Pushing Pedals

Clever tricks

2012-02-08T21:59:00.001+11:00

You probably know that I had a spill. Have a look at these blokes and tell me if they would of had one or two in their time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJmdb1Oe2h8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Pretty flash eh???

Fozzy.

Dom wins at Casey Qatar

2012-02-05T14:21:00.000+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC.

I sit here at the computer very satisfied with my self after winning one of the toughest days at Casey (Qatar).

The wind started at about 8.30 am and just got stronger. It gets windy at Casey but today was insane.

30 starters in B grade - my form has been steadily building since I got back from Sydney and the daily commutes on the Phantom have certainly contributed to that.

The Peleton was full of the usual suspects apart from Dale who was out with an infected knee.

I went into the race with the same goal as last week - monitor the moves try and pick the right one and respond to dangerous attacks. It would be a very strong rider or group of them to stay away today. Dana had a crack in lap one and was given plenty of rope. After seeing how strong that gale force wind was leading into the home straight - no lone rider was staying away. Dana hurt himself for 2 laps before we reeled him in. Then it was a new blokes turn and as he tired Spiro bridged to him and they both took off. We gave them a little rope and I was confident that they would tire. Tony Sullivan, Ronnie, Bluey wern't so sure, so they got caught and no sooner Dana tried again, playing it smart I stretched the legs in the back straight to close the gap and do some damage by riding in the gutter. After about 30 mins we started to loose riders through attrition because of the constant surging.

Riders were getting spat out in all grades.

I made sure that I placed myself in the front 4 - 6 positions most of the time and on the times I found my self on the front I used the gears wisey to save my legs, and even more important used the wind to my advantage whether it was head cross or tail. A surge in the right spot with no echelon was popping riders like balloons at a kids party. At the 45 minute mark we were down to only 7 riders, all capable of winning. I swore to my self that I would not be leading anybody out and not sitting on any wheels. "Nuggets" words echoing in my ear, "make them chase you". With FOZZY on the sidelines as my own personal cheer leader barking orders at me I had to do this for the GFC. I could hear and see him pumping me up to his group of onlookers.

Bell lap comes, probably one lap early and I found myself on the front as we pass the flag I swung off and slotted into 4th wheel. The was a lull in pace so I kept my ears pricked for the sound of an attack and watched the cassettes of the riders ahead. Through and past the pond someone from the back yells out there's 7 of us lets split the $. My thought on that GFC. Around into the back straight holding 4th wheel pace building legs felt good, cadence good, we swing up into the wind Bluey and Tony Sullivan sitting behind me, Spiro starts his sprint and i'm in his slip stream as soon as I noticed him fading "BANG" down a gear and I shot past him, catch me if you can. First into the finishing straight - I don't I have ever pushed on the pedals so hard in all my life, I could hear FOZZY screaming from the side lines as I gave it everything and as the finishing line approached I lunged a big throw to the deafening roar of FOZZY's "YES!!!!!!!"

I nearly thru up and had trouble getting enough air in as I rolled around the bend. Spent but very satisfied. That win was a combination of learning from all the stupid things and wasted efforts over the last 2 years. I think I have finally learned how to win.

The wind is my friend.

DOM

Check out the Casey QATAR on the link below.

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Hard n Soft

2012-02-05T13:55:00.006+11:00

Soft- that's me.
Hard- that's our Dom.

WHY? For today the wind and the heat sorted the men from the Boys and I tell you I'm still a pre pubescent kid when it comes to cycling. For I am weak and Soft and didn't finish the race today cause I got spat out like a kid spits a Brussel Sprout. I only lasted half distance, parked the bike and went and got the video for I had a feeling that something special maybe brewing....How Fortuitious for Dom it turned out to be. Yes my friends its with a tear in the eye and hairs standing up on my arms that I'm proud to say that Our Dom WON today in a demonstration of POWER riding that left B grade a shattered mess. And I was there to witness the last few laps.
When I first took notice of B grade rolling around I could see Dom up near the pointy end of the field and occassionally on the front working like he always does. I had to shout at him from the sidelines...."Get off the front Mick," This fell on deaf ears and I was thinking that it was going to happen all again. The pack would bludge off Dom until the end and all smack his arse as they flew past for the finish line.
Well. I watched the last lap intently and could see that MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, my shouting was heard and I saw Dom back at about 3rd wheel. This continued as he hit the bottom of the hill into the massive headwind and then the pack kicked. As they rounded the left turn heading for home the big frame of Our Dom was in front....FARCK NO!!!He's gone too early. Surely they'll come over the top in the last few hundred. I was screaming like a banshee...The spectators were looking at me like WTF????? He held, he held on and surged across the line with at least a bike lengths between him and second. WOW what an effort!!! I was smiling like a dill and I could see one shagged Dom with a smile about 1km wide. Geeze I was happy for him. We all know how hard he works and he won in a manner that he always said he wanted to. Doing a lot of work and winning it fair and square.
Congrats Mate great effort.

Watch the video at Youtube for the most exciting finish you'll ever see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LMkdWTE3Ls&feature=youtu.be

Adelaide Images

2012-02-03T21:10:00.008+11:00

How to Sign in to Post

2012-02-03T17:12:00.003+11:00

The new format has caused one bit of grief where no one can sign in to make a Post. Well your Nerdy editor has sorted it out.

Simply get onto Google and type

"Blogspot Dashboard Sign In" and that should get you to either the Pushing Pedals dashboard or you may need to sign into your Google Account then that will lead you to the Dashboard and then off you go..

fingers crossed.

Fozzy

If it doesn't work you can GFC!

Fozzy the younger

2012-02-03T16:42:00.002+11:00

Ben has finally had a hit out in his new Hampton kit over at the Edithvale Velodrome. I rode around with him and he stretched me out to 41 km/h and in the process got into the top 10 fastest laps on Strava for the velodrome. 20 kms and then home. He was worried about riding in cleats but after the other day and then riding the bike around with his mates practising clipping in and out he now feels ready to ride up to his Aunties in Hampton tomorrow. Then he even wants to race with Carnegie on Sunday Morning.
You know the scarey thing was he really had a kick and Old Fat Guts had to kick it in the guts to keep up....he's bloody 10. If, and that's a big IF, he keeps riding imagine how fast he'll be at 17????
Today Miyagi and Dom and I rode to work....Miyagi laughs that Dom doesn't seem to be able to ride tempo. Dom, Miyagi says you're Harry Half wheel and always creeping up the speed. I told him the Little Donkey Story.... He can't understand why you're not winning B grade and reckons he's going to sit on you in the Police Games.

The wrong wheel

2012-01-29T13:45:00.000+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC,

Hope you are all well and have been getting those rides in as we lead towards our reunion at Mansfield in March for the Big Showdown between the Bayside arm. Wisey is getting his flat land base up to speed, Fozzy is racing again........what will happen when the road turns upwards?

Had a little hiccup with the F1 yesterday. I was tuning it for Sundays race when the rear shifter decided that it did not want to upshift, it was skipping over the gear ratchet. I removed the shifter and cleaned it out and examined it. It (looked OK) - I put a cable in in and it shifted as good as gold, lubed it and put it back on the bike. Shifted once, twice - then same problem (F!@K).

Shifter comes off again. I have a look at the Shimano PDF file but that doesn't help. The ratchet was making contact with the gear but looked to be on an angle, where I thought it should be straight. I googled the problem and only found a couple of basic threads (RH shifter problems with no solution other that send it back to Shimano and hope for a warranty claim). I decided to google some images of the internal workings of the shifter and checked out my Ultegra shifters. The section of internal frame in the shifter that holds the ratchet should be straight, and mine was slightly bent. Using 40 years of tinkering experience I straightened that section of frame, put the shifter back together and tested it under load with a cable held in the vice. It worked perfectly under heavy load. (a big relief ) So I treated the F1 to some new brake cables (white) and new Fizik bar tape. It came up a treat and feels as good as new.

Sunday rolls around and Fozzy picks me up. Glorious morning for racing, we arrive with plenty of time for a warm up. It was going to be a hot race with the temp already over 25 at 8.30 and not much wind. I was feeling pretty good and wanted to have a good crack today. 3 to 4 new faces and the return of Laurie Gates and old school A grader and fierce sprinter. I instantly recalled how fast he can sprint when he cleaned up Sandown and the Dandenong criterium last year. My plan was to go with any serious breaks, and reluctantly bring back the ones that I wasn't in if nobody else would and they looked like getting away and if it came to a bunch kick I was going to glue myself to Gates wheel and do my best to come around him at the finish.

It was a fast start and quite aggressive race with the new faces wanting to test their legs so the gap at the front yo yoed a bit. With Dale, Ronnie and myself keeping an eye on the front nothing was going to stay away today. I still don't have the faith in the rest of the bunch to chase or confidence in myself to just yet to sit in and watch, as a couple of times after I had done a turn to close a gap and drifted back just a little a counter would go and occasionally Ronnie or Tony Sullivan would jump straight onto it and the bunch just watched so I had to be quick to react. All that really did was ensure that the bunch stayed together as I dragged the bunch up to the break. I made sure I didn't overcommit - but I could have used less energy.

Late in the race Bruce Will took off with no assistance and we happily let him fry himself. One of the new blokes hit us hard with two laps to go and I started an organised chase to guarantee that we would all be back together for the bell. As soon as that bell rang I was locked onto Gates wheel and in hindsight I was probably a bit obvious as he kept looking over his shoulder as we neared the back straight. With the bunch strung out I was locked onto that wheel as we swung up the rise, 4 riders started to accelerate at the front and I was waiting for Gates to launch his sprint, almost halfway up the rise and he sat up (AAAGGHHHH) round him I go, what a F#$K up that was I made my way through traffic on the rise and caught the back of the sprint to finish 4th. I picked the wrong wheel to follow. Pleasing thing was I was able to make a big contribution during the race and still able to close a 30 mtr gap at the sprint. If I had of gone with the front group instead of sitting on Gates I dare say I would be $50 richer. (what if) I'll put that one down to experience and try something different next Sunday. The form is building I can feel it.

Keep on riding brothers

DOM

Garmin link to Casey B grade 29-1-2012.

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Nirvana in the Rockies

2012-01-25T21:16:00.006+11:00

Road closed or is it??? Halls Gap and I'm out for my last ride before I get home. There's a 30km loop that runs along the valley into the Nat park then it was a right turn up into the hills and back to the van That was the plan and it was all going swimmingly as I turned up into the hills. The road was good with not a car and the only thing to keep me company was the birds and the butterfly's. This road was a gradual climb and this is great for me and Buller Im thinking. So out comes the video and I star in the first of a few videos.
I arrive at a carpark at Silverback falls. Aka Fozzy falls where I'm greeted with a sign. Road closed due to storm damage and a gate blocking the way. Surely it can't be that bad so around the gate and off I go. This is fantastic a made road and guaranteed no traffic. All I had to watch was a little bit of debris on the road. Wow what a find!!! So up I go for about another few kms dreaming of how this will make me stronger and Wisey eating my dust. It makes me want to dance and sing like a child of the 60s that I am bring on some loving man, love. Normality returns when I turn a corner and I see the reason for the closure. Stuff me, Nature has some power when you look at what the flood did to the road and neighboring creek. Now the problem was do I continue or do I go bush and carry the bike over the ravine. This time I went the hard option. I had a mental image of a half rotten carcass of Fozzy still clad in Lycra located 14 months later down the bottom of this ravine. However with a few prickles into the Lycra and scratches on the legs I got through. The next km was a series of wash aways and walking the bike mostly. I did however meet some mates. I named them Michael and Andrew. You can meet Andrew and Michael in the short video I made of that chance meeting. Finally I got through most of the really bad damage and I was able to pedal again. I felt strong and powerful and I made another little snippet on the video. IDEO I got to the top and went out through the gate taking a little memory shot. I get back onto the road where almost immediately I'm passed by a car. Back in the real world I think. So I climb another 1.5 km to the summit and find I've taken a wrong turn at Alberquirky and need to go left instead of right. Great wasted effort there....or was it. Time will tell. The downhill has me practicing Sumpage and I swoop onto the correct road at about 75. I see there is still 5 kms to Halls Gap and a sign saying high collision rate for motorbikes. Good, this is going to be good. So I smash on the pedals, daggers in the thighs and any other cliche you can think of and hit the corners. A Bulleresk descent with 35 km corners flowing from one to the next and not a car in sight. I can't bring myself to commit 100% because of the stack possibility but I have fun anyway. I finish at Halls Gap and roll into the Park giggling about the experience I just had. Milly watched the videos laughed, shook her head and said something to the effect "you're an idiot". Yep but fuck I make myself laugh at times. Oh one other thing which made me think I was going a bit bonkers. Up in the bush I must have hit the Siri button on the phone. That's the phone chick that talks to u on the iPhone 4. Well I thought there was someone in the bushes and I was looking around saying is anyone there??? What a dickhead. God I've had a great holiday. Fatter- probably, slower-probably, poorer-definitely but I've had sex last night and I think the neighbors may have heard. How funny is that??? Till next year. GFC caravanners.

The phantom

2012-01-24T22:14:00.004+11:00

This is my new work commute ride.

I have put the San Marco Rolls on the Phantom and I am going to recover the Charge "bucket" saddle as it is one of the most comfortable saddle that I have ever ridden.

This is stage one o the process.
DOM

The TDU wrap up

2012-01-22T22:27:00.004+11:00

Im lying on my recliner lounge in halls gap looking at the magnificent night stars reflecting on a week of highs and not so high. The last few days were recovery rides really. Only about 40 km yesterday because my partners pulled out for various reasons of going down to Willunga. First Nursie needed his own Nurse for a severe case of food poisoning after dining at the GFC Caravan. (I had to do it cause I had to slow him down somehow. I think I just made the dose slightly too strong as he whimped it completely and didn't ride). So then Miyagi rings. I'll ride with you, I'm fucked and not riding with the Grand Master. Rightho so I get ready and ride down to Glenelg to meet him, no appearance. I ring, he's in the city, not riding, getting a earlier flight because he's homesick. So now what do I do??? Ride the 50ks down there alone headwind and forecast of 34 or whimp it too??? Of course I whimped it. It's me isn't it. I wouldn't chose the hard option especially after Wednesday . So to at least have a few kays I decide to ride the 15 km to town and see him.
So off I head when this dick in a commodore cuts into a driveway and nearly cause a crash. I rip out "good one dickhead!". Then the car screeches to a halt and I get challenged. "come here ya wanker, cunt. I'll fucken rip your head off". I looked and saw at least 3 tatts so calculated at least 30% tougher than me so I took off the other way. Did a bit of anti surveillance maneuvering which included throwing the bike over a back fence and I lost him. Fucken Adelaide rednecks I would have punched his head in if he'd stayed around.
So I catch up with Miyagi and he's in the dumps too it's apparent that the pace of the week has caught up on him too. See being fat and slow gas it's advantages, no one expects you to keep up. Miyagi had to chase everything or else get called a pussy.
We had a cuppa in town and I checked out the hotel suite. Snazzy in a word but more expensive than my caravan site by 30 a night. Next year both nugget and miyagi are staying in the park with the family.
I watched the race on the TV and thought I should have go e but them the swimming over the Arvo was great and seeing some blokes coming back on their bikes later that night showed it had been a hard day I the saddle. U don't know I'd I could have done another alone. Oh well next year Dom will be there to bring me home.
This morning I was packing up when I was visited by this bloke wearing Nuggets kit. It was hanging off him. He claimed to be Nugget and even sounded like him but i wasn't sure You know when you talk to Nugget and you could be talking to Sean All sound the same to me. This bloke didn't have massive flappers though so it may have been Nugget. He tried to reassure Milly that it wasn't her trying to kill him but he accused me in the same sentence. Next year we will dine at Chateau Nugget and u can poision all you want. Won't change my pace mate. I'm hard core.
So that leads me to next year. I think I said ot last and I will probably say it again but you need to be heaps fitter than even Dom to survive a week of TDU. However I must say that I've had some great times and experiences and wouldn't change it for the world. I'll be back next year and YOU need to make sure YOU come along too. I would make it a family thing and that would ensure it becomes a reality.

Persistance is the key

2012-01-21T22:19:00.009+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC,

What a week for cycling in Australia. I have been recording all televised highlights of the TDU and will put an edited package together at the end. So if you want a DVD let me know.

It was good to get back on the bike after a week off. Wisey and I had a nice evening roll up to the Pirate on Tuesday night and picked up a tail who just happened to be Fozzys GP (that explains everything). Wisey was off to the bush so on Wednesday I started early and rode as domestique for the butcher to his place of work in Bayswater. Disgusting head wind all the way out and when I turn around so did the wind and it smashed me all the way home and also decided to dump some rain on me to top it off. 75 K's of pain. Thursday morning I woke up sore.

Went out to Sandown with Gabrial on Thursday for a hit out hoping to ride out the sorness. We get out there and there are TV crews and non other than Karl Stefanovic on a bike. Bill gives us a briefing that Karl will be riding with us for a couple of laps so ride neutral with him on the from with a film crew filming us. When he pops - A grade will wizz past B grade the B grade can put the foot down and Karl will get blown out the back door. That was the plan anyway.

They forgot to brief the other grades and there was a close call at one stage when D grade came past. You should have seen the cock heads chopping each other to get near the front to they could get within view of the camera. The car followed us around for a couple of laps when the race proper started. Apparently it was for a 60 minutes special that will be aired in April.

I felt OK during the race but I was missing the instant power I had been building before Sydney.
Lots of useless attacks until D grades bell lap when 3 riders played a bit of dirty pool and accelerated and cut in front of D grade on the S bend and we had to sit up and let D grade through and sprint while the 3 away took full advantage. Fortunately it was windy as usual and between about 6 of us rolling turns we were all back together again on the back straight rise.

Bell lap saw a couple attacked at the end of the finishing straight and they got given some distance. I was surrounded by guys that I know can out sprint me so I decided to pull the break back. I put the foot down as we turned into the long straight and weaved my way to the front and wound two riders in before the top of the hill - it was then I I noticed another rider 60 mtrs up the road, I didn't know where he had come from so I had to commit more and I caught and passed him and was first through the corner and under the bridge, I was too spent and just in the way so I rolled off and up the ramp as they commenced the sprint.

I drop Gab at home and he shows me his latest find from a Terrace in Toorak. Very large steel frame (purple) nice lugs - aero forks - mix of Campag - Dura ace & 105. He generously offers me the frame as a swap for the Black Betty frame. The only catch - the seat post is seized. I take the frame home to start my enquiries. (more on that later on)

I woke up Friday even worse and went for a ride up to Sandy and even that hurt. Soft pedal up to the Clock tower on Saturday morning. The the TDU being televised live I thought that it would be an opportune time to have a crack at getting the seat post out. The research I had done on the frame led me to believe that it had to be a custom built bike. Columbus tubes, lugs and drop outs 60 cm TT 63 cm ST custom made for ME! Basically the same quality as the Gazelle only with a longer seat tube.

Degreaser etc sprayed around the seat post bike unended with the post in the vice clamped on the seat clamp. I start twisting (a big creak) fuck the post is twisting at the clamp. So I put the post the vice and tighten. Levering on the frame (snap) - the jaw on the vice breaks. FFFAAARRRCCKK. I go inside and get onto the net Sheldon Browns site (14 ways to get out a stuck seat post). I decided the option was ammonia poured in via the BB to dissolve the oxidization between the alloy post and metal frame.

