Fellow practitioners of the pedal

A great morning for it this morn – warm temperatures, 20-odd out – the remainder pleading some form of distant relationship with the banking sector to warrant a sleep in.

Much activity on the weekend if Strava’s anything to go by – Maraylya, Calga TT, West Head, West-to-East across the UK to name a few…..all good practice for our next formal outing being the SCC Bowral Ride – shout if you haven’t received an entry form and I’ll flick on.

Great to see our Simba back on the pedals again this morning – flirting with touching up Bullet’s 34s record on the Lavendar sprint – comes in handy as he lives just around the corner. Only Danny Boy and Simba challenging in the Under 23 age group at this point.

Much chatter around the eastern end of the B&T desks (-33° 51′ 44.6184″, 151° 12′ 14.6586″), seemingly led by our British born contingent, re Australia’s Olympic medal (singular). There was widespread confusion amongst those born on these shores as the WTF they were referring to. Lawn Bowls is the only sport Australia follows or truly aspires to, now that our junior development Darts squad was beaten by Djibouti over the weekend.

Stealth full of lip on other matters too – chose to come in on his day off to address ER emails, there’s a good lad. Still waiting to see some quality output.

Exciting news of the Girls of ER coming together – new jerseys being designed as we speak – not sure whether to ask for new zips or not. The recent preponderance of ride names of the fairer ilk should see numbers off to a flying start. So come summer with a fair wind we’ll have ER, Girls of ER, and kids of Girls of ER. What a proposition.

Marketing efforts getting a boost of late – an ER “bus” timetable taking shape – and more consideration of whether we incorporate as it’s easier when we IPO (no, not EPO)…..watch this space.

Norse bound men and women gathering SHBS at 5.15pm and 6pm.

Not much else to report; have a good remainder of the day all.

Marcia/Satusha Navratilova

Having had a good month off the tyranny of the alarm clock, this morning’s wakeup call seemed to hurt more than usual. Adrenal exhaustion from jet lag crashing into the fatigue of getting up before going to bed and the epic suffer scores from yesterday’s rides all playing a part, the only consolation being a Friday morning and for the fortunate in financial services, a bank holiday Monday long weekend.

Into the car to transfer to Gordon, inside a warm 28C outside a chilly 8C , turning into the carpark fully expecting to genuflect before the Captain, and tug the forelock to a brace of FMs I can only say that it was business as usual along the one true path with all the usual suspects..the FMs must have been on the Rhodes Rubaix, to admire C.hippo’s luscious new Specialized.

9 of the ER brethren on the OTP, managing a punishing pace for the Friday roll, as soon as the BOF appeared it was business as usual in every way, Stealth off the front pedalling at a 200 cadence to take the first hill at least half a kilometre in front of the tail draggers, Satnav and crew probably enjoying wit and pithy commentary at a normally aspirated cruise, whereas YHC felt the urge to give chase and wind the heart rate up to just short of cardiac arrest level. The initial flush of enthusiasm wearing off by the Rawhiti sprint however and normal sociable interaction resumed from there. Very pleasant conditions for the commute, a bright if not warm sun, slight westerly wind and the usual back slapping camaraderie thrown in for luck. Chatswood managed to hold up proceedings with the fat controller on the lights making sure that the peloton was stopped three times in 500 metres. Rolling regroup atop Tindale for an HB lead charge into the valley of death towards a very gentlemanly KOM. Derek McDerek cresting unchallenged for the jersey, Bullet(le) providing a draught for YHC to fill the other podium places. Derek was through the Burlington sprint first to claim the green jersey too, the main peloton bunched at the lights of Chandos St unable to do much but watch on and rue what might have been. Regroup at the top of Crowies there now being a dozen aboard, ½ , WBA, TFS, all making their appearance, and into the next light filled sector of North Sydney and the shambles towards the Harbour bridge. Today’s challenge of the day was to topple Bullet from the Lavender St KOM made more difficult by a strategically placed Post van for a road block into the first downhill. Only Strava can say how this attempt went, but Bullet fired on all barrels showing the peloton some style and panache.

B&T was also on form, sending the finest quality coffee our way into the unheated front of house seats. A pedestrian Captain arrived vowing to pedal at some point in the near future although apparently the economy needs his assistance this week or else the national GDP figures will crash bringing down the government, and starting a run on the RBA…such is the affect of our galactic CEO, planets have been known to change their orbit in his presence. Serious business of the day however was the 100th TDF ER tour…Tormey Tours will be engaged to ensure a ripsnorting time will be had by all so book your place soon..tickets will be on sale shortly.

A GG bus is scheduled to depart the SHBS at 5:15 but as free beer has been trumpeted by our very own Ravi the grate from 5:30 I am sure there will be some early birds.

Have a great day all…
BT

Morning all

Yes, they can be spotted a mile off with such trained eyes as those within the ER Peloton. Even without C.Hippo’s guidance.

Awaiting in full expectation was our newboy Andrew “not the rugby” Blades – in brilliant white, awaiting any passers by going his way. He jumped on the back of our 15 strong peloton with glee, and the rest was history. Henceforth known as Virgin, for the kind consideration of our our FM naming committee. Zlatko proposed “Angel” but that sounded marginally more complimentary, so Virgin herewith proposed.

(rewind) A brisk morning at the Fox Valley Road meeting point for our West of the Highway sect – just B1 and myself. Regular contender Teflon not seen, presumably still recovering from being told “where to go and how best to get there” from a little altercation on the SHB last night. Our two new Mark’s promising return soon, and RTG still working out how to address the quip yesterday of having both a Pinarello and a Volvo (there’s a few others in that basket mind you….)

Much excitement and anticipation of BT’s return; amounted to nothing as he was apparently late all the way through, and had to suffer Contador’s company by way of penalty…..

Stealth looking for a softer cassette – anyone have a 32 at the top end that can assist our man with spinning a bit more freely?

Bullet sporting his trial-by-chamois knicks – gave a detailed account of his experience at the B&T to the 20 odd or so who braved Vic’s lack of patio heaters. Coffees in the duplicate taken for only the hardened….

Formations taking shape already for the 5.15pm and 6pm entourages northbound.

Have a good one all.

Regards

Mark/Satnav