A classic winter high is sitting over the Victorian Alps, which we can all enjoy in that mornings in Sydney are calm, North/East breeze off a warmish ocean, some fog but definitely no frost…Perfect weather for a ride to the office.
The radar was a blank screen today, Monte Dural was shrouded in patchy mist just before the crack of dawn. Launching into the commute on a lull in the traffic the bike turned right away from a Gall Stone and onto the aptly named Hoar’s Drawers. The Hills Shire has still yet to send in repair crews to fill in potholes along New Line road, making for a bone shaking ride and requiring YHC taking evasive action among P plate, Ute and white van drivers..The Gall Stone may be 10kms longer but it is way safer.
Rolling into Fox Valley at the appointed hour, and happy to see the Satnav posse, ready to flog the horses for a swift transfer to Gordon.
Hump day over, the weekend in sight, today’s order of battle was many ranks deeper and led magnificently from the rear by HRH FM Goose. It gathered steam rapidly and launched as the FOB arrived for an on time departure, twenty plus ERs charging down the north shore saving CO2 running on saturated fat , blowing hard and fast.
One day this report will state there was an orderly peloton, two wide, spaced correctly, dressed impeccably in Egg and Tomato, a soft whirring of chain on sprocket, tones hushed, but not today, probably not this month, or year…and I think that is a good thing, our usual mayhem, raucous conversation, ample opportunity to surge, rejoin and fall of the back works a treat for me. Traffic , powered and pedalled meshed well without incident today paced on the top end of comfortable, all aboard were gassing freely unstressed and purposefully. It was poetry in motion, Banjo would have enjoyed the spectacle.
YHC was unsighted at the KOM, ( my excuse book is not alphabetic but seems to be stuck at “was too far back to see “ ) I can say though that I saw a continuous stream of ERs stretching up the hill, in various states of hypoxia, all giving it a fair crack, passing the odd random on the way. Stirling effort which meant the bunch made it to the top of the Col de Crow’s en masse.
Taking tips from the Goose, YHC maintained an aerobic pace which meant arriving at the B&T in good shape, a little behind the leaders but well back in the queue for coffee…had to find a bike rack, and then a place to park.
Order of business …Bike NSW are collaborating with the ER HMOTN to create an exciting event in the Spring Cycle …Bullet will be thinking up a catch phrase to start an equivalent to Earth Hour but for bikes..a global, nay galactic reach is required, viral marketing , it will be big…your suggestions on this forum greatly appreciated.
Returns are all in timetable order, the 5:15 will be leaving at 5:15 no doubt the 6pm will be leaving at 6pm…
Have a good one all
BT..
A mystery man in a suit aboard BamBam’s bike passed the B&T at 8:15. Pinstripe over Lycra looks like it will catch on. Very spiffy.