4 hours later I have another go - still stuck. Apart from using costic soda to disolve the alloy m y last option was to hacksaw the post from the inside. Labour intensive but WTF the cycling was on all afternoon. So off to Mitre 10 and I buy a pack of 30cm metal blades (sabre saw type). Back i the GFC workshop I start carefully sawing away. After an hour of sawing I stopped re-assessed checked the frame for faults and was satisfied that it was worth persisting with as it was a very nice quality steel frame. SAWING - SAWING - SAWING - SAWING - SAWING - SAWING. Once I had got about 10 cm into the seat tube I decided to have another go with a set of vice grips - some slight movement (twist) and a glimmer of hope.
I poured some engine oil in and kept on sawing and sawing, I was starting to get somewhere. Of course the post was stuck with 350 mm inside the frame and with 300 mm saw blades that meant I had to improvise. You can't beat PVC tape, good enough for your handle bars - good and strong enough to hold two blades together. It was working and I could see light at the end of the tunnel - all the time I had to keep in check that I was not sawing through into the frame.

Finally I was through, more oil in the seat tube and I let it soak while I had lunch and watched GERRANS. With Green Edge in the lead I attacked the seat post like the last 200 on Buller, movement - twist - twist, more movement -twist - yes it's coming - OUT got ya. YFB.
With the seat post out, I cleaned out the seat tube and BB.

Stripped Black Betty of its wheels, brakes, cranks, bars and stem. The new frame had a Dura Ace 7400 BB and a 105 headset. Both cleaned, greased and re-assembled. I had a nice 27.2 polished seat post in my parts box. I slipped out to a LBS who shall remain nameless and purchased some very nice bar tape and white brake cable outer. I think I'll attempt to recover the seat for my next project. Only had a short ride and it was beautiful.

DOM.

I paid Gab for the frame today by dropping the field on the leadout and delivering him to the podium

TDU day 1 then day 3. I can't count.

2012-01-20T23:07:00.001+11:00

Day one and three. All in one.
Sorry for the delay on the post but as u can already see this week has taken it's toll. Back to my first day which was Monday stage 2 of the TDU, hills.
I worked out that if I made it to the base of My Lofty where the Princes Hwy comes into Adelaide there is a bike path that follows up the hill and would lead me straight to Miyagi, Nugget and co at a place called stirling. I knew it was going to be a climb but I didn't
reckon on a 9 km ascent akin to Buller. The one thing was good was there was plenty of company with bikes whizzing past me both going up and down.
I lamented the fact that I didn't have a 27 with a compact crank as in places it was quite steep and even I had to get out of the saddle to keep going forward. The thing you get here obviously are hills but I wasn't prepared for the length of them.
Once I got to the top it was good to see a familiar face of a girl that beats me at racing. I said a quick hello then kept going onto Stirling.
The township is akin to any you would find up the Dandenongs really pretty and cool. There was people everywhere and the Tour was in full swing. The colour of the event is something to behold, truly makes you feel like the TDF is in town.
Miyagi and Co were further out along the course so I smashed a Kransky with onions sauce & mustard on a lightly seeded roll all for the special today only price of $4.50. But geeze it was tasty.
I rode up a hill just out of town and watched the first of 4 times around the loop. Will Clarke a young Tassie boy was alone by over 10 mins and geeze he looked fit going up the hill.
I firstly found Nugget and his comment about my brothers wasn't flattering. Their bloody nuts, it's like a game of back yard cricket. No one wants to lose.
I then find Miyagi and the Grand Master (GM) and all is good. All of the boys from manly and Hampton are there and I'm introduced as the Fat brother. I thought that was Whitey and I was just slightly portly. GM and I get a possie at the finish line to see Clarkes solo win by over a minute. Eddie Merycx was there watching and how's that for something for Clarke to brag to his grand kids.
When the race finished all hell breaks lose as riders scramble and head off towards Adelaide. There was a reasonable climb straight up and of course I was Puffing Philly just keeping in touch. Why is it every time I'm in the red Nugget rides past with some smart arsed comment??
Our group of about 40 headed down the back road and it was on from the start. Sump power was the call as I rounded up Nugget and hit about 75. The road was steep and windy and Sumpage was in full sail but I thought I better not round up any more for I was new to these blokes. Etiquette.
Nugget was still close by and as we got further down I saw him looking at his bike. Doing a Mal I thought, couldn't handle the Sumpage??? Well after we stopped to regroup I saw it was really a Mal and the front wheel was off and tube being changed. He's a rude bastard. He kept about 40 blokes waiting just for him. You know when I go out the back they fight over who is going to stay and the loser gets it.
Well we're soon back on the road and the pace is up. It's like a race along suburban streets. Like the Hell ride so I'm told. Well I was able to keep contact because of two things, traffic lights and it was slightly downhill by the time we hit the suburbs. It was mid 40s all the way to Glenelg and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face over the mandatory coffee debrief at Glenelg . Nugget rolls in and gives me a spray for leaving him but you know there's time for talk and time for doing. It was a doing day Nugget and you got done. (I'm brave saying that from the comfort of my bed at 10 at night Maybe I might, no I know I will regret it, but I loved every minute of that ride.

Today. Recovery day in a word. As previously stated I was officially S.S.S. shagged/stuffed/smashedso I decided to just ride up to the start by myself in Norwood a 30 km round trip. It was good to ride, to use a new word, tempo. I got to see all the stars and they got to see me. I think I heard Stewy say something about Sumpage pointing.
Again the colour of the start, the commentary the crowd was well worth the ride over. Once the left I turned for home, my arse still ginger from yesterday. I've got a sachet of butt cream I must use tomorrow.
Tonight the GFC Caravan was host to Nugget, Miyagi and GM for a GFC BBQ and chat about the week and about how I keep getting dropped. Had a great dinner and hopefully they ate enough to slow them down tomorrow. That leads me to another big day. Willunga hill tomorrow and the fosters flying tours is heading down via every bloody hill in the south. Consequently I was going to ride solo down there but Nugget is getting soft in his old age and is riding down with me. We are going the beach route which is
Most direct. He says he won't ride back with me as he has to go to work on Monday and done his penance. Good I can't afford another slab (less a few cans after the kids saw it of diet coke) that was my gift to him when I offered him a slab for helping. I actually offered beer but diet coke was his preferred tipple. Tastes like cats piss.
So 2 x bottles tomorrow and plenty of food. Hopefully I won't get SSS to the same degree but the forecast is 34 so I don't hold out much hope.
Wish me luck and I'll speak to you tomorrow night where I Might just be a sniveling wreck.
Wish you were here.
GFC Fozzy

Nurse Nugget

2012-01-19T21:07:00.004+11:00

Nurse Nugget
I'll start with me throwing myself on the sword. Today was the hardest ride I think I ever done. Nearly 6 hours of pain and the only bastard there to watch (and giggle) was Nugget. I'm sore in places I didn't know I had. The average was pathetic so I'm not even going to tell you. I better start at the start in Glenelg this morning and I met all the usual players, Miyagi, Nugget, and the Grand Master micheal. We left there in a peleton of at least 60 and road along the beach at Fozzy pace. All good here. Then after 15 kms we literally ride through the caravan park that's when my day turned to shit. On the other side of the park the road went vertical and I went into the red very quickly. Nugget passed me with a smartarsed comment about sump power and gravity. Anyway from That point on it was try to see the pack In the distance and see which way they went. Needless to say I didnt see them for long. Then it was solo Phil. Slowly slowly catchy monkey and I ground it out on a few hills but all in all enjoyed riding at my pace. I got onto a few packs traveling south but as soon as the next hill hit I exited stage left. 50 kms later the ph rings. Where are ya says Miyagi. 5 kms from the KOM hurry he says the race is coming. Oh you fucken beauty that's all I need to get spun like a top by the TDU blokes. The crowd grows the closer I get to the summit and the odd person cheers my on out of sympathy. I finally get to the boys and it turns out they had been there for an hour. A bit embarrassing really. Oh well I was there so I needed to try to recover for the ride home. Mike and about 1/2 the pack were continuing onto Victor Harbour. 180 km round trip. Miyagi Nugget and another 20 or so were heading home riding tempo. Maybe there was a chance for me yet so off we go. Fuck they were heading away Adelaide?? Finally we peel off and head to Wilunga for lunch about 20 kms of rolling hills and farms. The pace is just right for me and I hold on just until we get to the top (backside) of Willunga Hill. I'm only a few hundred meters behind when the descent starts. It's one long hill with tricky corners and traffic coming up. One of the blokes in the pack nearly becomes a hood onarment much to Miyagis disgust. We then stop for lunch in Wilunga. I'm thinking that maybe I would get to ride with them the 50 kms back to Adelaide. This was the same route as last year that had me trying to hold the TDU riders heading back from the race. This time I was a bit more optimistic. I shouldn't have been. We road back to mclarenvale then instead of straight through the guys leading turn right towards the hills. This doesn't look good. The leaders werent Hampton boys but Giant sponsored riders so Miyagi tells me. Now as the road started to incline I started to worry. Not that the pace was fast but I was nearing my limit. Finally I cracked a few more kms down the road. I see Miyagi and Nugget looking back then Nugget waits. Typical of the theme of this week. Fuck him says the other Fosters, Nugget gives a shit. As usual I feel bad and try to convince him to leave me but he rattles on about the U.S. Marines never leaving anyone behind. Well in all truth I was very grateful cause I was really struggling. Next thing Nurse Nugget hands me a Goo, coffee flavored and I fucken hate coffee but it tasted bloody great and gave me a boost, of sorts. Not long after this my first cramp hit in the left calf. This is nice (borat). Nursie tells me to shout out if I lose his wheel. Well it's a bit hard to shout continually as every pedal stroke he was getting away. Struggling now big time. It's obvious that the route we had taken was the scenic hilly long way home and as we rolled into Clarendon I just had to stop. Gatoraid , more water and Nursie gives me another energy bar from the reserve. He would if given me his jersey if it was going to help me get home I reckon. The hill out of Clarendon was one bloody monster. About 3 kms of hell I think and steep as 22% well maybe abit of licence there. Nugget said it was 17% and it beat me. Cramp in the right hammy about 3/4 of the way up at a blistering 4 kmh. Hard as the top of Buller, maybe harder in the state I was in. I had to stop. I had visions of not being able to unclip and binning it. I rang Nursie, sorry mate I've done it again. 300 meters to the top then all gravy. Well after 5 mins stretching I got in and made it finally. The view was spectacular and yep a long way down. Take it easy were the Wise words of Nurse Nugget. I was too tired to round him up Sumpage like. Well about a 4 km descent at around
60-70 in the drops had me crampinTg again, in the neck this time. WTF. Is there anything else that hasn't cramped. Still with about 25 to get home we find thesis road home and slipstream a lorry down a 7% 2 km hill at about 70. I was actually crying out for level ground. Finally we get to my turn off as I am staying on the beach an with a heartfelt thanks I bid Nugget farewell. I know I would have made it without his help but I didn't have any lights on. Miyagi calls me with a welfare check cause he could do heaps from his hotel room. I nearly get skittled by the only middle aged Asian in Adelaide. I managed to pull up next him at lights and told him that in 130 km he had the distinction of being the only car to nearly hit me. I was actually to fucked to abuse him which was a strafe occurrence for me. He apologized and that was it.
I thought yesterday was hard, (post to come) but it was piss ant compared to the pain I went through today.
You know when you ride up Beach road and u pass a few you start thinking that yep you just maybe getting the hang of this cycling thing. Well folks that's utter BULLSHIT. I've seen blokes here that make Miyagi and Nugget just one of the boys. Most here are at their standard and I'm being taught a cycling lesson at every pedal stroke.
I'm totally flogged tonight but satisfied that I made it, with a lot of help from me old mate Nursie.
I wasn't going to ride tomorrow but I'll just go over to the start about 30 kms ready for the last big day on Saturday, Wilunga hill and the same shit as today.
oh I almost forgot Nugget saw our number plate today. S.A. GFC. I missed it, I couldn't lift my head.
Next year boys you MUST COME OVER. It's an amazing event.
GFC Fozzy.
No photos as I can't upload to blog. Check twitter. Sorry for spelling etc as this is typed on the iPhone

Where's the TDU Blog

2012-01-18T20:57:00.002+11:00

You lucky pricks are over there in the middle of the action and all we get is 2330 ch9 highlights.

Where's the BLOG.

GFC.

GFC engineering

2012-01-10T15:25:00.005+11:00

Greeting Brothers,

I am about to head off to Sydney for some R n R with the family so I though I had better one last job finished on the SS.

The frames manufacture date is unknown but one thing for certain that it was manufactured by Kuwahara in Japan and exported to AUS and built up by Apollo with a full Shimano 600 DX group set. The odd thing is the frame has no serial numbers and no frame bosses or biddon mounts on the down tube.

This posed a problem for longer rides without a drink bottle. So after doing some research I was put onto "rivnuts" also known as blind threaded rivets. I had a chat with Terry Hammond and he told me that Paconi race frames in Braeside fitted them, but he had a tool to fit them if I could source them. The price to fit them $40.

Unfortunately for Terry he was speaking to Mr Fuckabout. I sourced the rivnuts from Melbourne bolt Co $3 for the pair and fitted them in about 5 minutes. Now I can go on long rides. The next time I post about this bike will be when it returns from the powder coaters.

Solo success at Casey

2012-01-08T12:20:00.001+11:00

Greetings Brothers,

The drought has finally broken, and on a day when the heavens opened up and the competition took the soft option.

Fozzy and I head out to Casey with the iphones monitoring the "rain" app. It was drizzling and a race start doubtful.

We get out there and there was about 50 riders, most huddled under the shelter others in their cars deciding whether or not to race.

I speak to 4 of the B graders and they take the soft option, "I don't want to get wet".

At the sign on I see an M1 fit looking bloke speaking to Brendan Phillips and over hear him being told, "it won't be long before your'e racing with us.

I think GFC your'e not going to spoil my party - I started to plan how I would ride my race. It was guaranteed to rain and the wind was blowing at about 35 K's.

6 riders soon became 3 and then only 2 of us eventually started due to late withdrawals. Me and the young bloke (TYB). They sent us off with A grade who had 5.

We head out with me on the front and TYB on my wheel. I tell him to be very careful of the slippery white lines. As we head towards the pond I accelerated using the tail wind, with A grade tacked on we roll through past the pond into the head wind "S" bends and towards the back straight. A grade come around me in the straight and I glance over my shoulder and notice that I have a slight gap on TYB. Into the up hill I hit it and pass A grade and dropped TYB.

Time to test myself with a solo break. The riding to work has been great to work on the endurance intervals and today was perfect to see how I would go. The rain started and the wind was strong. I chose to ride the Fulcrum's today and was clearly the best choice with the strong cross wind.

Each lap I was putting distance between myself and TYB and it inspired me to make sure that gap increased with each lap. I passed other grades and caught up with Fozzy who was tacked onto the back and tells me he has had enough and was pulling out, I tried to persuade him to tough it out, but his recent bout of flu was taking bits toll. I bid him farewell and sprayed him with a puddle like I was on a BMX.

Being away solo is a bit groundhog day like so I just kept monitoring my speeds into the wind and used the tail when I could. Conditions got that bad they rang the bell at the 45 min mark. I maintained my efforts and finished 3/4 of a lap ahead of TYB much to the delight of the GFC fan club who had been cheering me on.

I wanted to do the Hausler TDF rain soaked victory salute but I know how much SMCC disapprove of such behaviour.

There was not alot of competition but a win is a win and in the conditions its worth alot more than it looks.

DOM

Ride on GFC.

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

If we build it, will it roll?

2012-01-05T20:29:00.005+11:00

Greetings brothers of the GFC.

A while a go I made a purchase of some Velocity Deep V wheels for the single speed. Nuggets brother the one and only Sean was kind enough to collect them at Warny and bring them down.

Paid $100 and got a bargin. The had as new Gator skin conti's on the + a 9 speed Ulterga cassette.
I put the Conti's on the Gazelle and the cassette goes into the work shop. The rear rim is very good but the front had excessive wear on the brake track and the join was seperating. Both hubs are loose ball 105. 32 spoke

A quick visit to my friends at bicycle recycle today saw me pick up a barely used Mavic 30mm aero rim just like the velocity deep V. My next task was to see if I could have a crack at building a wheel from scratch. let the pictures tell the story.

32 hole with a 3 cross lacing DT swiss spoke brass nipples (settle Fozzy). Took some time to get it round and true. A couple of K's and I'll check the tension. But overall I'm pretty happy for my first go.

DOM

Hopefully the weather is good on Sunday first race of the year.

Happy New Year Boys....

2012-01-01T00:52:00.004+11:00

The in-laws are over from New Zealand and wanted to have a look around Bright so I hatched a cunning plan and before you could say ‘where did Branko go?’ the BEONE and all of the necessary cycling gear was stowed safely for the trip to Bright. Once there it was just a matter of being the ‘good daddy’ watching the kids play, swim and eat while Gary and Gloria did what tourists do…..sit around and watch the world go by? Anyway, by 2.00 p.m. we had done all of the family things which included several rides down the Rotary water slide into the icy Ovens River. You know that Tassie beer add where they put things into the river and better things come out…..the Ovens is the same….well…almost….because when I went in I had balls the size of coconuts but when I came out they were the size of raisins?

I get the green light and by 2.30 p.m. I was on the BEONE and off up the road to conquer Mt Buffalo. Also with me was my 7 Peaks Passport ready to get stamped at the visitor centre. When we came into Bright earlier I saw lots of riders heading to and from Mt Buffalo and there were some familiar faces as a lot of the local blokes were in Bright over the previous two days training for the upcoming Audax.

About 6 km out of Bright and I get my first distance marker/sign ‘Mt Buffalo Chalet 26 km’. At an average of between 5 and 6 percent I thought this would be a perfect ride to work on my climbing tempo but I also had to pace myself so it was ‘granny gear’ from the start. I kept the HR in the 170’s for most of the ride and only eased off on the flatter sections to recover.

At about 8 km into the ascent I passed two blokes who were happily chatting until I passed them at which time they upped their tempo and flew past me and out of sight. By the 12 km mark I had them in view again and within another 2 kms I passed them….again. I took a good look at their faces and could see from their beetroot expressions and heavy breathing that they hadn’t stuck to their original plan. I kept my tempo and pedalled out of their sight and didn’t see them again for the rest of my climb.

An hour and twenty minutes into the ride Charli and the kids pass me followed by Gary and Gloria in their rental car. I had estimated a 2 hour ascent and advised them that they could leave Bright about one and a half hours after me and we’d meet at the top but Charli told me later that her dad got impatient and wanted to hurry up. Either way he had to wait as I wasn’t turning around before I got to the top.

4 kms from the top and I get passed by three whippets in black ‘RUSH’ kit. They were motoring at around 20 to 25 km/h and went past me like I was standing still (felt like I was anyway). I finally get to the finish at the Chalet where I have a long drink before finding Charli and the kids at the lookout. Great photo op before I take on more fluid and prepare for the ride down. Charli voices her concern over the descent and the ‘drop off’ corners but I reassure her of my abilities and before long we’re all heading back down the mountain. Her and the kids in our car followed by the in-laws and then me and the three ‘RUSH’ kit boys who earlier had also piped in with a few words of encouragement to prevent the wife invoking the ‘handbrake rule’. However, I didn’t help my situation by passing her and her dad at ‘warp factor 5’ not long after we left the Chalet.

Before long I was out of sight and following the ‘RUSH’ boys hard into the hairpin corners and slipstreaming on the straighter sections. These guys looked and rode ‘pro’ and I was chuffed to be able to keep with them all the way to the entry gate where I bid them farewell and waited for my wife to arrive, some five minutes later and with a very stern look on her face…..didn’t wipe the grin from mine though. I stopped smiling on realising that my Garmin had switched itself off at the top and I forgot to turn it back on.

No flies on our Dom boys. Within 20 minutes of my downloading my Garmin stats he’s giving me ‘kudos’ and commenting on the Buller training.

