10 ER’s in the blocks this morning – Satnav, B1/m, Magoo, Scott, Andy, Ivan, Kneel, Rob W, Jamie, moi. Clutters was on the side, valiantly recruiting for his tame flutter (gimme a break …). We left him, a sad figure with only the lights of a single AY-UP forlornly reminding him of his failed quest …

A beautiful night sky, not a cloud to dim the starry firmament, provided a perfect backdrop for the run along the ridge to Terry Hills, then the darkest of descents through McCarrs Creek. With the regroup at Church Point we set up a rolling paceline. It worked, sort of, being thrown into disarray by utes, hills, timing, etc. We are getting better.

Mon Capitaine and Simba joined as at PWR. A good pace saw us through to Manly when Herb popped up. He claimed a reverse Akuna at 0500 and a mad chase to bridge to us. I reckon he drove to Manly after sleeping in – Strava will reveal the truth.

Nought else to report – PR’s all round, everyone home safe with coffees ordered by 0745. Cracking morning.

Usual rides this arvo, noting that Dopey is proposing a LCNP this arvo. I haven’t done one, but it promises to be a ripper – birds tweeting, a gentle roll through the Park, then a sprint up Kisso. A complete day in the saddle.

Stay upright,

admin

As previously advertised our Goaders had been ordered to Melbourne to pick up Bullet’s recently purchased NOS Pinarello frame….and delegated all care and no responsibility for his growing throng of Flufferers to B1M and I. A big pair of Sidis to fill…..

B1M and I arranged to meet in transit at Turramurra well before the sparrows started fa^&oing to rehearse the rider briefing and engage in some general tactical foreplay. Flash’s trailer was mentioned, but more re that one later.

12 with their names ticked off the roll at Snives, detailed briefing given “right we all know the terms and conditions….let’s go”…..and onwards into the darkness picking up Andy H in transit. DNS’s recorded against our Milsons Point and Newport chapters.

Norman threw a right spanner in the works when crossing the Forest Way junction…..thinking she’d spotted Laura, which was interpreted by the remainder as Dora…..neither showed up in the end; peloton concluded Norman was up to her old tricks again, watch out on the 6pm return tonight.

Wet roads and a touch of fog on the way down McCarrs – all safely through the esses, usual hammer down through Church Point to the next regroup point, PWR reached all in good time and spirit.

First run at a rolling paceline executed with……panache and precision….well done all giving something different a go with minimal preparation beforehand.

Then the first of just four punctures for the day – Daf, Bri and Si being the culprits, sorry, victims…..progress slowed somewhat however no-one raised a sweat over it, in true ER fashion…..

A bit of excessive tooting got our Andy fired up through the Neutral sector…..good mornings exchanged and nothing more, aware of the weight on the shoulders of carrying the ER name.

Arrival at the B&T found earlier shifts still in situ, many remaining to share seconds with Fluffs one and all.

A great start to the day; herewith handballing the baton to our Admin for Thursday’s edition.

Have a good remainder of the day all.

Mark/Satnav

A cool start to the day as another predawn departure was made, 14C on the dashboard with a slight south westerly, perfect weather for a gentle roll into town. With the Fluffers making their departure hours before, numbers were down…to about 25 on the OTP. BOF made it to the party and sent the ER peloton forth with only a few seconds delay, and so all was right in the universe, events unfolding as they should.

Cars became a talking point as numerous minor incidents, mainly just barging and shoving in where they could. I noticed that ERs were actually spread into a thin line through the HOD and I think this is what was the cause of the issue..cars felt they had the room to come alongside and push in..obviously more discussion required over coffee, but there is something to be said about presenting an impassable mass where safe passing is not possible.

 A businesslike pace due to the temperature, nice to have the cooler breeze to enjoy spooling up the legs for their heating rather than overheating , YHC managed to fall to the lantern rouge through Lindfield but sailed past the Roseville regroup and made it to the front for a second or two before Chatswood..Conspicuous driving award was delivered to a hapless driver who managed to overtake the peloton before the pedestrian crossing to Roseville station, being both overtaking on the crossing on the wrong side of double whites and approaching a bus head on..then having to mix in to the peloton to avoid hitting the oncoming traffic..outstanding achievement managing to accumulate more traffic offenses than the mind could comprehend in such a short stretch. A Go Pro would be handy for such things..

