind horizon line.

No pressure here, just hop off, walk through, and jump back on.

Looking from the other side I see a set of rocks on the other side that act as a ramp – so that’s how Bam-Bam did it.

That leaves something for a next time – hard to sort out on first encounter.

Peering through the trees round a corner – big tree trunk on the ground, how did Bam Bam jump over that so quickly and silently?

Another corner, and I’m riding past it – oh, it has been cut away where it crossed the path, that’s why – no jump needed.

Other bits of track are really smooth, saplings either side brushing ones shoulders, keep a good line, following the twists and turns, Cresta run without the banking.

Bizarre, this was like someone’s garden path, not a route to the city.

Another part had boulders set in a zigzag like pattern in the path, with small gaps to thread to get past – like a slalom, low speed manoeuvring skills essential.

Back onto concrete bike paths, as it starts to get light – beautiful parkland, and loads of waterside stuff, I wonder where we are?.

Eventually across the Anzac bridge, for coffee at the Google café.

A gorgeous ride, entirely as promised, ably led by Bam Bam (how does he remember all those turns)

And a first – I didn’t fall off, not even once!

Blue Stratos

What a beautiful morning. Less chilly than yesterday with the sun rising steadily across the Northern Beaches. Surrounded by beautiful views including South Curl Curl, Manly and many more on the way. So warm that even ‘the Jugs’ were out (apologies – had to crack that one). Matt was joined by many more Fluffer newbies including Ian, Phil and new Fluffettes Adele and Jenna. Given the numbers I may have missed many so apologies in advance. Mavis and Bernadette joined after bolting it up from Manly, Gemma joined us in Manly.

28 on the pedals today – so many for a winters morning. Absolutely fantastic. Briefing went swimmingly, normal T&C’s accepted and we pedalled into the distance up Mona Vale Road. SatNav and Big Phil kindly volunteered to be Lantern Rouges. Apparently there was once again a photographer above the St Ives Showground who probably caught us at our most scrappiest moment after a mechanical was called. This won’t be a photo to be proud of but at least we were out in force – 25 up Mona Vale and 3 picked up on the way.

Every time we regrouped I saw more and more faces that I recognised – Michael, Jamie, Robert, Timon, Gregg and many more. The sight was impressive. A large rolling group (steady speed recognising that many had not done it previously) down Pittwater with a secondary back group who were either on fixies or needed a little bit more confidence to join in the fray.

As the sun rose on South Curl Curl the beauty blossomed. The light on the water was fantastic and another impressive morning dawned. Congratulations to all of those riders who joined us. Apologies for the herding and the loudness of the instructions but hopefully that helps us to keep moving.

On time delivery at B&T at 7.45am. This is great considering the size of the group. All safely delivered.

Big apologies from Big Goaders to Big Phil and the B2B’ers (great to have you on board and I look forward to you bringing out the B2Babes to meet the Fluffettes – doesn’t every group have a name for their female riders?) who we managed to drop with a puncture. Fortunately they hit the pedals hard and managed to catch up just after Manly. How did 25 people not spot that we had lost 3!!!!

Laura once again managed to dash across the North Shore and failed to find us. She was 3 mins ahead at Manly. Laura – download Google Latitude and I will switch it on for a Tuesday and Thursday Fluffer so you know where we are.

Can you all please download your rides to www.rideable.org.au who are tracking this mornings commutes into Sydney. I expect the Fluffer to be a dominant line on the report. Drastique will have his slight Akuna variation to add a little originality.

Congrats to one and all – we were only discussing that a couple of years ago it was lucky to get 8-10 on the OTP. To think that between us we can run an MTB ride in, a Fluffer and an OTP is impressive.

Salute the pedals and pedal safely. For those heading back towards Manly tonight I will be at SHBS at 5.30pm.

Regards

Big Goaders

12 on the pedals at St Ives. Difficult to mention everyone but great to see Micheal, Sam and Big Phil back. Alex put in another excellent ride. Well done.

SatNav actually managed to make it today after getting his ‘Onesy’ zip got stuck on Tuesday. Apparently Mrs SatNav has now swapped it for velcro so he should be able to make every other Fluffers in the future. No excuses after the pathetic Tuesday excuses!

We will hold judgement on whether SatNav is really turning into a ‘Soft Man of the North’ (SMOTN) albeit Graham was competing for this title at Manly today with his claimed mechanical! Unfortunately his Chain was stuck in his Big Chain ring so SatNav managed to get it swapped for the little chain ring so he could belt up Pirrawi.

Talking about the Big Chain Ring; Newby Sean joined us from Dee Why again and had the ride of the year so far. Told me at the end that he had managed to stay in his Big Chain Ring all the way into Sydney and found it less tiring than he has before. Well done Sean. Great ride.