Gearing up for a 150 km ride to Tooma on Tuesday. Meeting some old friends at the Tooma pub (Dad’s old watering hole) for a drink in his honour.

All the best for 2012 boys.

The Miyagi Smash

2011-12-28T14:04:00.003+11:00

You've heard of the Milarchi Crunch well today it was the Miyagi Smash. 75kms of Mornington Pensulia on a beautiful Wednesday morning. I met Miyagi at his house...yes I drove down, after some previous efforts I thought it prudent...at 6.30 a.m. You know the thing I don't like about that is that as soon as you leave your'e into the Hills, Cold legs no good for that, especially mine since I'm a recognised climber.
Miyagi is already up the road doing his Cadel impression and getting smaller. After a few of these hills his first words to me was....Too many drinks last night? Well yes I say, as I needed some sort of Le Butch/Mal for an excuse.
We ride down the highway then across to Old Mooraduc Road and the up and down rollers. He's patient, Miyagi...yet he's no Dom. He didn't have the art of circling the roundabout quite down pat.
We got to Safety Beach then along the foreshore towards Rosebud. Got a free ride off a time trialer at about 38 for a few kms and then we turned up Jetty Road. Then Miyagi tells me of the impending hill. He offers the Poofta's way out but I decide to have a go. Bayview Road..the name should have given it away. 1.5 k.ms of 8-10% then a last few hundred meters at 15% a real tester and I knew that I had to have a go. Well I got there Puffing Philly and all. Once at the top a great ride down to the Highway and then heading home.
I got a slow leak in the rear, tyre that is and had to do a change in Safety Beach. The smaller hill of The Esplanade was easier today than they have been and once we got through that we stopped at Pops for a Hot Chocky/Coffee.Yum!
Home by 1030 at an average of 28kmh which was good for me.
It was obvious that I held Miyagi back but he seemed content.
GFC Fozzy

At the end of the day I am just a F#cken Rookie

2011-12-20T21:00:00.005+11:00

Well boys,
It was my time to shine on the big stage, but it all turned to shit cos I am just a f@cken rookie.
It all started when the handicaps come out last Wednesday and I was given 140 mts, now this may not sound too bad until you realise the handicaps that other people got.

M Thomas ... My age group, I have NEVER beaten him = 205 mts
Tyler Spurrell.... 18 yo just come second in the state points score = 180mts
Stuart Vaughn.... M3 WORLD champ = 180 mts
etc
etc

So anyway I sucked it up in the knowledge that for the Austral I will get a better one.

It all started in the first scratch race... finished but well back. At the end of the race a mate says "jeeze you were peddling fast, what gear were you on?" I said same as every champs/open 96" it was a really quick race, maybe that was it!'

So I go back to my bike and have a look and sure enough the front ring that I thought was a 50 was a 49, so for the past 2 years I have been riding 2" smaller than I thought.

But thats not the worst of it..... I was in the showcase heat of the MCOW up against Myer and Howard, My Time To Shine......................

"Riders Ready" "GO" and I smash on the pedals with all my might and after the second one the rear wheel kicks and jams against the frame and the chain is slipping and I am stuck going nowhere, whilst every one including the 2 scrathies Myer and Howard wizz past.

No re start cos I am a nobody.

So boys, I have found YET ANOTHER way to lose races, for I am

THE KING OF THE ROOKIES !!!!!!

What a f@cken loser.

Take Care Out There

Going Bush

2011-12-18T09:08:00.001+11:00

Radar......don't trust the radar. I wake at 7 and look at the stupid thing and it looks like the forecast rain is going to hit before 9. I text Dom, I'm out. He of course replies, "a little one to Brighton?". So 30 mins later were off. I knew that he was frisky when we were straight into the mid 30s before Assy. As we pass Mentone I'm starting to warm up and them a fast group passes, thats all the invite that Dom needs. This was where the old single becomes a Bmx. Just as we come up that rise at Charman Road we go into single file but there's a slower ride right In front. I go right around him as Dom pulls the most impressive overtake I've seen. He's out on the grass to the left out of the saddle with the bike bucking and weaving in his hands. He actually did a cross up as he monoed back into the road, one hand in the air giving the peace sign. Man way to go....you could hear the Gino car horns sounding in the far off distance.
We stayed with the pack until the tower were Dom again blew them into the weeds with a display of single speed cadence that had me dizzy just watching. By thei time we got to brighton I was still feeling o.k. Due to the fact that I owned Doms rear axle so we turned at St Kilda and hitched a ride with a group heading south. It turned out that they were too slow so by Hampton we were alone again, that was until this beautiful damsel passes doing about 36. She had an arse you could eat your lunch off and a couple of blokes behind encouraged me to latch onto it. So being a conformist I did. At one stages reached outta tickle and I think that she wasn't impressed and upped the speed. You need to do more than that little lady! Then she sorted me out, she put in a last effort then pulls left and jumped on the brakes, I went shooting past. I offered my arse up fora tickle but she wouldn't be in it. I wonder why?
The Dom train took over tfrom there and it was head down and arse up all the way home. We had a cursory sprint along Parkdale but I was pretty pathetic and couldn't get over the top.
All in all it was a good hit out with an average of 33.5
Have alook at the stats at www.wherewaswisey.com.au or another link www.hehadtoomuchturkeyyesterday.com.au
By the way it would have been a dry race...don't trout the bloody radar.....I would have won today....easy.

The Cafe is open!!!

2011-12-17T12:02:00.002+11:00

Oh Brothers what a surprise I had this morning with not one but two brothers GFC out the front of my place bright and early. Dom with his flashy new 404's and the GFC jersey, showing off the fact that he can actually wear one without popping out at all the wrong places. And then there was Wisey, looking well, like Wisey but only a little more seedy and slightly larger....
The ride to Franga was nice, Nugget passed us heading North....legs spinning like mad. Good I didn't want him to come anyway.
The first test was Kar Street...Oh yes Andrew, vindication..smashed him. well maybe not smashed but I was all over second spot. The next hill again the tables of old have turned. Then he starts playing his little mind games with me about how I've beaten him easily but it's obvious I've plateaued. No Andrew I won't fall for you funny tricks. I will be even better by Buller so my friend you have alot of work to do.
The cuppa at The Owl Cafe was great. Especially the sight of Gabby running away in her Jimmy Jams.
All is good with the world when the boys are back together and the shit is being hung.
Farticus.

Look who's come to race with my Big Brother

2011-12-12T07:55:00.004+11:00

Brothers. As I'm sitting at the work desk still catching my breath after a trip to work with Dom and Nugget I opened my email from Brother Mike in Sydney and he sends me this. Mark RENSHAW came out to race on Sunday....or RENNERS as he's now known.Don't know the wash up of the race but who really cares....RENNERS came out to play with MY BIG BROTHER!!! How cool is that???

By the way I'm really glad today was a recovery ride...cause I had to hold myself back especially up through Middle Park when the head/cross wind got up. Nugget thought he was on the Red Ride all over again.

Forbiiden fruit is the tastiest

2011-12-11T21:48:00.003+11:00

Yes boys I'm not proud of it but part of the healing process is owning up to ones unfaithfulness. I tell you I was in it up to my balls when it came to my adultery. I'm sorry to say it but she was sexier, curvier, prettier and made me feel more manly all at the same time. Her name you ask? Well I don't usually kiss and tell but this one I have to share with you: Special SLut 3 Ruby something like that. As soon as I straddled her I could feel her move under my weight, she may have even groaned. Within a few seconds I knew that I was going to have an experience that I had never had before. They way she moved her head so quickly and directly had me thinking that I was really going to have to watch her closely. This was going to be good. I could feel it from the first few moves we danced. As I got into the rhythm of my moves I knew that each effort on my behalf was producing a response like I hadn't experienced before. fast was the word, hard and fast just like I the the moves we watch In the GFC garage late at night. As our union continued I didn't wish to disappoint her as it got more difficult, you know the feeling when One is making love and you have to put I the hard yards to get your cherry popped at the end. Well that's what it felt like when I stood up and pushed her hard almost like I had her between my thighs and instead of daggers it was like the hand of a Godess caressing my thighs and buttocks, not a ounce of pain. That's when I saw The Owl, was he out spying on me? I had to ring him to check but I was almost ready to pop so it may have been a bit difficult for him to decipher what I was saying. It was something like "Fuck off and get yourself your own Stray root"
At this point I thought I better get home and say good bye to this beautiful thing that had captivated me. For my old Faithful would be wondering where I was and after all she was the one that had stood by me for all those years.
I got back to Establishment from where she had come and I spoke to the Man named Damo about her. He could see that I was transfixed, we spoke of her many talents and the difference between my Old Girl and herself. The one thing I lamented, I don't have the $8000 it takes to experience that day after day.
I'm saving my Dollars for that day is nearly upon me....
Oh how I loved it.
Carbon is the way
Fozzy

Nothing to fear Wisey...not a darn thing.

2011-12-08T22:34:00.002+11:00

Sandown December 8. Not the best day of my racing career. Geeze it was hot with a strong northerly blowing down the back straight, so uphill headwind and you all know how much I LOVE hills. There was abit of pressure to perform tonight because I had the protege with me. Yes young Ben had come along, not to watch me I might add but to watch Mr MIYAGI race Uncle Michael (I've got to come up with something for him) in A grade. Nugget was there to and Gab in B grade. I saw a few other faces and I was amazed
With the amount of riders. I reckon d grade had at least 50 in the pack and all the other grades were really well represented.
As you know Sandown hasnt been a happy hunting ground and again tonight it wasn't. There were stronger riders in D grade and I was struggling to maintain a top ten possie within a few laps. My bidon was filled with hot water curtesy of the wind and all of a sudden I was falling back . It was their kick that had Puffin Philly going. About 52 down the front straight lap after lap was enought for the red zone. With bout 20 mins to go I actually slowed and started to pullout. I was right over the other Side of the track. I thought about pulling a Mal/@
Le Butch but thought in more depth and then realised that I would get heaps of shit hung for that. Anyway by the time I had worked that out the pack was climbing up the hill and I had to put in to catch. Into the red again! From that time I just concentrated on holding on....the water was making me want to spew so on the bell I had resigned myself to rolling over with the pack. A few tried to push up the hill but couldn't shake the pack so it was on for a sprin finish. I found myself in about 15th as we hit he little straight before the main. That was my day over, I didn't even kick, as Mark ZERVAAS sped past. I fleetingly thought to have a go and beat him but I wondered what was the point.
As I was about 50-80 meters from the line there was a touch of wheels which bought down 2 riders with one broken collarbone..this had the flow on effect and the rest of he meeting was cancelled.
So that was my race....Sandown is bloody hard I've come to the conclusion.
Average of 36

You the question remains. MIKE, MIYAGI or NUGGET? You know when they passed me Mike was about 8 bac with Nugget holding his wheel. MIYAGI another few back. All looked strong to me but they all complained about the heat. May we find out the fastest in the near future

The new route to work

2011-12-06T20:41:00.001+11:00

Greeting Brothers of the GFC

Today the birds of prey were reunited at the newly formed Caulfield DRU.

So to celebrate I persuaded Andrew to ride to work with me. He tied on the elastic band and off we went.

I was on Black Betty single and he was on Mary. A perfect morning with a slight tail and lots of riders out along beach road. It was most enjoyable, so much in fact I am looking forward to the daily commute.

I mapped it on the Garmin to check it out.

During our busy schedual enq's were made into the Vic Pol ski lodge for Buller. $22 per head per night, it looks great. check out their web site vpski.

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

DOM

Ground Hog Day

2011-12-04T13:21:00.003+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC

It's all becoming a bit repetitive. Me not closing a race out that is.

Today was a perfect opportunity for a win, but due to a forced tactical error I ended up missing out again. The usual break went early and was away until the collective group decided it was time to close it.

I was marking Ronnie and Tony Sullivan was marking me. We shared the load for half of the race waxing off each other while the other half hid from the strong wind. I was doing my best to avoid the wind and trying to save as much as possible. As the race progressed a skinny guy in Giant kit that wears glasses took off with another bloke. He is a regular but usually goes for last lap flyers not breakaways. We gave him some space and he was away and riding really strong in the conditions. I thought fatigue would bring him back but he didn't give up and seemed to be on an EPO bender. In the end it was Ronnie that went to the front to start the chase so I worked with him and Dale until it was all back together. Then Tony Sullivan counter attacked and pulled a gap, Ron and the other Super Store boys were prepared to let him go, so I thought if I bridged to him I might get lucky. All I did was drag them along.

I'll cut it short and the scenario is the same. 52 minute mark Ronnie counters a break catch and nobody chased, miserable pricks sat and watched my wheel, F#@k them I though so I sat up. I did not want to drag them with me so I let Ronnie go and I slowed right down to make them come around. (tactical error) I should have waited and hit it through a windy section and bridged but!!!!! I didn't. He gets the bell at the 55 minute mark (FARK) they pulled a swifty there. Again every body waits and watches, I plan to come off Tony's wheel, he's watching me, Dale's next to me - little did I know Dale had planned to lead out Macca for a result. We are in the back straight cruising when this older bloke decides to find the wind for the first time and comes flying past from the back. We all thought he would fade and our complacency saw us get swamped by other parasites following him up the hill - it then became a sprint through traffic.

Ronnie home first, the old bloke just made it for second, Dale led Macca to his first ever place and I came in behind them. Closing speed to the line was 62. The words of Nugget are still ringing in my ear "make them chase YOU!.

Got to get my ears cleaned out - or take that "brain" shock off the Specialized and use it on myself.

Sorry boys I let the team down today. Got to start riding selfishly.

DOM.

Not Again by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

That's just Epic

2011-12-03T17:46:00.005+11:00

Greetings brothers of the GFC,

I had to drop in on my friends at Parkdale CC the other day for a training exercise to teach one of the plebs how to do some work (maybe even thinks for themselves) when I spied a sad looking
Specialized Epic MTB in the rear storage area.

Just the day before I had been in Hampton Cycles and mentioned to the Owl that I must get myself another MTB. We looked at the good ones ($3000 to $4000).

I have a good look at the bike XT running gear, good Mavic rims, but in need of some of Dom's love. It needed tires, tubes, pads, cables, grips, seat and a good clean and lube. The frame was checked and it looked OK. A little bit of Google confirmed it was a 2003 Epic RRP then $2500

I ask the Manager what's the go with it, and he tells me that it came in with 30 others from other CC stores as most are not holding bikes due to lack of storage. He was going to scrap it as it was in no condition to sell. I tell him that I am interested in it. He checks his cost and tells me because he knows of my passion for bikes I can have it for $40. I nearly fell over. SOLD.

Off to the GFC garage for a complete striping and rebuild with lots of new goodies. The result is a bike worthy of a run in the Police Games in 2012. It's even my size.Lysterfield here we come

DOM

Out foxed at Casey by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

2011-11-27T22:43:00.000+11:00

Another Sunday and another missed opportunity.
Should have listened to Nuggets advice and make them chase me from the bottom of the hill so I can wind right up.
But no I try and be smart and pick a wheel to come off. 1st to 4th decided by a bike length.

Tony Sullivan even told me who's wheel he was gonna sit on.

Those old foxes stuck it up me today.

But their time will come. I hope.

At least I think I'm getting better.

DOM.

Out foxed at Casey by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Superstar you say!!!

2011-11-27T21:09:00.003+11:00

As I rounded the bend thinking "Get low get low" I realized that the last 50 or so meters were all of a sudden looking very promising. The solo chick had towed me up the rise very nicely then peeled to the right to pass a couple of slower/fading riders and a gap on the inside presented itself. There were 2 more in front putting in the big ones and I thought maybe the 3-4 lengths they had on me was too much but I wasn't going to let the front bum beat me so I smashed the pedals etc etc. I can't recall what gear but I quickly saw the front 2 fading as the line drew closer. Maybe better than 3rd? It was like the hand of God pushing me...everything went in slow motion, almost out of body as the last few pedal strokes saw me gaining hand over fist. I lunged at the line as the guy on my right threw up his left hand in triumph. Fuckit I thought it must have been close and I really thought that the line was 50cm too close. I knew that I had heaps more closing speed but it looked like he held on. I congatulated him...BASTARD and I tried to recover from my puffing Philly and rolled into the finish only to be told the news. number 184, name, Phil FOSTER I say, FIRST HE'S SAYS WISEY, FIRST!
Well I get congrats from a few of the riders and I must say geeze it felt good. I had done a lap on the front and a few little turns so didnt feel too bad about winning. The bloke that came second never did a turn. I can hear Dom saying few words about that.
Talking of Dom he did better this week and I saw him cross the line in fourth in a breakaway. As an expert sprinter I can offer this advice. Get down low and Go go go!
So now I need to find $173 for my licence since its only cost me $10 to race 3 times!
I've also go Dom on the case looking to build up a single speed. I just got outbid for a candidate on eBay, $26 it sold for....another BASTARD.
I'm even getting up at 4.45 to ride to work. Shit Wisey are you that committed?

GFC FOZZY

Foster You F#CKEN SUPA Star

2011-11-27T12:53:00.001+11:00

Just saw the results... WELL DONE

Tuesday night B grade CCCC style

2011-11-22T21:49:00.004+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC,

I seem be be coping alot of arvos on Thursdays lately and missing out on Sandown racing so I thought I would have a crack at a Tuesday night with CCCC in the open category.

I got there early and even had to que to get through the gate. I fronted up to register and hand them my licence and they swipe it through the machine - my first time little virgin Dom. The lady behind the desk says where do you usually race. I say B grade Vets. She looks at me and says I'll pop you in B and see how you go. If you struggle come and see me afterwards.???

I see a couple of B grade vets blokes and they are in C grade, then I bump into a few more familiar races and the are in B grade. Very large bunch. Not as young as I thought they would be. The real young one stand out as they have to wear fluro head bands.

At the briefing 55 mins plus 2 laps. Pay the first 5 and lets keep it safe and give the ambo nothing to do.

The first attack started before we hit the horse crossing and they did not stop all race. The beauty of them was that there was plenty of willing chasers, although in an attempt to get a clean break they dart all over the track like a Chinese dragon at new year.

The speed was high but not as high as I expected and I sat comfortably in the bunch for the whole race making sure I stayed upright as the skills of some were questionable. The young blokes ride such a high cadence and bounce their bikes all over the place when they accelerate. Several near misses and a few tire touches during the race and of course that lead to a few sprays from the older folk.

I must says the Vets races are very timid compared to these. I was astonished to see so many suicide break attempts that eventually left the riders dropped and pulling out. I was riding in the front 20 with no real problem, at times felt guilty.

Darren Cathy was riding in B and we had a chat for a couple of laps. The race went really quickly and before I knew it the bell was ringing. A flurry of attacks into the back straight and heaps up guys then sat up and moved left. It did not take long for me to realise why. It got hectic in the dash to the bottom corner and I guess I erred on the side of caution and rolled through with the bunch opting out of trying to squeeze in and contest the sprint for my own safety.

I did no work at all during the race, as much as I was tempted to have a stroll off the front, maybe next time. I finished and felt really good with heaps in the tank. I wish I could feel that good at the end of a vets race.

The end of the race got quite hectic and there was plenty of bleating about how dangerous it was.
Next outing at CCCC I'll have to do a Vockler off the front for some TV time and test myself.

Just to let you know C grade was heaps slower, but A grade was strung out like ants marching, Faarrcck they are FAST.

Here is the Strava link.

http://app.strava.com/rides/2414884

DOM

Whingers aplently.