 It was brought to my attention that Archer St has become a bit of a shredder, but more to the point , Tindale which should be the regroup to reassemble the peloton was marked with a big fail this morning. A rear carriage was dropped due to insufficient observation or over zealous urge to arrive at coffee..needless to say the rear car took a short cut on the highway led by Drastic and DT to arrive at B&T 5 mins before the offending front of the peloton..nuff said.

 Deliciously autumnal, if you have any friends , family , enemies who are not on the pedals riding to the office, now would be a good time to get them started..

 A quick look at the following link and encouragement to log the ride on 28^th March..to provide a resource and perhaps some lobbying opportunity.. www.rideable.org.au

 Make your mind up time for the return roll….there are many ways home, creativity required to avoid getting used to the same old same old..BDR for me this evening ..looking forward to it already.

 Have a great day all

BT

There was movement at the station at a ridiculously early hour this morning, not YHC astride the bike but Hills Shire returning to the premises to remove garbage they missed on Friday..driver obviously angry as a full 5000 rpm required to lift about 10kg of detritus. So yet again up before going to bed, and well covered to fend off the early morning chill (had an under-vest on) to make the journey through the stygian GG and onto the OTP.

Blinking brightly as blind Quarry truck drivers are not quite awake at that time, it was a welcome left turn onto Old Northern and thus out of the danger zone a mere 700m into the ride, and once more into the quiet of a predawn calm. Cruising along though the undulations before Galston village, it was definitely feeling a little cooler, 11C on the clock from 16C in Dural, nothing that required further layers but a heads up to have made those winter clothes purchases while Wiggle and all Northern stockists are trying to off load their stocks heading as they are into spring..

The GG was deep, and dark, and lonely..very little moving through, YHC recovering from the 3P tapping out an easy beat in 4/4 time getting into swing of it and oops it was over before it began, (these short 10 minute climbs even the remembered pain was fleeting) ..

Pushing through onto the OTP gotta say I had a GOFTR token administered on the Pacific Highway..I now define a GOFTR token as conspicuous dangerous driving in the vicinity of a bike..this eeejit thought a metre didn’t matter and gave about 5cm room, then got caught by the lights at Knox…perfect opportunity for YHC to slip in front and use the lane for some conspicuously belligerent slow acceleration and into a good sprint up to Turra..(thus missing the 6:30 rendezvous at Fox Valley..) but as the blood was up Gordon was only another 5 mins away..

A crescendo of colour and style, the wagon train that is ER rolled into Gordon as single entity..25 or more rolling in before the BOF. Of note was a new steed bearing the family Stratos

Gellie Monster

Once the remaining 10 or so had accreted to the rear of the peloton, a split was arranged and Flash led out a Cat Flap contingent, while an assorted 25 made the pilgrimage along the OTP. Great to see such a turn out, even after the exploits of the weekend where is seems the ER colours are flown far and wide.. You would have heard the peloton clearly before it rolled into sight, as this morning was swift but at full volume..I wonder if a pedestrian gets the same high to low Doppler effect as 30 odd riders pass at speed. Stories recounted and plans made for next weekend all happening en route.

The Stratos tandem was leading through the Hills of death, maintaining a punishing pace through to the regroup at Roseville..I think Blue said something about making the stoker angry enough is a bit like treading on the accelerator, it worked..as the whole peloton was caned. (in all seriousness, great team work and very impressive paint job..superb , a real highlight)

YHC was towed up Burlington by Herb, YHC unable to speak at the top for five minutes, Herb barely panting…YHC needs more caning..

The usual Schleck advance from Burlington to the Bridge..a brief catch on the lights but that coffee suck seems to give him another 200 watts power..impressive.

B&T in full ER mode…40 coffees brought out and called in about 10 minutes..the smile on Vic’s face belies the earlier Vic we once knew..”well aren’t we a …sunshine” sticker has been removed, and he may even serve hot chocolate and mock achinos if asked nicely (but personally I would not dare) ..

Return flights are all scheduled and fueled ready for the off, check out the calendar for the one that fits yours.

Have a great day all

BT