We also picked up Robert and Matt on the way through the ride. 15 is an impressive number for a winter ride – well done to all the Flufferers who managed to get out of their beds at ‘ridiculous O’clock’. Big Phil apparently only just made it after pressing sleep a number of times but felt the Fluffer commitment. Robert started off about 3 mins behind us and managed to chase us down by Pittwater. Well done Robert. It was Norman on Tuesday and she managed to catch us by Manly. One tip to all the Flufferers. Just try setting your alarm 3 mins earlier and you will be on time otherwise you could be breathless!

Talking about breathless after all of her climbing all over the place at the weekend. Laura managed a Fluffer First – She was the first person to complete the Fluffer from her bed. This must be classed as the ‘cycle of shame’. Thankfully she kept in regular contact with the peloton by text.

‘Big Goaders – see you at Church Point’
‘BG – running late see you at Mona Vale’
‘Perhaps Dee Why’
‘Don’t wait at Dee Why – I will catch you up’
‘Perhaps Manly’
‘Missed it – still in bed!!!!’

Congratulations to Laura – she must be absolutely knackered after all that exertion.

This brings me to the ‘Fluffer Motto’. We need to develop one – somebody suggested ‘Once a week is great, twice a week is out of this world’. Please submit the suggestions by carrier pigeon.

The Fluffer runs officially every Tuesday and Thursday from St Ives at 5.15am. Runs like clockwork now. If you want to do it on another day put a ride in the calendar and see if anyone else can do it. For safety reasons I don’t recommend doing it on your own. I think Nick plans to put in a ride on one Wednesday so keep your eyes open for this one.

A few apologies rolling in for ‘sleep ins’. The question has to be wouldn’t you prefer to wake up with Big Goaders rather than lazing in your beds………. Fluffettes please don’t be offended.

Safe pedalling

Big Goaders

The last time I did this run, I got thoroughly wrecked – participants were Clutters, Contador and me.
I rolled up to the start, and saw this time it was Clutters, Bam Bam, and me.
Hmm – different, yet somehow familiar. 2 great riders and…..

But it was a fine day for a MTB ride.
Down the cascades, I know it well, then a steep climb up the other side, hard work but no issues.
The run along by the pipeline, heavy dew on the grass sprays up into my glasses.
That happened last time too – but this time, fog too.

Come the Manly dam section.
The first descent is fun, rock shelves with small drops, I’m doing it better than last time, though not with quite the same flow as the others.
They are taking care of me, showing the line and keeping the pace manageable.

Lots of ups and downs follow, then we approach the step I fell on last time – I’m a bit nervous.
Clutters says follow Bam Bam, so I grit my teeth and do so, nailed his line perfectly, but alas he doesn’t use the slightly easier line Clutters had in mind.
I go off the drop he’d used on his 29er, my 26” front wheel pops into a familiar looking scoop in the rock, stops, and I gently topple over the handlebars.
That’s odd, I crashed exactly here last time….but no harm done, a minor knee scrape.
I walk down a few bits, then hop back on again. Will this be Groundhog day?

My glasses are steamy, not easy to see the details – wet tree roots are tricky, but the pace is fine, I’m going OK.
I flail down a droppy section OK, decent pace, just in control, confidence coming back up.
Clutters and Bam Bam were alternately leading ahead giving me a good line to follow.
I punctured here last time – not this time, I sail through cleanly – not Groundhog day after all.

Out of the dam section, there’s another technical bit, I wave the others on so they can have fun hooning down it.
Vision starting to blur, fog droplets building up on the glasses again, then I lose it picking my way down a wet rocky bit.
Down I go again – damn, and I rode this bit OK last time.
Ah yes, it would have to be the same knee that I scrape. Good job I bounce.

Climbing up the weaving singletrack. – left, right, flick over that one, bank up there, feeling good.
I ride over a steep rock in the middle of the path, rather than going round, following Clutters’ suggestion – that was fun.

Quick stop to wipe off the glasses again- my hanky is now soaked, the others pull away
Glasses don’t go so well in fog, note to self, use contacts next time.
Then out onto the open field at the end of the MTB section.

The fog is thicker here. We have a water stop. I fiddle with my lights, one had come adrift in one of the falls.
Clutters pours water over his bike to clean it a bit.
Water stop and we are off on the road. Lock up the suspension and away we go.

Zig-zagging through the back streets, I feel there is still some energy in the tank.
Over the Spit, and I’m steadily going up the Parriwi climb.
Clutters and Bam Bam pull away from me steadily, but I’m not far back, can see them most of the way, and feel good.
A far cry from last time when I cramped up and had to walk up – what a difference 6 months makes.
And then we are punching up the ups and downs of Mosman and Cremorne, getting to the B&T at about 7:45.

Another great day out, with a healthy adrenalin dose added, yet all before work. Thanks guys.

Blue Stratos