2011-11-21T22:08:00.002+11:00

I've had an official complaint made about the quality of the Post titled "The big blow". As Editor in Chief I would like to apologize to the many readers of this blog and convey to you that the Author has been counseled and chastised. The standard set by the usual Contributors is generally exceptionally high with witty and insightful commentary. We are occasionally graced with Cameo Posts from lumanaries such as Wisey and Miyagi. Nugget often chips in with a Post about how he rode in some race, usually how he won and what medal he can wear around his neck at the next viewing of the Tour in the garage. Branko's bits will invariably have a reference to daggers in the thighs and then there's the Doms Posts. Descriptive, insightful, knowledgeable, admirable and the recall of race events plainly staggering. His ability to remember who was riding what, doing what on what lap still has me shaking my head in bewilderment. This my friends is what we have come to expect when we read a Post and yesterday the Author of The Big Blow failed you. As a result of that he has given a undertaking to put more effort into maintaining the quality that is expected of such a high quality Blog.
In the Catholic tradition similar to saying 6 hail Mary's for forgiveness I propose something that I would find taxing, unpalatable and downright sickening. I will wash my bike AND I will wash it twice. OK let's not overdo it
So in finishing the next Post from that Author will once again reach for the dizzying heights that only a few can achieve, stay tuned.

Fozzy.

The big blow

2011-11-20T22:13:00.003+11:00

Well you see that title....that was me today. The wind was ripping through the pack and I was doing my usual Puffing Philly impression quite quickly. The was about 25 starters, rotten randall, the team from Special store and Gobbie....who you ask? I don't fucken know but at least this post is like Mikeys ... Anyway back to the race. Shit I was shit. The wind really put me into the red and I think we lost about half the pack by the bell. I was fourth wheel thinking this is nice aka Borat. I had just seen Doms tomato face after he gave up the chase and I thought I could ride to glory with Dom in a great position to give an eye witness account. Well I'm sorry to say that the old legs didn't have any zip when the kick came. As I turned to start the climb they had already jumped and a bloke n my rear hit the deck with his left pedal and I thought that was it he was off....I hesitated and that was enough to lose contact with the front. The old daggers etc etc... And I was history. I rolled over the line in about 7th. Dom told me that there were only 2 behind me which shows that the wind smashed the group so a little consolation in that I suppose.
Well as they say in the classics "there's always next week"
Check out the link to see my stats

Http/www.geeze.i'm.fucked.com.au

Chasing Rotton Ronnie

2011-11-20T17:10:00.003+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC

Another Sunday and another Casey Fields wind farm.

Usual crowd of starters in B grade and as a result of the team meeting being discussed at the Super Store van I rallied Gabriel, Macca and Dale and we pledged a possie to try and negate and be involved in the breakaways.

We get on the start line Foxy and Bill come over and tell us that due to recent poor number in A grade at Casey Fields they are proposing to have 6 or so riders that they deem capable of riding in A to don the white head band and ride in A at Casey Fields only. Ronnie, Dale, Gabriel, Dana, Liam and me got nominated and they asked for any others who wanted to have a go. That was met with more bleating than an Australia sheep in NZ from the majority of the bunch. We got sent on our way. Little did I realise that Danna and Liam stayed back and slipped into A for today.

Lap one Ronnie goes to the front but only to test the waters then there was a move by another SS rider that I chased down with no real effort, mostly just to let them know that they were being marked. We all then followed a new bloke around until he fried him self into the wind. Then Dale scooting past and I jumped across as we go through the S bend and around to the back straight. WE only lasted until the finishing straight before we got caught. Neutral again for a little while with a couple of surges as we head towards the back straight. I rolled onto the front just keeping a steady pace with no intention of a breakaway when a SS rider taps me and says we've got a gap, I look back and fu@k me we had 50 mtrs so the foot went down and they let us get away for a lap and a half before they brought us back.

As soon as the catch was made Rotten Ronnie countered and left everybody in his wake. A young bloke in a Saxo kit took off after him and I reluctantly jump on his wheel to scab a lift, I thought if he can drag me to Ronnie then we would be as good as gold to stay away. He got within 50 mtrs and was stuck so I drifted back into the pack to recover a little and the bunch soon swept him up and Ronnie was away. I really admire him.

Typically no body was chasing and the gap was blowing out towards half a lap. Bluey had a little dip so did Saxo, Gabriel but nobody wanted to put a real effort in so I thought I would try the same tactic as last week and start to close the gap to see if I could spark any interest.

It was like a Paula Abdul song. 3 steps forward 2 steps back. Every time I would narrow the gap then swing off the fuckers let it blow out again. I tried to get Dale on board but he was having an off day. I had nothing to loose and I needed to make up for not racing on Thursday so I decided to Kamikaze myself and do big solo efforts closing the gap each time until I could see that one last effort would bring on the catch. The parasites of the bunch would have been licking their lips but I truly am the one benefiting from it. So the throttle went down and I went into the red and the catch was made. I must shit Ronnie sometimes but he motivates me. Without him it would be like a training ride with a bunch sprint.

Anyway, as soon as the catch there was a splinter group how countered a little. I was knackered and puffing like a steam train. One lap on the back and I saw that it was D grades bell lap so I sat up and followed Fozzy around hoping to witness the glory. (I'm sure he will fill you all in.)

Back in B a short break started and lasted 3/4 of a lap and was brought back before the Bell. rolled off to watch the finish and Foxy decided to leave them out there until after the A grade finish. That extra lap saw Saxo, Tony Sullivan and Ronnie go clear, everybody else was stuffed, I don't know why they did fu%k all during 90% of the race. The break kicked it up the hill ronnie got spat on the hill, Sullivan was close into the home straight and went pop as soon as the sprint started and Saxo won by 30mtrs.

Interesting that none of the recognized sprinters showed their face toward the end......

Always a hard one to pick when its windy. But one thing is for certain if Ronnie goes I must go with him and push to stay with him until that gap is established.

PS Dana and Liam got spat very early on so I don't like their chances of getting a group of B graders to be the whipping boys of A.

If I have to work arvo on Thursday this week I'll have a crack at Tuesday night at CCCC.

DOM

check out the pain on the Garmin link

Chasing Ronnie by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Disgraceful

2011-11-19T17:23:00.004+11:00

These are the shoes your illustrious team leader has been wearing. Hang your head in shame Dom.

Oh how wrong Thee can be

2011-11-13T20:32:00.007+11:00

Andrew predicted that I would be topping up the coffers at the Southern Masters aka Vets today. I must confess that i thought he may have had a point.... But then I thought I havent ridden in a race for a year so what did I have to lose. Well apart from my $10 entrance fee. So i sign up for d grade...no reason to go backwards, and then the race starts off and I settle into a steady pace. We sit in the mid 30s for the first half and then the sole chick finds herself up the road and doing ok. I remember her from last year and she was fairly strong and no one was bringing her back. After a lap and a half I decided it was time and had a dip. I could hear Dom telling me off but I thought that i had to do a little something. Well that little something took a fair bit out of me cause I had to sit on the low forties for a lap. Maybe that was it for me but I tacked onto the group once she was caught and caught my breath. So that brings me to the bell lap and I was about 8th wheel and I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out. The first part of the lap was slow cause no one wanted to do the work then the train started up the back straight about 40-43. The the rise before the last bend found me about 4th traveling well. I got behind this bloke pushing a big gear and going well. This was nice(Borat). Up round the corner and I was flat out and coming up alongside but into the red.I just couldn't get over the top of him and he won by half a wheel. Farck it! Maxed out at 51. He hadn't done any work for the whole race and just the last run to win it. Oh well I was happy with the result especially after the long lay off.
I watched Dom come into 3rd and cheered him home. Grace who used to work at Le Butchers with Le butch won C grade after a massive solo effort. Le Butch was full of Mals after that race. I happened to ask him his average speed, 35.1, mine 36.5, maybe C grade beckons after a couple of mere podiums.
Now Andrew. When are you going to join us.Racing make the legs spin faster and you are going to need speed my friend speed to climb that hill with Puffing Philly breathing down your neck!

Getting closer

2011-11-13T15:42:00.002+11:00

Greetings Brothers

I got the SMS from Fozzy on Saturday afternoon, I'm thinking of racing tomorrow, need a lift.
I ring him to see if his bike is race ready and he tells me its miss shifting, so I say best you drop over early and I'll have a look at it.

He arrives with a grey/ white bicycle that used to resemble a Scott S30. Tutt Tutt Phillip.
The chain sounds like its full of grit so off it comes for a clean - reassemble lube and tune, then I detect a thrumming through the cranks when in the large chain ring. Closer examination reveals that the drive side bearing in the BB is RS with about 2 mm play.

No time to fix that today so its off to Casey.

Good conditions not too much wind and dry. Numbers down a little but as usual plenty in B grade. A few of the Super stores boys were missing but Ronie had his good bike and that usual means he is going for a win. We line up and there wasn't a ring in in sight.

It was off with a bang right from the drop of the flag with not a lap going by without an attack. Dana tried first and when he got brought back Ronnie attacked and Dale and Liam McSweeny bridged forming a strong group. I had to rally some alias to make sure the gap did not blow out and they were away for about 3 laps before my plan worked. Going on the front and upping the speed so the gap came down without doing myself too much harm and then calling someone through. It worked as once the bunch got a sniff that the break was going to be caught others helped. As soon as it came back someone else would go so we really had to be on our toes. With every break that came back it seemed either Ronnie or Liam countered it digging into everybody's reserves making it a good fast race.

A couple of others tried suicide breaks and I had worded up Gabriel to save him self for the bell lap as he owed me a lead out and he can't afford to place because he has been told he will "GO UP". With 2 laps to go Ronnie and Liam hit it really hard and I gambled on them not lasting due to their previous efforts and kept them closely in check only pulling short turns.

Bell lap came and a couple of unknowns had a crack way too early and again Liam joined them his form was red hot, I felt like a prick when I chased him down and latched on. They sat up and a rallied Gabriel to the front end and he slotted in about 5th wheel with me right behind him. JP wound up and moved forward with the pace high and nobody really wanting to be on the front as we were in the long back straight. As we turned up the hill the surge started, Jason KING got through on the inside followed by Dale MORRIS in the middle, both of them kicked in "Nuggets" recommended spot and I came around Gabriel and it was on. We were 1,2,3 through the corner and the drag race was on towards the line, it was like slow motion I was closing the gap Dale had but slowly. We crossed the line with KING first by half a wheel and I fell a tire width short for 3rd behind Dale.

I was happy with that but it has highlighted the fact that I must start practice sprints. I was absolutely in the red after the finish and it was a great days racing.

Nice to put some $ in the pocket for a change.

DOM

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Two tribes

2011-11-09T20:48:00.010+11:00

Wisey has made the statement that he's going to redeem himself and get up Buller before me. Well my friends I won't stand for that and I'm pulling out all stops and going to employ the most experienced and inspirational Coach that I can find....Then I found out Miyagi wasn't available so I settled for a bloke that keeps getting his his but kicked in B grade. Dom.

I've also ...found out that Wisey also has employed a Coach. Instills alot of confidence doesn't he?

So as we lead into the Xmas season the questions remain. Will the call of the Poofies get too much? The Roast Pork and Crackle or the second helping of Xmas Pudding? Oh Andrew you have such a long way to go with so little help....
Good luck....you're going to need it.

Fozzy (reigning 3rd place getter 2010)

His secret weapon????

One I'd rather forget

2011-11-06T19:38:00.002+11:00

Greetings Brothers,

I arrived at Casey this morning feeling a little sore in the hammys from 3 hours of working bee at the school on saturday morning. A quick stretch before the warm up and I left alright on the bike. Another good turnout except for A grade who only had 5.

Super store had 7 riders and again some new faces appeared. Super store had their team meeting so there was clearly a plan in progress.

First lap saw JP take off and we all sat and watch him and he was picked up later on the lap when he sat up. Lap 2 saw Rotten ronnie move forward and I was on him like flys on shit, 2 laps of that and he sat up. After a neutral lap Tony Sullivan gassed it out of the home straight, when he got a gap and nobody seemed interested I decided to bridge to him, I knew it was only early but it just might play into my hands if Super Store ride tempo and let us get away, The wind was building up making it a nasty day.

We were away for 2 laps and I could tell the Tony wasn't fully committed to it. The new faces in the bunch had chased us. Once back together again - Ronnie counter attacked and a couple went with him and the bunch hesitated for a short time, I was sitting back having a little breather then a cry from the back came "stop blocking up front" and then 3 riders flew down the outside and bridged to the break. That caught the front of the bunch by surprise and they were slow to react which left us with a gap to a break of 6. Things were not looking good and the break were in sync and we looked like a beach road training ride. The wind started to take its toll quickly and soon the bunch went crash boom bang and was splintered the break went from 6 to 4 leaving 3 unknows and Rotten Ronnie.

Ronnie got shelled and came back to the bunch as the 3 unknowns put on a powerful display out riding the A grade break. They rode that well you would have sworn they were all riding one long bike. As people dropped out it turned into a training ride and I tried to make the most of it rather than pull out. I had my own little lead out which was better than Thursday and had a practice sprint before pulling a short lap and watch the 3 unknows battle it out.

On checking the results it became obvious why we got our pants pulled down. The winner Paul Radford Podium ed his age category in the Amy Gillet Gran Fondo, 2nd was Shane BARR a strong B grader who has been knocking on the A grade door for a while now and 3rd was Brenton Dukes a CCCC MAS1 riders who raced the Masters A/B evnt in the Suntour support race.

I'm no handicapper but I reckon these blokes should have had the white head band on. But still that's no excuse for the mediocre performance of today. Back to the drawing board.

DOM

failed windy breakaway by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

A test of the RED legs

2011-11-04T09:01:00.002+11:00

Greetings brothers

After conflicting shifts and cancellations due to bad weather I finally got to race last night at Casey Fields.

Massive turnout for a 6.30 start twilight event, the car park and connecting streets full and overflowing, by far the largest crowd at Casey. Very good numbers in all grades 40 + riders in each with the exception of A grade that had about 20.

Mario the sit in master had been sent up to A grade for netting a succession of place gettings. I think the handicapper was sit of him sitting in for 58 mins and racing for 2.

Quite a few new faces. We started off with a comfortable first lap before the pace lifted and futile attacks started to come and go. With such a big field and plenty of new faces the attacks got shut down quite quickly. I felt good and positioned myself in the front 10 just in case there was an opportunity to make or go with a move. It was windy but not out of control like it can get there.

About mid race I decided to give the legs a test out to see how they would respond and upped the pace causing a mild panic and the legs felt good. That then caused a few a Kamakazi breakaway attempts that came back just as quickly as they went away. 3/4 of the way through Dale and I started rolling turns on the front making it as hard as possible in the conditions and after a lap of that I started to feel slight cramping in the calves. I had a few frosties on cup day and spent all of Thursday in Court and drank too much coffee so I may have been a little dehydrated. I back off a little and did some stretching and the cramps went away.

The sun was going down and it was a mystery when we would get the bell, but we had just about got the hour in when the bell came, I had been undecided about what option or tactic I use and when a rider took off and the end of the finishing straight, he got a gap but I doubted that he would hold off the peleton but I decided to chase. I reeled him in before the pond and kept going through the "S" bends keeping the speed reasonably high, when I hit the back straight I dropped it into 11 when I should have used 13 and caused me to loose a little momentum before I shifted up and started to accelerate - I stuffed that up as I should have been able to wind it right out there into the high 50's - but still the peleton was strung out and I kept going into the hill rise before I started to slow and a group of 4 that included Gabriel came off my wheel and contested the sprint. 1st and 2nd (new faces) and Gabriel got third.

I was happy with most of the race but disappointed that I stuffed the last bit up. A couple of regulars spoke to me afterwards and said it was much better and safer having a fast last lap as it was strung right and there was no argy bargy chop offs etc.

Need to work on that end of race acceleration and some sprint training.

On another note here is the latest production from the GFC garage.
Apollo 80's road bike
Frame & fork TANGE Champion #1 butted tubes
Dia compe levers, dura ace 7400 calipers
shimano cranks (44 x 16)
Fulcrum 5's soon to be replaced by Velocity deep V wheels.
I was really surprised at how well this bike rides.
Paint is original but I can feel an upgradius powder coating coming on in 2012.

The link to the race ride is below :-)

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Splits

DOM

Melbourne To Warnambool 2011

2011-10-30T18:33:00.000+11:00

As I sit and write this with the daggers still firmly imbedded in the thighs, I still have a contented smile on my face.I was in the main bunch for 5 hours, stopping for "natural breaks" with the pros ..... Lloydies schlong is proportionate to his stature LOL. Chasing through the convoy to get back on, taking feed at the feed stations.The day started when the alarm went off at 4 am, I grovelled out of bed after having a shithouse sleep, due to Her Majesty coughing all night and the dogs barking at whatever moved. Had breakfast of 3 pieces of toast and raspberry jam, was gunna have and omelet, but no eggs.......even after telling everyone that was my plan..... so the preparation was far from ideal.On the way there it started pissing down shit, that's not a good omen.Get to Werribee and start getting ready, grab an egg and bacon roll and jump on the rollers for 10 -15 mins.Roll out to the start line and there are 200 odd riders not saying much at all. The race starts and its f#cking frightening, the smell of cork brake pads on b=carbon only just overpowered the smell of shit in chamois.So we are racing along and every turn into a cross wind the hammer drops and its a shuffle to get a good position, I handled this well only problem after a while many in front didnt and soon the gaps started to open............ at one stage I found myself riding Lloydie back onto the bunch and you know what the midget c#nt wouldnt hep one bit, so I actually gave him a spray.... So to pay him back I backed him off about 20 mins later laughed when I sat on him and his team mate as they dragged me back to the group.I got dropped from the main bunch 7 times not including p1ss stops but I was able to get back on 6 times..... That last time was after a feed station and a smash fest downhill into a cross wind. I got baulked big time when some poor bloke crashed and 6 or 7 belted into him at 45 odd kph and threw bodies and bikes everywhere and here's me with my feed bag firmly clenched between my teeth and trying to breath whilst dodging bikes and bodies, by the tiome I sorted myself out the bunch was down the road and I was chasing like Fozzy chasing a Mars bar, still with the feed bag between my teeth. Was so close to getting back on it wasnt funny and then a Genesis rider is rolling back towards me and goes to the side of the road with a broken chain. No hope now, so I ease up and empty my feed bag and wait for the convoy and try to get a draught with the but the gap to to the bunch now was massive and the were flying past... No Hope.So I start the ride solo, thinking I would get caught from behind soon.................That soon was going to be 1 1/2 hours later after battling huge head a head cross winds at the sometimes massive speeds of 14 kph, I get to Camperdown and think I am gunna pull the pin cos this is bullshit but between the locals cheering me on and seeing a couple of the 6amers pulling the pins I think GFC I am going on AND THEN I turn a corner and look at this massive climb ah fuck sprout out of my mouth but settled in for a tempo grind to the top, 3/4 of the way up I look behind and see a biggish bunch behind and I am rapt so I keep climbing scared that they will blast past me and I wont be able to get on. I get to the top and roll/pedal down looking behind all the time still no bunch in sight so I keep riding, now on the Princes Hwy and a full block head wind, I stop for a piss and the bunch is finally gaining on me and I am not pissing fast enough and the ride straight past, so I jump on the bike and set off after them, catch them and start working with them, well 3 of the 9 anyway.Stop for another piss after the 3rd feed stop and tell the feeders that will be alright til the finish and to go on, I know that barring serious incident I will finish well inside the cut off, but still wary of what could happen, after another piss stop we get caught by a bunch going so fast that you would think they were riding for the win so I just sit on them and lead out the sprint to the finish, turns out they were racing for 100th spot............. I didn't think they were paying that far down and it turned out to be right what a bunch of flogs LOLSo I am 2 from 2 in the #M2W

Miyagi race report Sandown

2011-10-28T10:09:00.000+11:00

Sandown, land of many a battle. Home of the Sandown 500. A mecca to the racing bogan around Australia. Names such as Brock, Moffat, Lowndes come to mind..but the mane of Foster to be put up amongst them is a long bow..

