YHC was aroused well before first light , atop the col de Monte Dural to the sound of B-doubles rolling past and the unmistakable swish of puddles being bulldozed into atoms..not a portentous beginning to the second best way…Rule #9…
So straight into the car for a swift transfer across to Fox Valley Rd and strapping on the plastic with Ravi there was some talk as to who and how many “Bad Asses” would be on the ride..Bad Ass Saintnav was the next arrival, “Googleman” made a quorum so roll out was ..Rule 87..on time. On this side of the valley in rainshadow it was a dry roll down the hill to Gordon, of note was the darkening tan on Satnav’s bike, getting the look of a ironmogers yard. ( and adding a kilo to bike weight for training effect )
Much frivolity and jocularity happening on the launch pad, holiday atmosphere but undertones of business as usual, how fast those heady days of alcohol and family rows recede to make way for three peaks training and superhuman basecamp training..base meaning peak in cycling parlance. YHC is still confused sometimes as “base” training entails peak training..and YHC is always base and wanting peak..no matter where in the continuum..perhaps there is an unwritten rule about where in the line between base and peak one actually “is”..Professor has YHC missed a chapter in the explanation of “non event” appreciation, or just eaten one or two of Schleckies “brownies” for breakfast…it is all too beautiful man…???
20…on the pedals to ply the OTP, names and addresses to follow, greeting to “newbie” Greg, from Dural ( meaning the Dural Chapter has expanded by 100% in the first month of the new year )…and a slow wind up into the hills of death..the first point of safety to discuss was YHC..first roundabout, Ute approaching from the right , YHC jammed on the ancors but only managed zero braking and had to commit to riding through the roundabout hoping the ute was able to stop and give way…I was not travelling fast but had no chance of stopping on the slick road with ‘gatorskin slicks..simply no grip..
Luckily no sticky ending but lesson again on wet road considerations.
Traffic has definitely increased, and once into Roseville we were overtaken by a car intent on breaking road rules ..possible frustration due to peloton size but no excuse for dangerous driving..ignored the double whites and mashed into the peloton when meeting oncoming traffic..could have been messy but again thankfully no injuries to report..there are now nice cycle symbols stencilled on the road to alert the road user to the danger of cyclists but it seems that 15 seconds of delay is not acceptable to some.
Archer St lights did their thing and chopped the 24 strong group into sections of about 6 ..regrouping at Tindale, again the moist conditions making the surge into the park and shared path a possible health hazard..but one ER has mastered with sensible precautions taken..slow speeds and single file, much vigilance to ensure all arrive in one piece..( and no pillory in the SMH due to the predatory practices of the “lone” cyclist ) ..YHC slipped to the Lantern Rouge position to ensure that Greg made it up Scaramanga and would know where the KOM line is, unfortunately by the time he arrived up to the carpark, his hypoxia was such that he rolled over the footbridge, and could not hear YHC calling for the right turn ..he rejoined the group on West St, having found some oxygen on the freeway section.
North Sydney and red light action making light work of the peloton again, good discipline on show, meaning the B&T tables had already been rearranged by the time YHC rolled in for a mega coffee and conference ..rule #56. And a quick thank you to Schleck for the degustation menu, no evil wheat and a calorie filled comestible with delicious mouthfeel, enough sugar to cause havoc with your endocrine system but keep those legs pumping..( 15 pages of food commentary deleted here )
Great to see such enthusiasm and vigour on show, enough to encourage the other 180 on the list to make an appearance in the near future..
Returns all teed up and ready for the usual times..
Have a good one all
BT