A dull overcast this morning made for a grey somewhat chilly dawn. Jumping into the Subaru and away, there was a sudden rush of blood to the head and I found myself parking off Fox Valley just for the extra warm up required…Teff was already at the ER bus stop once I had geared up, and soon there was Ravi and B1c for a small if not perfectly formed groupetto ready for the second best way. Mike had a few chosen words about the tight fit of the Continental Gatorskin..which was met with some suggestions about using lube and a little more force. Tef actually puts his on an old rim for a day or two first..anything to stretch it so that you can be swift at the side of the road.
Rolling into the Gordon bus stop, and onto what is now becoming a normal 15 to 20 odd riders…I say odd …some wearing superman socks with open toed sandles..some on MTBs others on vintage steel antiques..( and old bikes too ) .
The peloton took off in two by two order, similar to what a real peloton should look like, a formation that lasted all of about 100m ..although it was generally narrower than normal, the hills of death , Lindfield , Chatswood all traversed with style and aplomb…Tindale and KOM…( deep inhale and …) the party line is we take it real easy on the SUP as plenty of traffic at this time of year makes for a dangerous potential accident..YHC can remember last year seeing a lot of blood on the ground and paramedics attending some poor gentleman in the dip before the KOM.. not having any fun at all..
This morning we missed a similar incident by a gnats whisker..so please all take more care especially where speed and surface are concerned..the oncoming traffic cannot stop in the dip and there are usually leaves and debris on the corner at the bottom of the dip. In aviation terms this would be called an “Incident” and the man from CASA investigations would council all parties concerned and remove a license or two pending a review of training and perhaps require a new examination by a testing officer. Luckily all you have is a RANT about safety.
A view from the top of the KOM was a cafe full of the Boundary riders…great to see the MAMILs in their natural habitat…
The Burlington sprint …” no speakies “ was all Bullet could manage having turned a short section of road into a window of the vision splendid..a dark tunnel with blinding light ..not quite ready to step across the void he chose to turn away…and rejoin the living, but with that ethereal look of someone who has just had a near death experience.
B&T were pumped this morning, dispensing coffee with wit and repartee, several new waitresses in ER colours..Suggestions that Bullet would talk to his people to talk to Vics people and arrange a retro show at the MCA…all way above my head ..no idea what they were referring to …and if you ever hear of “ Jack Hunter “ let me know in what context..that is Vic’s stage name…
All good for a scheduled on time departure this evening, it seems the 6ers have been getting more popular, making the return almost as much fun as the commute in.
Have a good one all
BT