Last night I arrive just after 5.15pm and enter off Dandenong Road adjacent to the back straight and the old Dunlop tyre over the race track. I drive over the bridge to see 50 - 60 cars lined up with bikes on the roof as though we are waiting for the flag to drop... The gates open a short time later & we jump back in our cars like the start of a Le Mans race and some blokes speed to the front in their cars to get in first to park in the pits.

As we enter the carpark the security guard didn't have the boom gate high enough and bang....my bike which is on the roof catches the gate!!! F*&% ... I stop .. quick look & the bike is still on the roof....give him you F^&*#N stupid BA#$%RD stare & park...

Get the bike down and see where the gate 'kissed' the bike...on the top of the saddle is a small scrap mark...lucky had it been an inch lower it would have been off the roof and one broken bike. The SL3 is 'race' fitted with the 10 year old 32 spoke soldered DA LUCA built singles on..At least it looks the biz.

Get into the pits pay the $$...number 9 ... A grade no less.....I see Lloyd for BECOZ with a B grade no. on his back with about 4 of his cronies... Leigh from Charter Mason was there on his new stealth VENGE fitted with new 404's... A big turn out... Waiting I see the O'MARA lads, Wokka, Justin DAVIS , Mig and DA LUCA looking pro on his BMC with those zipps.. Hoping there might be another show of the Hampton lads to assist me.. No avail.. BURKEY senior was in B grade with his new project Black SL3... Brian MAC came out to watch & rode around with Gav & me on the warm up. A head wind up the back straight.

I look around at the start and see the number 38 on the back of a rider so a large bunch for A grade.. 60 plus in B grade.. As we roll off Rob CROW rolls up alongside & says g'day.. great this is going to kill the lungs & legs.... First lap had us doing 60 k's p/hr down the front straight with attacks & im thinking "Im not going to make another lap let alone the hour". Mig kept the pace high for the O'MARA lads with WOKKA having a few goes up the side in different parts of the circuit.. I was just trying to hide and not get to close to the front but on the 4th lap or 5th just after I had done a small turn up the back straight a big attack up the rightside... I look across & see 10 riders going up the road including WOKKA, DAVIS, CROWIE with DA LUCA hot in heels & Leigh from Charter Mason.... They attack with such speed they put 50 metres on the bunch within half a lap before we attempted to chase but the split were working hard & we never saw them again... By this time my legs were cooked & I asked Mig if he had my other lung.

The bunch rolled around with attacks to try & chase the split but they never looked threatened. I did a few turns but mostly sat around Mig just trying to get my legs back. Come the last few laps we could see the break a few hundred metres ahead... Bit late now boys to try and get across but we definitely upped the pace. Last lap & as we crested the top of the back straight the break was turning onto the main straight. For the record CROWIE got 1st ... DA LUCA 2nd closely followed by LEIGH on the new VENGE... who loves the new bike and swears the VENGE is the fastest bike he has ever ridden.

Ave speed 42.2 kmph.. and one shagged old KOLOA....but loved it...reckon it going to take awhile till I learn how to keep up with those breaks... Just glad to get around...

FOZWAR

Paint the fence Daniel San

2011-10-20T11:11:00.004+11:00

I want to be like Uncle David and Uncle Micheal says Ben last night on the way home from Cycle training. Well keep waxing on and off like you have old son and you just may. Yes boys Ben seems to have a fair kick in his legs. After his wins last week at the first training/ride on a track bike he's come out last night and blasted the opposition off the track. In the first under 11 race of 15 competitors he lead the 5 laps from start to finish winning by about 7 lengths. The Coach has then put him up into the higher grade of under 13 and he had to back straight up into a 10 lapper. He was racing against Damien Jones's son Tom. Damo owns Hampton Cycles who Myagi rides for. His second son had just had his wheels blown off by Ben in the lower age group. So I tell Ben to try and sit on Tom's wheel as he's in his 3rd year of racing.
Well the race starts and Tom's a bit smarter than Ben and Ben goes round him...I can hear Nugget in my mind shouting "get off the front Fozzy". Well he aquits himself really well and when the bell rings for the last lap he's in the top 5 and again fails to draft anyone and just gets pipped for 3rd by Tom with the 1st place a bike length in front. Well it almost bought a tear to the eye, he's got some go there by the look of it and the best thing is that he seems to enjoy it. He wants to ring the Uncles on the way home but then says he wants me to tell them cause he's embarrassed.
The Coach appalaudes his efforts at the end of the night and Damo offers him a Hampton Kit for a "Special Price???" Whats this we're already entering negotiations for sponsorship? maybe I'll hold off to I get other offers. Will I have to get a Manager? All these questions?
I told him maybe Santa can buy him the Hampton Kit. How cool would that be because there are 3 kids riding there in Hampton Kit already and the 4 of them could become a team....Green edge in 15 years time???? My mind is racing, the success palatable...TDF????............or will it be GFC??? probably especially when his balls drop and he discovers girls and his old mans porn collection.
Now Nugget do you know who and how I need to contact at the Scott Peebles Foundation...I'm feeling a letter coming on.

Fozzy

MS Red Ride with the Jayco Herald Sun Tour

2011-10-19T19:30:00.059+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC

5 Days in cycling heaven is the only way to describe last week.

It all started last Tuesday when Nugget picked me up at home with 2 bikes and our kit loaded we were off into the Melbourne CBD to our designated Hotel "Mercure on Swanston"

On arrival Nugget drops me off and I swan into the foyer with my bike and the bags while he parked the car in Richmond and rode back. The foyer was full of bikes bags etc. Almost all of the teams were staying there and it was a procession of bikes, bags, wheels and of course "Pro" riders. Other MS riders started to arrive, a mixed group covering all States except NT and TAS.

Our lead car driver and navigator were no other than John PRITCHARD (JP) and Wayne WATTKINS from SVCC. John seems to knows everybody in the cycling world. Mark GARDINER SVCC captain was also riding in the event with us.

On Nuggets return we meet up with Mark, John and Wayne and find a cafe nearby on placing our orders we get the g'day nods from no other than Heinrik HAUSLER and Jack BOBRIDGE. Whilst enjoying our latte (JP) calls out to a familiar face know other than Fozzys mate Dave McKenzie, he comes over for a chat about the week ahead.

All the MS riders arrive and we are paired up with a room mate. Mine was a 62 year old ex postie from Werribee who was a Wilko clone called Bernie. 35 years on the postmans bike.

We all meet for the first time at Dinner then the riders briefing;
A real mixed bag of riders, A group of local stock brokers who ride beach road (eight legs), a lawyer from Melbourne, a corporate cat who owns a penthouse in Sorento, a 2IC from Hertz group, nurse from Cairns Royal Flying doctor, plumber from Sydney, sign writer from Sheparton, Adam Furphy from the Scott Peoples foundation, Web designer from Eltham, Electrician from Adelaide, a bloke from Perth and Nuggets anchor Sam.

We get the news that we have a 4 am start for the bus to Whittlesea. So it was early to bed for night number one.

Stage 1

Very early start the bags and bikes get loaded and we cram into mini buses and head off towards Whittlesea. A stop at McDonalds for coffee and a show bag with a muffin and fruit for breakfast. Hardly a meal for a 180K ride. We arrive in Whittlesea and have our briefing and get a chance to check out some of the bikes. 3 x Colnago's, 1 x Dogma, 1 x Storckk, 1 x Independant Fabrications (ENVE), 2 x Bianchi were the big $ bikes followed by a mix of Giants, Izzuri, Lynskey, Cannondale, Scott, Merida with Di2 and of course the custom Kennedy of Nugget and my F1 Sprint.

The support van was loaded with tubs of Endura, energy bars and gels, muffins and bananas.
WE start out at 6.30 am just as the road crews commence putting up the start line. Peleton rules 2 a breast with the first 6 rotating changing at each rest stop.

Within the first 4 K's we had been led astray but the navigator and saw us making a U turn the a left turn and straight up a climb. The first climb took to Bernie and the young lady of the group Sam into the red and they required assistance of the newly crowned "super domestique" of the group "NUGGET" to get them over the climb by physically forcing them up and over. We weave our way through some beautiful Victoria countryside and over a cat 4 climb in the Macedon Ranges and enter Trentham for our lunch break.

Home made pies and sausage rolls were the order of the day. (Real meat) amazing.
We set off again towards Daylesford and the KOM climb. The bunch was rotating around and getting to know each other - except Nugget. He was on the back pushing the weak and tired up the hills. The KOM was a long drag but not difficult and the best part about going up is the coming down the other side, although a little slower than expected and the smell of brake pads wafting in the air we made it safely towards Ballarat. As we entered the city we got held up due to the final lap of the women's race around Lake Wendouree. But once clear we rolled in through the barriers like the autobus of a pro tour to the commentary of Matt Keenan and the roar of the Ballarat primary school kids. Within the hour the pro's came through with Branko's Supers mate Rhys POLLOCK taking stage honours from a great solo breakaway followed closely by Nathan HASS who looked completely spent. But not as spent as Captain NUGGET.

After some formalities it was off the to Hotel for a well earned rest a meal with the Pro Teams a bit of spying on the mechanics washing the bikes then off to bed for a good nights sleep for in the morning Mt Buninyong awaits.

Stage 2

Another early start with everybody rugged up to tackle the cold Ballarat morning. Not only is Ballarat cold it's got hills a plenty. We roll out in the fresh morning air and straight into the cat 4 climb of Golden point, then Mt clear and Mt Helen before we turn left and started the ascent of Mt Buninyong. The body was still at idle and did not respond well to the climb so early in the morning. Good thing was it wasn't a race up it. After grinding up the climb we were treated to a magnificent sunrise as we waited for the bunch to regroup. We set off again with a long trek ahead along some very dead course country road through Fiskville (CFA bomb training ground)
Then some Rollin hills brought us into Meredith.

A refuel with bars water and gels and we were off. 20 Ks later we get told that the navigator is lost and he sent us he wrong way. Jan was not happy. So we trek back another 20 Ks and start heading in the right direction and onto a horror of a place known as Maude. The sign stated dangerous decent 17% as we entered Perdisat Road and we let fly on the decent only to reveal a black wall on the other side with 17 % average up the other side KOM cat 2 climb "GFC". The wall of pain began an about half way up the hill kicked upwards and I was trying to grind it out seated an started to pop monos. Th e Garmin had that kick at 30 % another blokes Garmin 500 had 28%. I stalled and had to wait for he car to come next to me so I could hold onto the mirror to take off again standing. Hardest hill I have ever ridden. GFC !!!!!! So tough in fact that a rider from the Japanese team cracked and had to walk up it.

Rolling county hills all the way into Geelong and to top things off a nasty hill to finish saw us regroup under orders and roll across the line together to the tune of SBS commentary. Nugget worked his arm off pushing young Sam up the h ills and a cold can of coke didn't touch the sides. A couple of ladies strolled over and asked for an opportunity to be in the GFC blog. So I obliged.

Another marquee on the finish line to watch the pros gun it up the hill. After pigging out Nugget and I rode down to the Geelong foreshore to see some of the pros on the balcony overlooking eastern beach downing corona's. Seemed like a g ood id

ea so it was off to the Hotel Chiefley. The legs were good after day 1 but soreness was setting in on d ay 2 so I booked a massage.
The masseur was an old guy who had been a gun rider in his day. He must have been having a chuckle rubbing down my chicken legs, even tho ugh I might add, he commented on what good condition my muscles were in. Did I say he was old.

Dinner was at the Sheraton with the pro's. I must say the magazines put size and height on these blokes. Matthew LLOYD is about the size of Pinocchio. The only riders with any size seem to be the domestiques and sprinters.

Stage 3

Scheduled as an epic day with a ride from Geelong o ut through the hills Barrabool to Moriac, Cape Otway to Deans Marsh a nd the climb through the

Otways to Benwerrin KOM cat 3 and a long winding decent into Lorne. Then back to Geelong via the Great Ocean Road (TGOR) and onto the finish at Drysdale.

The start of the day saw us rolling out in pea soup fog, it was m y turn to have a roll on the front and the road out of Geelong was a long steady climb, while I tapped out a steady tempo at the front poor Nugget was pushing them up the hills

at the back. Once on the open road the fog was starting to lift and we got rolling at a nice speed through the farm lands of Moriac before we took a feed stop prior to the climb of Benwerrin a cat 3 - 12 K long steady climb. The plan was everybody rides at their own pace and the group was soon strung out along the climb. Scenic pain and very pleasurable. By being able to go as fast or as slow as you like made it a very enjoyable climb with time to sight see along the way. About 3/4 of the way up I spied a dead roo on the side of the

road must have bee 7 foot tall an absolute monster. Not long after that we stopped and regrouped before starting the long and spectacular decent into Lorne.

Allowing plenty of room between other riders allowed an almost brake free decent S bend after S bend snaking our way through the wooded forest e

ventually popping out at the bottom on TGOR in Lorne.

We split the group into 2 and road single file along TGOR towards Faithaven for a lunch stop. Nugget was captain of group 2 and lead the bunch through the punchy head wind like he was chasing a breakaway. I sat on the back as deputy making sure nobody dropped off. Rice - curry and coffee for lunch at a nice little cafe. With our guts full we are back on the bike and battling head and cross winds and another KOM fortunately only a cat 4 just past Angelsea. The route to Torquay to Barwon Heads was the reverse of the Amy Gillet 120K. The group was rolling really well by now with us bigger blokes sheltering the tired from the wind and Nugget performing a sterling as the Patron of the Peleton.

As we crossed over the Barwon Heads bridge the water was so blue and clean I could have easily ridden of edge into the water. Again follow the 120K route in reverse we wound our way through to the Geelong Portarlingt on Road and climbed through a residential area towards the finish at Drysdale. We see the 1 K to go sign as we crest a hill and then it's 500 mtrs straight down and then 500 mtrs straight up again. Nugget almost fainted with all the blood rushing from his head to his dick with the sight of the finishing run. Unfortunately the shackle s had been put on and we were told to ride in formation as a group to cross the line - but that didn't stop Nugget, Mark G and I dropping back and having a little run at the line and pulling up short so we all crossed together. We could not wait to watch the pros tackle that sprint.

As like all the other stages the MS marquee was positioned just after the finish line with plenty of refreshments on board. The pro's were spread right out across the road and it was the powerful German from the Skil Shimano team that stormed home. Most stages we would ride back to the Motel but on this occasion the bikes went back into the trailer. Our trailer was parked next to the doping control bus. So professional these UCI WADI boys.

Back to Geelong for the night before a short drive to Queenscliff in the morning to catch the ferry across. So a few frosites were had by the pool.

Stage 4 (The Queens stage)

Due to a logistical situation we did not get our sleep in as promised and found ourselves on the 6.00 am ferry at Quenscliff. The ferries have just been refurbished and look great. We all joined the que for coffee and lazed around while the inter-staters were taking photos of the sun rise. As the sun rose to create a glorious morning the wind also started. We were ushered into a little cafe at the end of the main strip in Sorrento called "the sisters" for breakfast. A hot breakfast and champagne was the go and a top spread it was.

With everybody gelling well we get the bikes ready for the 8.00 am roll out under starters orders. A nice tail wind pushed along Point Nepean Road to Rye before we headed inland to Browns Road and the rolling hills towards main ridge and red hill. The Tour organisers went out of there way to detour the riders up and over every possible in this shorter stage. My climbing had started to improve over the days and it was good to be on familiar territory. Nugget had Bernie and Sam to content with today and Bernie finally cracked and rested in the car saving himself for Arthurs seat. Lots of local riders / racers had come out and were riding the course that morning.

The roads around Merricks varied in quality with plenty of decents and turns. Fortunately the weather held for us as it would have been quite dangerous in the wet. Our brake pads had certainly had a workout this week and were again tested during this stage. It seemed like forever but we finally made it to Flinders for lunch. Toasted sandwiches, coffee and scones as we fueled up with nervous anticipation. Us locals knew what was in store, but with pink corner and all the hype the Cat 1 climb at Arthurs Seat was being built up like Mt Ventou.

The ride from Flinders to Dromana went so quickly and we soon found ourselves in Boundary Road with the signs directing us to the climb - you could feel the tension in the bunch as well rolled towards the gates "Arthurs Seat" KOM Cat 1. The roads were painted up, pedestrians walking up the sides, riders coming down and others going up. The call was at your own pace and regroup at SRAM corner so we call all cross together. I shifted up into 25 leaving one in reserve and began the tempo grind huffing and puffing like a steam engine using as much road as possible. I was surprised who the body becomes accustomed to climbing and I can see why the pro's go on pre season climbing camps. The higher we got the crowds grew and got more vocal. I reckon my face was probably the same colour as my jersey. When I saw that SRAM sign I still had plenty in the legs to make a sprint for it. Little bit of "Buller" training.

Once most of us had all made it to the meeting point we rallied to cheer on Sam on Bernie who struggled up the notorious climb. The crowds really got behind them. I was waiting for a hairy murken to jump the fence with a GFC jersey on and chase us up the hill. But as I found out later on Fozzy had settled for the use of a motorbike to get up there.

Regrouped and with the girls on the front we climbed the last 300 mtrs as Matt Keenan called us across the finishing line. I stopped the Garmin at 619 kilometres. Not a bad effort for 4 days.Then is was off to the Jayco VIP marquee on the finish line for some well earned alcohol. Special guest appearance from Fozzy and Ben at the marquee and I managed to slip them a softy

The choice of the day was Crown Lager and I knocked the gold tops off quite a few of them as we watched the pro's battle it out over the course on the big screen and past the KOM 2 more times. The sag wagon got some scalps and Rhys POLLOCK looked like he was melting he had pushed himself that hard to try and close the time gap after getting dropped the second time over. Before too long the buses were calling for us and we made the trek back to the city for our last night. WE all eventually got back to the Hotel and started hunting around for a place to go for a sip. After 2 night club knock backs we decided on the cafe / bar next to the Hotel. We were into our second bottle of red we Adam Furphy's phone rings. He stands up and say's who wants to go for a beer with Brett Lancaster of Garmin. I look at Nugget, he looks at me, go on dom he say's go blow your load with the pro's. My feet didn't even touch the ground it was like I dream of Jeanie had given us the nod. The next thing we are meeting Brett and his brother in the foyer, they have a slab of Pure Blond and off we go into the elevator and up to the 7th floor.

We were made very welcome by the present company of HAUSLER, BOBRIDGE, LANCASTER, JONGAWARD. The slab was ripped open and with a cheers all round we commenced consuming them all. I spoke with HAUSLER about his win in stage 2 in Beijing and Bobridge laughs "Don't know how he hung on to win that." He then relayed a story about how they got delayed at the airport the day before and HAUSLER, WILSON and BOBRIDGE got smashed and fell asleep in the airport lounge.

I could sense that this was the last race for a them before they switch over to Green Edge and they were already in party mode. Just as the last of the slab disappeared Bobridges phone rings. "Hey its Cookie, he at the CASS and there's heaps of chicks. Hausler chimes in - It's his town lets go. Before they leave I pull out a business card and write my number on the back and give it to Bobridge. If you get in the shit give me a call. Thanks he says and pockets the card. Who would think it's midnight your second on GC in the Suntour and you have a hard hotdog crit the next day. "lets go out on the piss."

Nugget told me the pro's were piss heads I now I believe him - well some of them anyway.

On the Sunday we had an MS luncheon booked at a restaurant in Lygon Street right near the finish line and Tour village. After lunch I was doing a tour of the village especially the BAUM display. If I win Tatts I know where I'll be spending $16K.

I dropped into the Garmin annex and exchanged G'Days with the boys when Bobridge rolls up to do some media (when you saw me TV Branko). When he finishes his interview, he comes over and says g'day Mick - almost needed your card last night, thanks again.

Then it was time for the pro's to smash them selves around a very technical double hotdog course.

Sadly the day came to a close and I was looking forward to getting home to the family. We load the bikes into Nuggets car and depart the great cycling city and head for home.
One mini grand tour down and hopefully back for the 2012 Jayco Herald Sun Tour with the MS Red Ride.

Check out the strava link I combined the whole ride into one file.

http://app.strava.com/rides/1991155

B1 BLITZ!!! Old Fox Triumphs Over Young Legs.

2011-10-12T15:30:00.002+11:00

Good turnout for the Tuesday Night World Cup, (re- named from the ‘Supers’ of previous years). I missed out last week with a bad bout of gastro so I was keen for a hit out this week. About 60 riders headed off to the outer markers just after 6 p.m.. As usual, there were a lot of new bikes this year and the B1 had company in the form of a white model complete with 6700 Ultegra running gear. Mark purchased it earlier this year but griped about how hard it is to keep a white bike clean (haven’t used this excuse yet Fozzy???). He saw mine and now thinks he should have purchased the black version. I get talking to a guy on a shiny new Specialized SC3? With 7900 Durace and make the mistake of asking how much. He got it for nix as he works for Specialized….bastard.

Darren and I chat on the way out. He’s just purchased the property next door so we’ll be spending a bit of time riding together this season (no Wisey, we’re not gay). Once he moves next door I’ll canvass the prospect of having him inducted as a Team GFC member.

He mentions the upcoming Audax in January and asks if I’m interested in having a crack. It’s something I’m keen to do so I think there will be some GFC representation in 2012 (in case any of you wish to join me?). There will have to be a lot of training and a weight drop of at least 10 kg’s on my behalf as us bigger blokes don’t go uphill as fast as skinny whippets.

We both decide to ride B Grade and see how the post winter legs feel. We slot in at the back of about 30 riders and it’s not long before were up to speed. It was a quick trip back and I was more than surprised to find that I had more in the legs than I thought I would. We were averaging above 40 km/h at the start and I felt good so I jumped into the rotation and did my share.

As usual, within 3 kms of the finish most in the rotation sat off for a while to rest. This left myself and two others pushing the pace up front. By the time we hit McKoy Street those that had rested came forward and I latched onto a group of about 8 riders making good speed for home. As we came over the rise I found myself at 2nd wheel before the young bloke in front peeled off leaving me on the front. I could see the shadows of around 6 riders lurking behind me but didn’t feel like being the bunny today. I feign tiredness, drop speed and start the head bobble and shoulder drop. Before long six younger blokes come past me with about 500 metres to go. I quickly latch onto the last wheel and hang on for the ride to the line.

At first I was thinking I’d just cruise in on the back of the six in front of me but as usual the competitive spirit had me watching the group eagerly. With 300 metres to go the trigger was pulled buy the bloke up front. He was out of the saddle and going for it and with that the others followed with me firmly attached (see ‘licking’ or ‘slurping’) to the last wheel in the vortex behind. One by one they faded until there was only one in front of me with 100 metres to go. I sat in his slip stream and watched as he began to fade. As his back wheel is about to kiss my front RS80 I pull out to his right and he sees me for the first time. He puts in another final effort. I hang on staying seated in the saddle and concentrating on form turning a big gear. As the line approached I was gaining ground until we were side by side elbow on elbow. We hit the line, both lunging forward and me letting out an exhausted gasp of desperation.

With that, my friends, the B1 took its first scalp in the form of a World Cup B Grade win.

Not a bad start to the season.

P.S. Will be watching the live coverage this weekend in the hope of spotting some of you cheering on the sidelines. Heard Arthurs Seat is the place to be. Green with envy boys, green with envy.

STRAVA Stats Below.

Australian Masters MA4 road race 2011

2011-10-09T20:43:00.006+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC.

Today Nugget and I traveled to the coldest windiest place in Victoria to make history (GFC history) A trip in Nuggets new Commodore with Eminem to set the mood.

Traveling there it pissed down most of the way, i'm thinking i've raced in the rain before, nuggets thinking, if this shit keeps up we'll be a no start. Fortunately when we arrived it had stopped racing and we got to see some of the other SVCC riders finish and medal in their age group.

We see Boyd FRILS from TFM looking very dejected - he had raced earlier in shocking conditions and was telling stories of riders getting dropped within the first couple of K's. The conditions had improved a little since then.
Down to registration to sign on obtain the number and transponder. Stephen FAIRLESS who had cleaned up the ITT and Crit and was favorite for the day parked next to us. Think of Greg BRADY at 49 years of age. Sets up his Merida with Dura Ace and Zipp 404s. Looks certainly are deceiving.

(The ghost of Beach road uncloaked)Nuggets is on the rollers so I do a reci of the course in reverse for a warm up. We are back at the starters flag at 11.55. I look around the bunch and there is all shapes and sizes. Fat - skinny - athletic - average Joes. Bikes were also in the same boat. I spied a pro looking chap in light blue Manly kit, I think that must be the bloke Fozzy said was coming downto inflict some daggers in the thighs. Roll call - last minute piss and the flag is dropped at 12.00.

The first stretch was a tail into a strong cross wind about 1 k long before we turned on the highway and into the cross wind - it was at the stage I realized that I had not hit the button on the Garmin properly and did so once I confirmed it was not on. We the turned off the highway for the first climb into a block head wind. The pace dropped dramatically with everybody watching and waiting. Up and over the first two climbs with the bunch hanging around Nugget like a bad smell, we turn into a cross wind and another climb and things start to heat up as a couple make a break for it and there is a bit of yo yo ing to see who is going to chase. The tempo picks up and it is a battle to grab a wheel and stay out of the cross wind. My nerves are staring to settle a little. We make the turn left with a tail / cross wind and the speed goes up immediately into the 50's. It still a scrapy affair with no organization. left turn towards home and again the pace was on with a tail wind driving the peleton along.

Through the start/finish line with four to go. I wasn't sure I would last that long so I was happy. Those hill came around again and with a couple up the road things were heating up and the surging and argy bargy caused by the cross wind was knocking the light weights around.

The Ripleys moment of the day came when a bloke my height and a sump close to Fozzy's riding 80mm rims attacks and makes the break. He must have weighed 125 kg. WTF

As we turned into the cross tail the chase was on and yes brothers at one stage I was on the front clocking 61 as the pace line rolled on in ernest. Little did I know that spell would cost me in te near future at the demise of the Ghost. With the gap reducing and the left turn toward home on lap 2 Nugget goes to the front and puts the hammer down and strings out the peleton causing a mad scramble for wheels. My inexpeirience had me sitting too far back in the bunch (which translates in one day races of this type as the weaker end) and as the elastic stated to snap I found myself following riders getting dropped and having to leapfrog to the next wheel, then there was mo more wheels just a gap. I could see to riders about 10 metres in front of me I am chewing my stem and sitting so far forward on the seat that the nose of it was almost up my arse. I make it onto the back of the two only to find that they are in the same boat as me with the bunch 30 metres up the road. One guy yells "ah fuck it" and sits up. I thought to myself GFC there's no way its over for me yet, so I battle on with one allies and watch the bunch slowly self destruct like pop corn in the microwave.

Through the finish line and onto lap 3 it then became a race for pride and preservation as I progressed further into the race it became obvious just how hard it is when you get spat out. Finding a manageable tempo became the key as I was able to catch riders ahead of me that had obviously blow up. I was able to join up with a group of 6 and we got going again at a reasonable pace rolling turns, it felt like we were back in the race even though we weren't. Through the finish line for lap 4 to the applause of the crowd and see riders who had pulled out getting their transponders cut off the fork.

I down a gel as we hit the shit side of the race and start the climbs - proforma tv commentary would have Phil & Paul discussing my body language and the rocking of the shoulders but we struggle on up and over and get going again then the most memorable part of the race for me was making that left turn and feeling the wind give you that boost I moved to the front of our little group and started a wind up dropping it down into 11 and with nothing but the long open road infront of me I was flying long with 5 in tow (hard to describe the feeling) probably use one of stupid words like sublime. Until someone took a hacksaw to my hammy and interrupted my fantasy of riding solo into the veledrome of Roubaix.

Our little group continued on and we turned left toward home on lap 4. 6 soon became 4 and the appearance of the commissars car gave us hope. You always see the car up and down the road in the pro races. Little did I know he was on a mission.

As we approached the bell lap a marshall stepped out with crossed red flags waving and they called us to stop sighting that the lead break had 12 minutes on us and the peleton was 5 behind them GFC. Nothing like having the rug pulled from under your feet.

Nuggets reasoning was that because it was the last event of the day - nobody wants to hang around and waiting for dropped riders to come in. Everbody wants to go home. So with a heavy heart I had to go over to the registration area and have the transponder removed and live with the stigma of a forced (I and I say this with disgust Forced DNF) GFC.

The only benefit of being pulled from the race was that I got to watch it come in.

I can honestly say that race has made me so hungry to get better and stronger as a rider so that dose not happen again.

http://app.strava.com/rides/1907982

Next week Nugget and I are off to the Sun Tour for 5 days stay tuned..........

DOM

ps DNF (cunts)

National Masters Road Race Championships MA4

2011-10-08T19:41:00.003+11:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC,

I type this with nervous anticipation for tomorrow I am throwing myself in the deep end and fronting up to the National Masters road race MA4 (45 - 49). 75 K's = 5 x 15 K laps around a lake on the outskirts of Ballarat.

My aim will to try and "finish" and if possible be in some part of the peleton and along the way provide some assistance to Nugget. Who will be crowned the MA4 road race champion of Australia. Stay tuned for tomorrow evenings post.

Lets hope the stars align and we see that ugly bald head on the podium.

'To Win or Lose, One Must First Compete...'

2011-10-02T22:08:00.002+11:00

Ahem....and I quote....

"The first placed competitor shall be acknowledged as the Champion for that event and will be presented with the Champions Trophy."

Cycling Australia Technical Regulations (Track and Road) 2011

Page 16, Regulation 3.20.03.

I go on....

"To win or lose, one must first compete."

The fact that you were 'sunning your arses in Melbourne' (Fozzy's words not mine) does not exclude the event from the GFC calendar nor does it make my effort in March this year any less significant. I turned up, represented Team GFC and was the first Team GFC member up Buller in 2011 (not 2010 Fozzy?). It's an annual GFC event and will remain so but to be recognised as Champion, you must first attend and then get the best time for that year. The fact that some would try and diminish my pain and suffering with the philosophy of 'I didn't go so it doesn't count' only strengthens my resolve and has me reciting the team mantra.......GFC!

I accept that DOM's time from 2010 is still fastest (for now...) but as for any inscriptions on the KOM trophy they should reflect the following:

2009 - 'Croatian Sensation' 1hr 9 min 22 sec

2010 - 'The Dom' 1 hr 6 min

2011 - 'Croatian Sensation' 1 hr 10 min 29 sec

Until the little 'Sensations' are in school and I get more time to train Dom's name may well be inscribed for 2012 to 2015.

But should the year come when Dom and I can't make it to Buller and Fozzy does, I think we can all agree that if he beats Wisey up that forsaken slope then his name will justifiably be inscribed as Champion for that year.

Wisey, on your bike mate. I'm backing you over Fozzy this year even if I have to push you up myself. I've had plenty of practice over the past few years..... haven't I Fozzy.....?

P.S. If my words seem harsh or angry it's because I am....I just over tightened the seat post clamp on the B1 and crimped a perfectly good FSA seat post.....F#$ken amatuer!

Buller here comes Fozzy

2011-10-01T14:26:00.001+10:00

And Mickey and Branko....Wisey is yet to fork out the readies but he's given his word. Yep boys I've paid up and I'm really looking forward to it I must say. so I need to get some more asphalt under my wheels which would be easier if this bloody rain eased up. Now that age old question raises it's head....Who will be first up the hill? Will it be the reigning champ, Dom? Or will that mad northern friend redeem himself? Who will fill the minor places? Will Wisey better his 09 result, if I have anything to do with it he won't! What about Nugget? Will he make a cameo and show us all how it's done? Or even Miyagi? Who knows? These questions will only be answered in the fullness of time....talking of fulness keep an eye on your plates boys and ask yourself "do you really need seconds?". I usually answer..."my bloody oath!"P.s have a look at the home page of the HHCC. Reckon there's a photo of the Sensation on the top right. Something your not telling us Branko?

GFC signs 2 riders for the Jayco Herald Sun Tour MS REDRIDE

2011-09-27T19:40:00.002+10:00

Greetings brothers of the GFC

I have been able to grab a vacant corporate position for the JHST MS REDRIDE
I will be joining Nugget for the event and living the life of a pro while suffering like a "B" grader across all 5 stages.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Fozzy start working on the GFC Borat costume for the Queens stage at Arthurs Seat.
And I don't mean the Wizards sleeve.

I'm very excited.

DOM

Lovely Legs

2011-09-25T21:02:00.000+10:00

Yes boys I've bittern the bullet and got rid of the pelt that covered my legs and geeze I feel horny baby.....insert Austin Powers again.....No seriously Dom and I went out today and I've worked out why I couldn't keep up....Wind resistance! So tomorrow will be another day and another excuse.

Then I got to wondering what was I going to do with all this wonderful luxuriant hair? A Merkel perhaps or maybe Movember is coming up. So I got my most artist juices flowing and came up with this...

Then I thought that maybe photography was my thing. What do you reckon??

God help me ... Ride Strong boys GFC Fozzy

Memories of the Silver Surfer

2011-09-24T15:27:00.002+10:00

Does it take you back? Does it baby yeah (insert Austin Powers tones)
After many complaints from a certain person who will remain nameless.....I have decided to go down a happier path and reminisce of a time that Dom rode the ONE bike all the time.
Do you remember when he upgraded the wheels, headstem, and saddle???? Nope nor do I but I bet that Dom can tell you when it was, how much he paid, what he flogged off to buy it and where it is now.
I will always recall the conversation when he found the crack in the frame....It was like..well let me put it this way. When the Tsumani/nuclear disaster hit Japan didn't hold a candle to it.
Now looking at the photo I can't recall the last time I saw the Garmin Kit.....Hmmmm has this to been sold on ebay to pay for another item for Upgradius. Think of it, some poor bastard is riding around in Dom's skidmarks arghhh!!!
Talking about crusty old knicks. I hit the hills this morning doing the old trusty Mt Eliza Loop. I was pushing that hard up the hills that I think I touched cloth a few times. Oh well it was all good through the Seaford Time trial when I hooked onto a bunch of 5 and managed to hold them to Carrum.....and they were doing 36-38 the whole way....Small steps boys I know but I feel I'm making progress however slow.
Ride on brothers of the GFC>

Fozzy

The Face of GFC

2011-09-22T17:03:00.006+10:00

Behold a new updated version of our little Blog!!!

I hope you like!!!

I know Dom will be THRILLED with the new look..

Fozzy

A few small changes

2011-09-22T17:03:00.001+10:00

SCODY HIGH COUNTRY CHALLENGE 2012...

2011-09-21T19:19:00.001+10:00

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN BOYS.

NUFF SAID......!

Club Championships 2011 by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

2011-09-18T18:15:00.007+10:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC.

Today (Sunday) was the SVCC age group Club Championships at Cora Lyn.

Perfect conditions, plenty of sun and almost no wind to speak of, but a reasonably poor turn out. That was most probably due to the Amy GILLET Gran Fondo being held on The Great Ocean Road.

Le Butch is in my age category and we roll up to the sign on. I look at the sheet for 45 – 49 age group only about 12 at that stage. No Road block, but I did spy 3 other a grade riders, I’ll go by kit – Cathy WATT, MASON Charters, Croydon Cycle works.

I had a look at them on the start line and knew pretty much that they would be the 3 on the podium. Bill and Foxy gave their 20 cents worth about keeping it together and let natural attrition take place, or the A graders will be racing by themselves next year………

Then the sprung the course on us – The Heath HILL course. I had checked the site right up until Friday and they had the Modella long flat course listed. Apparently they had lodged the permit for the Hills course and were stuck with it. I had the 12 – 25 on so it did not concern me too much. But it did guarantee that the bloke from Croydon would smash us all. He would be lucky to weigh 55 kg ringing wet.

Try putting 40 kg on your back whippet and see how you go. (anyway) back to reality.

About 20 of us roll out, apart from the A graders my only threat was Dana the Yank. The first 30 minutes was a casual roll along at 35 until the slight incline appeared and Croydon took off with the other two in tow – Dana chased for a little while so I dragged us up to his wheel and he sat up, the A graders kicked again and were gone - attacking each other as the climb started. The course is more like a roller coaster and constantly goes up and then up and then up.

When the first real climb started 4 of us set into a tempo and a quick look back and the bunch had split straight away with Le Butch on the back looking like a beetroot – with the A graders out of sight we would have been racing for 4th.

I pondered the thought of riding off up the hill with the small group I was with for a moment, but I decided to be a team player and drag Le Butch all the way home. I got 3/4 of the way up the climb then turned around and rolled down to him and got him into a rhythm, with his cadence and breathing, Jason KING (sprinter) was in the same boat - both looked like they were about to burst.

We got over the first couple of climbs and a nice little descent with the tag alongs recovering - a slung the butcher a gel and half a bottle of powerade and he seemed to pep up. They both suffered up the next climb and I was quite surprised that I was climbing OK, although it was at a good training tempo and not a race tempo. We finally hit the flat and I set in for the long tow home, ticking of the K's in 5 K lots keeping those behind me motivated - picked up some riders and lost some on the way back and still had some into the tank to wind it up for the lead out.

Finished the race with a good sense of satisfaction and a very great full Butcher on my wheel.

After that race I think I have rekindled a passion for the hills.

- Looking forward to GFC Mt Buller 2012

Some good practice for the upcoming National Masters Road race at Ballarat Oct 9 where I will be riding domestique duties for Nugget. I start holidays this week end and hope to get some good solid training in.

Club Championships 2011 by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

The Quickest Race Ever............?

2011-09-11T20:01:00.002+10:00

Been a while since I've posted but that's three kids for ya. Every Saturday the local clubs run a 30 to 60 km handicap at about 2.30 p.m. and I've managed to get a few in for training purposes. No results to speak of but plenty of time on the front and working to avoid 'the catch'.

Last week was my quickest race ever when eight minutes in I hear 'pshhhhhhhhhhhht.......'. 'Oh, you poor bugger.' I say to Neil who's wheel I was behind. 'Not me???' says Neil. It's at this time that I feel the vibration from the front of my bike and realise it's me.....BUGGER!. It takes me four minutes to change the tube and I manage to catch the scratch group as they come past. I jump on and know it won't be long before I'm spat out the back as they were motoring along at between 48 and 53km/h.

Before long I finally lose the wheel in front of me and am left to pace myself home. I managed to catch my own group with about 5 km to go but within minutes we were all stopped. Washo from scratch had touched a wheel then touched the road (hard). The race was neutralised the rest of the way home.

Short and not so sweet post but like I said earlier, that's three kids for ya.

P.S. Thanks for the care package Nugget, looking forward to installing the ceramic bearings and turning the RS 80's into Dura Ace. Much appreciated my friend.

This is Nice!!! (aka Borat)

2011-09-06T11:03:00.002+10:00

Brothers GFC...112kg, sideways rain, hurricane force wind, daggers in the thighs and Dom's rear tyre spraying more gritty droplets into my face just to let me know that I had to keep up or face the full force of the gale....
Yes boys a quick snappy ride up to Black Rock had me in the pain box by.....well Aspendale railway station. Dom's constant optimism sometimes leds me astray. Usually I would have looked at the black clouds gathering over the bay and thought "I'll think I'll stay home." but no, good Old Dom just gives that stupid bloody grin and we're off. It wasn't a long ride nor was it fun. Anyway I'm home now trying to warm up. It was nothing like my ride yesterday in 22 degree heat..that's more my style.
That's it I'm off, I'm a bit hungary....anyone got any chocky???
Fozzy

Some new hoofs for the Gazelle

2011-08-31T19:10:00.006+10:00

Greetings brothers of the GFC.

For a while now I have been searching for a bullet proof set of wheels for the Gazelle that fitted the period of the bike (well sort of) My main objective was to get a box section 33 or 36 hole rim with stainless spokes and Dura ace hubs. Anything was was decent was going for about $400 - $450 well about what I was prepared to spend.

The other night I was sitting up trawling ebay on the MAC after getting the usual knock back when I spied a very nice set of hand built wheels. Ambrossio box section 32 hole DT Swiss stainless spokes and HOPE Pro 3 hubs. Wheels had been built by Dan at "shifter bikes" http://www.shifterbikes.com in Prahran a real wheelsmith with a good reputation of building bullet proof wheels for retro bikes. The wheelset was worth about $700 new.

After some frantic research on the hubs and rims I was satisfied that they were for me. I set my highest bid margin using auction stealer (thanks once again Fozzy) and the wait was on. I could not bare the suspense so I went into the garage and finished off a customers bike.

I came back in a little later expecting the disapointment of being slaughtered in the bidding war only to find that not only did I had the winning bid, but it was only $108.50. WTF I almost had an uncle dug right there and then.

Next morning the seller emails me his details for collection from Beaumaris. I go and pick them up that evening. This bloke has clearly got too much money, fancy house, fancy bikes and too many sets of wheels. He tells me that I got a bargin as they cost him $750. plus they have new tubes and Vittoria rubino pro with 75% tread.

We have a chat and he tells me that he races vets in B grade. I say so do I. Then the penny dropped, "he goes your the big bloke on the black FELT."

I say I'm planning on riding the Gazelle in an up coming race at Cora Lyn in a couple of weeks so you will be seeing your old wheels towing you around Nar Nar Goon.

I part with $110 and tell him to keep the change and I danced a jig all the way home.
Into the GFC garage where I treated the Gazelle to some late night love.
Test ride was last night and they did not disappoint. Silky smooth, stiff but not too rigid. They improved the already magnificent ride that the Gazelle has. The freehub has 4 x pawls and sounds like a big game reel.

I love it.

Fancy a ride around Auckland or perhaps Silicon Valley?

2011-08-29T21:35:00.001+10:00

Brothers GFC

Brother of Miyagi has been at it again....

The following is a very entertaining read from his blog.

Some big hill riding and taking a risk on a blowout!
Sunday was the big ride. I had the whole day to myself, no other plans other than to put in a big ride. I thought I would head towards the California coast the opposite direction to Saturdays ride. It was 60k away over some significant mountains, then the plan was to turn north and ride along the coast for some 50k and then back over the same mountains to home. According to map my ride, it would be 170k and over 2000m of vertical climbing. A big day especially after Saturday afternoon’s hilly climbs and Saturday mornings pack ride in Auckland.

The plan was to get up around 7am, get a big hotel breakfast into me and onto the road by 8. This got delayed, when the tiles in my shower decided to fall off the wall while I was in the shower and I had to change hotel rooms! It also took me a little while to get the garmin working with the route I had mapped and downloaded. I finally got away just before 9, in the fine mist of a Silicon Valley fog. The forecast was good, 30c once the fog burned off. The first 20k were easy and I cruised along, trying to get the legs warmed up, as the climbing started after 25k. I reached the picturesque little town of Los Gado’s well known for it’s mountain biking and big homes of those who have made a fortune in Silicon Valley shares.

Stopped for a coffee and to get ready for the next hour and a half of climbing. Back on the bike, I hit a hitch as the only way through to the start of the climb was a 3k unmade walking track with a few steep climbs. I spent a bit of time on the garmin and asking locals if there was a road that got me there. The garmin was telling me it was a 23k alternative, which was confirmed by the locals. No choice, I took the trail, praying that I wouldn’t puncture. All good, I was now on a great road, winding around the shore of a lake and starting to climb into the Santa Cruz ranges. The roads are good, no traffic and unlike yesterday, plenty of shade. The sun was out and it was starting to get hot. I found my rhythm with the climbs averaging around 6%. At the top, the garmin pointed me to turn down this little road. I turned without thinking and was on this old potholed road with about an 11% descent. If I hit one of the potholes, I was toast. My instinct told me to turn back, as the road was getting worse, however, by now I was 3k down a steep descent and I didn’t want to climb back out. I felt like Buzz on Mt Ventoux, looking for the way out, however I was getting more and more into a forest of huge redwood trees. These trees are magnificent. I stopped to take a couple of shots and then ride on. What comes down must come up and I had a steep 5k climb out of the other side of this little “Jurassic Park” valley. When I rejoined the main road it was the same one I was on before the garmin suggested I turn. If I had of stayed on the main road, I would have stayed on the ridgeline and missed a great little side trip. Funny sometimes the mind of the garmin!

Now at the top of the climb, I started the descent, 20k of non technical downhill, on great, traffic free roads. I wound the Gellie up, enjoying the feel of a Columbus steel frame and peaked out at 92k an hour. The only traffic was a group of around 80 harley riding middle aged bikies, who seemed to enjoy watching me slip stream amongst them as I descended between them. I was in the tuck position, pushing as hard as the bike would go, with 2 of 3 bikies at a time around me, all yelling at me, encouraging me to go faster! It was exhilarating and as we hit the bottom, they waved, gunned their bikes, and accelerated away. A great buzz!!!

Reaching the coast, the traffic got busier as it was lunchtime and there were plenty of people around the beachesstruggled on. One of the hard things climbing on roads you don’t know is the uncertainty of where the climb ends. I felt it would never end. I was just hanging in there, when I finally hit the top where I started a 11k technical descent, with a lot of cyclists on the road, and as I was entering Silicon Valley again, a significant amount of traffic.

At the bottom was the little village of Saratoga. I stopped and belted down a Coke. There is nothing like a cold coke when you are hot , dusty and tired after 150k. Can’t stand it at any other time. 20k to home and I had a little downhill, downbreeze, so I was making good time. Went through the suburb of Cupertino, famous for where the head office’s of HP and Apple. Punctured with 8k to go, which was annoying,but no hassle. Got back to the hotel around 5.30 with over 7 hours in the saddle, a great ride and a great day.

Monday, was a rest day. The legs were toast. Tuesday and Wednesday morning, I was up at 5am and did a flat 40k each morning. I had one more opportunity to ride and that would be on Thursday afternoon before I headed back to Sydney.
The one climb I wanted to do was up to the Mt Hamilton Observatory. Like Sierra Rd, which I did on Saturday, this climb was also used in the Tour of California. This is the highest point around the San Jose Valley at around 1200m above sea level. My hotel was at sea level and according to Map my ride it was 51k each way and nearly 1600m of vertical climbing. This is as the climb was actually broken into 3 sections with a downhill in 2 places as you descend into valleys and then you have to climb back out again. The climb is over 27k and averages (if you take the 2 downhill sections out) around 6%. It was long rather than steep, not like the super steep Sierra Rd climb.

I finished work around 1.30pm and figured it would take me 4 hours to do the ride. I had to be at the airport and checked in at 7pm. I was on the bike just after 2, so I knew it was going to be tight, however as it was climbing on the way there, and downhill on the way back, I figured that I would turn once I hit 2hr 20min into the ride whether I reached the observatory or not. Another hot (32c) mid afternoon sun, but good news, a tailwind would be behind me all the way up the mountain. After 23k, I started the climb proper, and settled into a pace of around 17kph with the gradient around 5-6%. I felt pretty good, and after about 6k of climbing, all was going well when I felt a significant bumping on my front tyre. A quick stop confirmed my suspicion. I had a Schwalbe on the front which was appeared to be one of the tyres that were from the bad batch.These were prone to swelling up and bursting at any point. Not a good situation. The combination of the hot sun and the tyre getting a bit old had caused it to swell significantly. Cursing to myself, I had a decision to make. Keep going to a very remote mountain, risking a blowout that would cause me to crash if it happened on a descent, not to mention me missing my flight due to there wouldn’t be any easy way back as it would be 30k from the closest town, or turn around and miss my one chance to do this climb. Time to take a big bet, I elected to keep going.

The observatory was actually 54k from the hotel. At the 51k mark, I reached the 2hr 20m mark. With 3k to the top, on the steepest part of the whole climb, my earlier 17k speed had dropped to 12k, I had run out of water and the legs were gone. I would be making the time to get to the flight extremely tight, not to mention the tyre. It would take me 15 more minutes to get to the top. I could see it, so decided to go to the top. I made it, but was absolutely spent. There was no way I could just turn and ride back down. I stopped, found a coke machine, poured the cold sweet liquid sugar down the throat, also had my snacks of a banana and a scone I had bought so I wouldn’t bonk. Found some water, took some photos of the magnificent view, looking back to where I started from and was ready to head back. Ten more precious minutes had passed, while I took on food and drink. I had 1 hour 20min to do 47k (as I reset the garmin and it found me a shorter return trip) and besides the 2 climbs of 2k each it was mainly downhill all the way back. I was very concerned about the time, and took off with some gusto. However, the top part of the descent was very technical and the road very bumpy. I was doing over 50k and hour, pushing it through the corners, when after about 3k of descending, the front tyre started drumming significantly. The tyre wouldn’t take the pressure. If I kept this up, I would be off the side on a desolate mountain side. If I slowed, I risked missing my flight. I had no choice, but to slow. I nursed the tyre, pushing it on the straights, as if it popped then, I figured I wouldn’t come off. I was watching the time, and counting down the k’s -40….35…..30….25….20k to go.

div>Now I was back in suburbia, relieved and thought if that if I fractured the tyre now, I could find a bike shop. It was now a race against time. I threw caution to the wind and had 15k to go. My legs were shot, but I could still make my flight if I didn’t have any more issues. 10k, 5k, I was almost there, when with 3k to go….bang!, the speed, heat and the bulging of the tyre had finally caused the tyre to burst with an almighty bang and blow a 3cm gash in the tyre. I didn’t even stop, pushing on with a flat, flapping tyre to the hotel. Relieved to had made it back, it had taken me 3hrs, 56m of riding with 15 mins of stops. It was now 6.15pm and I had 45mins to pack the bike, shower, check out, drive to the airport 4k away, return the hire car, check 2 bikes (I had Tic Tac’s warranty Scott Addict I was bringing home) and a third bag without getting charged excess baggage. (managed to do that as well…. I had over 50kgs of bags)

Without going through the detail, besides setting a new record of 13 mins to disassemble and pack my bike, I made the flight!!!

So I did 6 rides while away, nearly 500k, over 5000m of vertical climbing, one puncture and one blowout!

Southern California, is fantastic for riding. We should seriously think of a FFT Tour of California. The roads are great, even bike lanes on all city road, good climbs, and great weather

Posted by FFT 2010 at 7:21 AM
Email This
BlogThis!
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Share to

0 comments:

This should make Dom cry

2011-08-24T12:32:00.006+10:00

Link to charity page:

http://register.msredride.org.au/MS-Red-Ride/CHalley

Hi Guys

Have been lucky enough to score myself a FREE entry to a charity ride during the Hearld Sun Tour.

Basically it is an $1800:00 package that I get for ZERO.
We get to stay and eat with the Pros and start each stage 2 hrs before the pros, ride the course and get to sit in the VIP area at the finish line and eat and drink for free.

Then after the race, we get to go back to the hotel......... did I say, where the pros are staying get a massage and eat and drink with the pros.

Have I said pros enough to get Dom salivating?????

I might even be able to talk to a pros mechanic............. whats that noise??? I think it was the big fella squirting.

Perhaps you could come and cheer me on at the Arthurs Seat stage. Sorry wont be able to ride back with you, but you know I am eating and drinking and staying with the pros you know :-)

One of those days

2011-08-21T18:41:00.002+10:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC.
Glorious sunny day and a good size bunch of riders for the Len LAYCOCK trophy event at Somers.
Arriving early gave me plenty of time to check everything and have a good warm up. First hiccup the ratchet on my right shoe cracked - no real issue the shoe was on and done up.

With the SVCC now allowing 30 - 35's M1 to race the numbers were up. Over 40 starters in B grade it was going to be a day to sit back and go with the flow. I noticed rotten Ronnie was on his training bike which means he is going to smash himself till the end the result isn't even in the equation.

After the briefing we roll out and up the neutral stage and turning right and bang Ronnie was off, there was plenty of new faces to go after him as I sat back a giggled to myself. The break attempts out and back like a yo yo for the first couple of laps and I swore to myself that I would be patient today and just see how things played out.

The roads around Crib Point and Somers are shitful to say the least with pot holes in every leg of the circuit. Hiccup 2 - lap 5 of 8 I noticed the front tire going soft very slowly, I let it go for a while but when the rim bottomed out around a corner I thought I had better do something about it. I went to the front and shot up the road with the intention of making a quick stop and banging a C02 cartridge in the tire after all it was only a slow leak. I pull over and get the cartridge out as the peleton fly's past and like waving a red flag to a bull they were off. By the time I got back on the road and in pursuit with a tire that must have been at 150 psi they were 500 + away and I was off in pursuit, what was I thinking 1 versus /40. I was gaining slightly and then it would blow out again and I was pushing myself into the red for not result. Will 2 laps to go I slowed and stopped at a round about and waited for the bunch to come around again so I could do some work on the front leading into the bell. I sat on the front for 1/2 a lap before the gripes started about people using me to recover and I was politely asked to move off the front.

The last leg of the race the panic started to kick in as riders jostled for position as fatigue riders battled against the willing and able, tires touching, swearing "hold your line" etc you get the picture, we turn into the home straight - as usual a couple take off early and begin to fade and cause a traffic jam. As I was out of the running I was able to sit back and watch it play out. Heaps went too early and there was no real lead out just a mess of riders like a chess board on speed. 250 mtr mark was coming so I decided that I would have a go down to right side and see how many I could pass. (Hiccup 3 - I hit one of those @#EQ#$^% pot holes and blew my front tire. Not a nice feeling at 50+ K's. I managed to stay upright stop and assess the damage. Tire had a hole in it - wheel perfect. New tube and I scab a pump from the Butcher as he finished and limped back to the van.

It was just one of those days.

Lucky for me I have a spare shoe ratchet and a new tire. By 2 pm everything was like new again.
Stay tuned I will get lucky one day.

Spankers and Sumps

2011-08-21T16:18:00.008+10:00

Sounds like a song but in the case of 2 fat bikers it's the reality of the return to cycling. Sunday, sunny no wind and as the more svelte of us were running around Somers Wisey and I head off for a tootal up Beach Road. I get a giggle when we have a discussion about shrinking jerseys and trying a few on before we find one that fits. The hairy legs enjoying the sun also aren't a good look and I can't help but think of Branko when he used to come out of winter hibernation with the legs like a huntsman. Yep one Albino spider and a Branko lookalike.
The first half of the ride was in a word...lovely. Chatting like a couple of old poofs, bikes passing us left right and centre and the birds were singing. Geeze it was good. The heart rate started to rise at black rock .....so we turned around. Yep I'm liking this...we come out of the rise from rickets point and I notice a voice behind..."geeze you blokes are the only blokes that know how to give signals" WTF? I look around and here's this bloke who starts prattling on about ....well in a word shit! Wisey thinks he's run into another Foster. Wisey is literally captivated by this bloke. I mean he couldn't get away or a word in apart from "really..I know..God that sounds bad," this bloke starts spruiking about how he's got aroot 15 years younger etc etc. By this stage I'm planning how to ditch him when my opportunity passes in the form of another faster bike. Im thinking that the dick won't be able to talk if we lift the speed so I jump onto his tail. Wisey is on it soon enough and passes me soon after with Dick on his wheel.....I slow and let them go. Poor Wisey I'm thinking when Dick screams past and with head down hes gone. Wisey sits up and 200 meters up the road he sits up looks behind and finds that the brothers GFC have given him the official signal.....The Bird. What a fucking strange cat he was. He nearly stuffed up a really good ride but then I got to thinking....it's a funny thing this cycling. The characters that you meet and the fun you have with your mates and the best thing was that cafe Owl was open for business.

Oh by the way I've decided to change the name of our little group......just for today.

GFC is an acronym for Go Fat Cyclists!

Crib Point Road Race

2011-08-14T17:25:00.004+10:00

Todays race story starts yesterday.
Went for a bit of a training ride to Kinglake, just to try something different in the lead in to the Australian Champs in October. 154 kms with 1850 odd mts of climbing.
Wasn't going to race this morning, I was gunna go to DISC for a points race in the arvo, but I woke up early, looked out the window and thought it was too good to pass up. So shoved some toast and jam down my gob and headed off to Crib Point.
One of the first I see is Mr Myagi.............. good, I think a friend.
So the race starts and we roll off, and when I say roll i mean roll, the pace was sedate.... Thankfully, it gave my legs a chance to ease into it.

The pace kicked up as soon as we started the second lap and I was determined to keep it together, which was tough.
Myagi was doing a power of work. A couple of breaks got up the road over the first 6 laps but they were all brought back fairly easily.......... all due to Myagi, so it was only fitting that when he made a move with 2 to go I waved him off and rode a tempo to give him and his escapee partner a size able gap.
But not size able enough to stop 4 others riding across to establish a strong group which ended up battling out the placings.............
Unfortunately Myagi missed out on a placing and I led the the also rans out and got pipped on the line so ended up about 7th I think.....
But its was a good training ride, which hopefully will stand me in good stead for the coming months...

Kinglake is definitely on the agenda again.

Take Care Out There.

The CURSE of the Little Donkey

2011-08-14T16:09:00.002+10:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC.

Sunday race meet at Crib Point. I was looking forward to this one, my training was going well I knew the course and was confident.

A very good turn out in all grade. Miyagi and Nugget ready to test A grade.

A warmed up with Miyagi and spied the Becoz boyz in the car park. Only 2 of them this time so it was going to be game on.

The pace started with a cracking first lap and in the first 5 K's we were starting to catch A grade till things settled down to a more reasonable pace. There was a new face from Richmond Cyclery and he was more than eager to have a go up front. The first few laps were full of surging attacks all having no affect on the large groupetto.

My plan was to TRY and sit in and cover any serious attacks (picking the right one). WISEY will laugh at the thought of me even trying to sit still let alone ride 70 plus K's sitting in. Things were going well but I could see that there was a group of 6 dangerous riders that kept constantly working on that elastic band of the group waiting for the fatigue to set in and try to get away. I couldn't help myself and moved forward towards the front just to make sure. Big mistake that was. The thought of any others contributing to a chase went out the window when I went towards the front, so when the next attack took off I sat and waited to see if anybody was going to chase (NUP) a little longer (NUP) oh well I was bored anyway, I just cannot stand sitting it and waiting and watching.

I won't bore you with all the details but I cut my own throat by doing too much work (loving every minute of it - but too much), I had put myself into a perfect position in the leadout sitting 4th wheel with 150 to go and when the sprinters kicked I couldn't match their pace and was relegated to 10th.

The only consilation was that I did plenty of work in the end and was still there right at the finish. I am certainly riding better and stronger than I ever have, I just have to get the head right.

EEE AW

Right click and open link for the STRAVA result

http://app.strava.com/rides/1225532#achievements

LONG LIVE KING CADEL!

2011-08-12T20:39:00.002+10:00

It was planes, trains and automobiles for the (now very weary) only member of TEAM GFC northern chapter, BUT IT WAS BLOODY WORTH IT! The organisers treated us to a TDF recap on the big screen via the SBS special which had the crowd re-living every stage once again. It led us nicely into the arrival of King Cadel. I could not help but marvel at the man and what he has accomplished.

Thoroughly enjoyed my trip down to Melbourne today.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Seeing Cadel

Calling out 'Media, coming through' and getting to within 20 metres of the stage (felt like Moses, parting the Red Sea')

Seeing Cadel

Being in that crowd

Seeing Cadel

Catching up with Fozzy and Dom (that lamb pizza was good my friend)

Seeing Cadel

Shoving the Team GFC jersey at every camera I could (hee hee)

Did I mention seeing Cadel?.

LOWLIGHTS:

Hugo being sick at the last minute and not being able to go with Dad

Not seeing Wisey or Nugget there (tut tut boys, better be there next year or GFC membership may be on the line)

Fozzy having to go to work and missing lunch with Dom and I

Miss- reading the train schedule at Southern Cross Station and having to sprint 400 metres from the wrong platform to the right one with only 2 minutes to spare

Seeing that 'Ranga' GILLARD on the big screen congratulating Cadel and then having whoever it was read a short congratulatory note from ABBOTT. I mean really, either TURN UP OR SHUT UP!

Finally, a comment on Fozzy's post???

WHAT THE FUCK KIND OF DRUGS ARE YOU ON???

We're off to see The Wizard

2011-08-11T22:32:00.009+10:00

Follow the yellow brick road says the little munckins but we know it's code for ride up Beach Road into Oz to find The Wizard. Yep it's the eve of our trip and I feel a cyclone brewing about to suck up poor little Dorothy (Nugget) as he rides up Beach road tomorrow morning. The question is will he heed the call and down tools to meet The Wizard? Dom aka the Scarecrow and I (put em up! Put em up!!!)The Lion will be leaving Kansas in the a.m. Mid morning like all respectable people. Dorothy will already be at work trying on her nice new red slippers. the question remains of the Tin Man. Will he find it in his heart to join us or doesn't he have one and have to join us to get the wizard to give him one? Come on Wisey straddle Mary and oil up those creaky limbs and ride the yellow.
On the trip I'm sure we'll come across all manner of weird and wonderful creatures. There's those hairy monkeys that fly and will carry you away to the lair of the Wicked Witch of Wodonga. Once there you will be called my friend over and over and she will strip your bike and get the Scarecrow to drive all over Oz collecting new parts the she has purchased off Ozbay.
When we all finally make it It will be time to see the great Wizard. Will he be larger than life? Or will he be a little guy riding a bike with a really big chin? Will he look through the crowds and pronounce judgment on our little band of brothers GFC.
I can see it now
Dorothy: Get off your bike and drive to work occasionally. You make everyone, even Miyagi seem like soft cocks. Consideration for others is what you must take from Oz. But then again you're a Halley so you won't give a rats arse!
Scarecrow. You know the are other things in life other than cycling (apparently) you take away a brain to seek out other pastimes..masturbation is generally a good place to start.
Lion: ride ride ride and for fucks sake shave your legs, back arse and sack. You take away the courage to ride when it's outside the temperature rage of 19.6 -27.3 degrees celsius.

Tin man: limber up those legs and get pedallling You take away the heart that beats keeping GFC together.
That leaves the Wicked Witch of Wodonga. She must take away hair for she is the hairiest witch I've ever bloody seen. When she exfoliates she can be heard "I'm melting I'm melting arghhh!"

So there we have it. Oz awaits. I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. The final question remains. Will I be able to make the distance or will I get collected by a hairy monkey and become the Witches sex toy. One can only hope.

Ride on brothers GFC

Bloody MARY

2011-08-08T16:57:00.006+10:00

Greetings Brothers

The bitch is back.
After an eternity in moth balls Mary has come out to play.
She broke down some time ago and has been patiently waiting
for her upgrade.

She has just had some delicate tinkering in the GFC garage and wants
to come out to play.

Looks like the boys are getting the band back together again.

Casey Fields "attack attack attack"

2011-08-07T19:34:00.004+10:00

Greetings brothers

A beautiful but cold morning greeted us at Casey fields this morning. It was great to see the GFC Monster make an appearance so soon after his touch down at the State Titles.

There was a very large B grade field and I was not fussed how the race went today. One thing for sure was there was no way I was gone to let the 7 strong Super store team have their way.

Things started off at the usual pace. "MACA" a regular every week had just bought himself some deep dish Mavic with power tap hub and he was keen to see if they would make a big difference. Lap 2 on the switch back corner a rider from ARC lost control and touched down taking MACA with him third in line was a SS rider he went right and I went left onto the grass and safely made it back onto the track. There was almost a neutral lap before things got going again and the attacking started. Rotten RONNIE from SS was on fire after his 3rd in the State titles and was relentless with his attacks. Everytime a joined or caught him, the bunch tacked on or counter attacked. It was like that all day with no fewer than 5 separate riders from SS going off the front. Todays crit at Casey would have been the most I would have tested my self there as I did not miss a turn and chased everything.

The bunch was still together on the bell lap and with 85 % of the bunch sitting in I was focused on next week event at Crib Point, so on the front I went for the last lap and that's were I stayed until the uphill bend when the parasite took over for there $10 worth for the day.
I really enjoyed the race today, pitty I haven't got someone from the GFC to ride with/for.

I am trying a new ride data site Starva. I have attached the link - it may need to be cut and pasted or type my name into Strava. Give it a go.

Next week I will be riding to win or vomiting on myself trying.

http://app.strava.com/rides/1136463

Too far, Too fat with a food flat.

2011-08-07T16:35:00.002+10:00

My return to Cycling hit a hurdle this arvo. I had a reasonably hearty breakfast so after Ben's footy I headed out at about 12.30 today....without eating....I thought that I was being good not eating and stuff....that's how you get thinner, starve yourself! Well all I successfully did was smash myself and suffer a ridiculous amount of discomfort towards the end of the ride. It was only up to Elwood and back but by the time I turned I was feeling the strain. The old bloke on the mountain bike in his tracky and blunstones passing me was a subtle sign that I had peaked. As I watched him getting further away I had to gather myself and take a few deep breathes.....Oh the shame...so I smashed on the pedals..etc etc....shut up legs etc etc and re passed him and made it stick. That was the last I saw of him, HA!
The last bit home was the worst. I didn't actually crap but my arse was that sore that I thought I must have gone to a poof convention and not known about it.
Anyway it's 4.45 p.m. and Mr Snooze is creeping up....time to go.
FARCK this return is nothing like the return of the prodigal son

I knew I knew your face....

2011-08-05T16:13:00.004+10:00

Yep I've done it again boys, a Dave McKENZIE moment. Indulge me for a moment whilst I set the scene. I was out on my return to cycling campaign this morning smashing on the pedals daggers in the thighs etc etc...when I find myself nearly in Elwood. Wow this is good Philly you might be able to ride to work sometime in the next 2 months I'm thinking when I look up and see a massive gaggle of riders coming towards me. There's a "tribal cycling" van in the front and a couple of police solos and to cap it all off a helicopter from Channel 7 (I still can't get to sleep....think about it) Anyway this group is travelling at Fozzy speed and I do a Uwey and let them past me. I'm looking at the first blokes all wearing team kit then the next in another team and then a bit of a hotch potch of riders start so I look across at this bloke and he say's jump in....
Right I'm in. A peleton that goes for about 300 metres and I'm about 20th. So I look at the bloke and he looked fit and we start chatting...."what's this about then?" I say in my best pommy copper accent. "It's a memorial ride for (Insert name here when I can remember it) the bloke that got hit in Brighton last week. "Did you know him?" "yep he says good bloke and a good rider, triathlete."
I then says "I saw the Ghost bike outside the Brighton baths on the way up and I hope the fuckwit who gave me a close shave in Sandy on the way up saw it. It's very confronting when you see the Ghost bike makes you stop and think how fate is and it can take any one of us" (insert profound mood music....) Wait for it this is the Macca moment he says "Yeah I know I'm Amy GILLET'S husband"
Hmmm awkward silence and then I say "I thought I knew your face!" that's all I could think of....I can see Wisey shaking his head, Dom's stupid grin and Croatian Sensation falling off the chair laughing...I don't want to think about Nugget would say.
Now after I got over that bombshell I learnt a lot from Simon...he's my mate now...He asked if I was doing the Gran Fondo that he's organised, No, and I spoke about different events that recreational cyclists do like the Around the Bay. He says that he and Amy used to do what they called the "Real around the bay" Start and finish in Ballarat..320 km in a day...Farck!!!!
He's 52 now looks super fit and is a cycling lobbyist in Canberra. It turns out that he was also a World Champion rower and coached at my old school just after I left and we had mutual friends...well knew the same people.
We turned at Black rock and up to Elwood again still with the cameras rolling, that's when I peeled off and headed home. I stopped in at Hampton cycles to speak to the Owner Damien who is a mate of Miyagi's and Ben and his son are doing the CCCC juniors together. He laughed at our nickname for David...killed himself.
The last bit home I rode with a fit looking 62 year old who was going to visit his girlfriend in Aspendale....he laughed when I suggested it was a effective bit of cross training for him.
So todays ride left me thinking....the old bloke was pulling up at his girlfriends and about to get a shot away and then Simon....I didn't have the heart to ask him if he was getting root...funny life this

GFC boys GFC

THE 'BEONE' AND A BAPTISM BY FIRE.

2011-08-02T20:42:00.005+10:00

The Beone has been sitting in the garage awaiting the final component which would complete the build, an FSA head stem. After many weeks of tinkering and watching my masterpiece come together I started getting anxious once the RS80 wheels arrived last Monday.

Then Rohan comes over on Friday night and plants a seed, ‘Club racing tomorrow Branko. 50 km out and back. Would be good to see how this thing went…..’

Come Saturday afternoon I’ve attached the old white stem from the Specialized, given the essential components another tweak or two and before you know it I’m, riding down to meet a large mix of both of AWCC and Lavington Panthers CC members. Rohan has a wry smile on his face as I pull up, knowing full well that he was responsible for me being there.

I sign up and am placed in C grade. First race in four months and not having raced the winter series I’m happy to start with C. Besides, I was out to see how the new bike felt and to work out any issues that may have needed fine tuning.

About 30 of us line up and watch the A and B graders take off with a few minutes between them. We finally take off and the pace is slow to begin with but picks up once we get onto Plunkett Road. All of us get involved in the rotation at first but after about five kms several have dropped back for a free ride. Heading up the false flat towards the quarry I’m on the front and put in a good long turn all the way there. Once round the right hander I pull off to the side and watch as the line comes past before taking my place at the back for a breather. Before long I’m back doing turns and keep it up until the Kookinburra Road left turn. This road climbs steadily for 7 kms to the turn around and I watch LPCC member John take off as soon as we made the turn and straightened up. He hits it hard for about 200 metres before realising he’s trying to break away into a block headwind of around 25 to 30 km/h. As the rest of us come past he looks over and says sheepily ‘That was a dumb idea wasn’t it?’. ‘I dunno Johno’ I reply, ‘I though it was pretty gutsy. Fruitless but gutsy nonetheless.’ He drops back in and takes in air.

About 1 km into Kookinburra I notice the pace has really slowed and people are being left on the front for too long. Nobody wants to work into the slight climb with the headwind. I’m feeling good so I sit on the front, put in and pretty much drag the group all the way to within 1 km of the turning point. I get some kudos for pulling a huge turn and settle in at the back for the last km recovering knowing that the trip back is going to be quick.

We turn as a group and before long were all in the drops and speeding back the way we came. We get strung out a bit as Washo puts in and tries to break away about 3 km into it. He eventually sits up and we catch him before the turn onto Indigo Valley Road. The rotation starts up again all the way back to Plunkett Road. Once we get up the first hill we’re into the block headwind again and this scares a lot off the front. Washo, Adam, John and I put in all the way to the quarry before we get strung out again heading down to Billy’s Hill. As we hit Billy’s, Washo and John hit it hard with me in tow. We get over the top and have opened a 20 metre gap on the rest of the group. Washo rallies us together yelling for long hard turns on the front to complete a breakaway. We manage to stay away for about 3 kms before the rest of the group (who worked hard I found out later) catch us. About 4 kms from the finish (gun club turnoff on Plunkett Road) everyone’s sitting in. I (as always) end up on the front a few times but make sure I don’t put too much effort into the pedals. As we hit the last rise about 800 metres from home Washo hits us with an attack. Adam, John and I are the first to respond and we catch him with about 100 metres to go to the top. The rest of the group catch us just before the top of the rise at which time I fugure ‘What the hell.’ and bang I’m out of the saddle, on the lowers and pushing a big gear up the remainder of the rise. I fly past Washo and about 8 others before topping the rise and pummelling down the other side. I hammer the pedals and get about 300 metres before spotting the ominous shadows creeping up on me from behind. I’ve demolished the group who are playing catch-up some 50 metres behind but Washo, Adam and Johno have bridged. With the finish line in sight I keep pedalling, pushing, grunting and groaning to within 30 metres of the finish at which time I’m positively shagged and the three behind me pass by in full sprint. Washo first followed closely by Adam and then John. The tired Croatian limped over in 4th place.

The bike performed perfectly, went everywhere I pointed it and was comfortable. The most comfortable bike I’ve ridden to date. I did feel it was more responsive compared to the Specialized but then it is almost 2 kg lighter and has stiffer wheels. Only thing I might have to change is the seat post as the set back is too much (getting numb right hand again after 20 kms or so).

For Doms sake I’ll post full tech specs and detailed photos once the new stem arrives.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/102690094#.TjfWuHHrWX8.blogger

Tracker White Handicap Cora Lyn

2011-07-31T21:26:00.002+10:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC

The Tracker White handicap at Cora Lyn was on the agenda on Sunday.

With the Butchers van tuned up and running like ceramic bearings we were on time. A muddy car park saw riders parking all over the place. I spied Mr Miyagi unloading the S Works as I got to registration.

I pay my $10 and tell the bloke my name.

“What grade do you ride in?”

“B grade”.

He scans the colum’s looking for my name on the B grade page.

Nil None your worship. I confirmed that I had entered and received confirmation.

He looks across to Bill Upston and says “I can’t find him on the sheet.”

Bill comes over and turns to the “A” grade page and there I am sitting 2^nd on the

Chopping block 2 mins off scratch. WTF. The sphincter starts pulsing 5 cent 50 cent.. FAARRKK I’m gunna get dropped and past by scratch within the first 5 K’s.

I think the sudden promotion up the ranks had a fair bit to do with the lack of A graders due to the State Road Titles being held this weekend. But I’ll still take it as a promotion. The chopping block group contained a mix of A graders and the top end of B grade.

Scratch only had 7 riders. MiYAGI, DALY, PHIILPS, 2 from Mason Charters and 2 others. (No TFM or Inform Cycling).

Or maybe people just HATE the pain associated with riding a handicap!

I went for a good 25 minute warm up before fronting up to the line. There was a quick chat about setting a good pace early into the wind with continuous rolling, we out number scratch 2 to 1. The commissure gave us a count down like a Pro Tour TT and we were off straight into 53 x 15 nose to the grinding stone.

I was better prepared this time with 750mls of Staminade and 2 x GELS. Speed was low 40’s into a block head wind and I was glad when we swung left toward Nar Nar Goon. The speed lifted a little with Echelon rolling due to the cross wind and the first catch was in sight. Left through “the goon” and the tail wind kicked in rolling at 55 – 58. Had to keep the concentration levels at a maximum.

Local cars must have been having their own race as they flew past us.

“cock spanners” (copyright WISE)

We pick up a group and pass them with no great interruption before we got to the bridge and swung left to battle the cross wind. I downed my first Gel and went to check the time, I had forgotten to start the Garmin to record the ride.

The next section through the cross wind was torture with the haunting “yep” coming over the shoulder as riders were starting to go missing in the rotation. We picked up “B” and got a few more into the rotation and quite a few hanging on the back. The next left turn had us back into a block head wind and the communication was working well as the bunch rolled tight and the missed wheels got called early. Passing several destroyed riders we finally turned left out of the head wind and began to work up a feverish pace. Some of the older blokes in the bunch were going off as it looked like we had a chance to hold off scratch, take out the fastest time or maybe even a win. (It was like a ¾ time address).

We caught the “C” grade bunch that had swelled to about 30 and they were all over the road which made things impossible as they scrambled for wheels and completely stuffed up or system. The 2 x Hills at BALES sorted that situation out with only the strong surviving. Down goes Gel number 2

We eventually got our rotation back with a couple of tag a longs as we headed towards a small group of riders. Next left turn was the long tail wind straight on the way home. With the wind assisting us a few got carried away and sped off the front, they didn’t last too long. Lactate threshold was taking its toll as the high speed surge home wound up into the high 40’s. The casualties were getting picked off like sniper fire as we neared the last turn for home. A slight lull set in before we made the final turn and we all crossed the bridge safely and the jockeying for position started as prying eyes were making sure the bunch stayed on the correct side of the road. It was at this point that we could see that some riders were at the finish line – so the podium was gone and it was a race for time to beat scratch and get the fastest time.

I baulked my way towards the front and called out to the super store duo of GARDNER and SULLIVAN to jump on board as I passed them. I started the lead out GFC style and went flat stick to the 250 mark then the lactic acid finished me off and I faded back into our bunch as we crossed the line with our group having the fastest time of 1.41 with Geoff THOMSON first across the line.

He slipped our group $20 each out of his winnings.

One of the hardest races I have done.

Average speed for the 72 Ks = 41.6

KING Cadel

2011-07-24T13:22:00.004+10:00

What a historical night last night. Cuddles is now KING of the World Tour.

Such an inspirational and powerful display. This Tour has been like a game of cards. They all started with the same deck (except for a couple of drug cheats) some got dealt shit hands and cashed the chips in early, some put on their poker face and tried to bluff their way through. But the little bloke from Barwon Heads had a straight flush sitting in his back pocket.

Farticus and I were in the GFC garage last night (Branko - via SMS) slapping high 5's on each other and acting like a couple teens hyped up on Mountain Dew (Bourbon / Ouzo). The grand finale tonight will complete a major historical event in Australian and World sport.

Cadel I salute you.

PS;

Hey Schleck sisters don't come to Le Tour when you get your period in late July.

Am I a cyclist?

2011-07-22T15:01:00.002+10:00

You're filling that jersey well. And with those words Dom confirms that I'm a fat bastard in need of some intervention. That's between my hand and my mouth. I bit (excuse the pun) the bullet and squeezed into the Lycra. I'm sure Nugget must have done a burg and swapped my jerseys for some of his. I thought to myself I'll just take it easy and roll to franga and back.
On the way down the pedals weren't turning as easy as they should so I hammered on them as hard as I could and all I got was bruises on my thighs from my sump. Reflections in shop windows made me think of those mirrors at Luna park b can't be me. I staopped at team gfc and give Dom a giggle.
I leave, ride the last little bit home contemplating this fucking frustrating sport. I love the fact that Wisey also struggles with motivation. I hate the fact that Dom nugget and Branko don't. Mr miyagi would ride to the moon if he could. The crunch time has arrived. I'm fatter than 10 men and the only time I feel good is when I'm 10 kgs lighter. I know what the answer is so that's why I went out today. Anyway I'm starting to ramble.
Alp de hues tonight qt the gfc garage. I must limit myself to 4 poofies, for that's all that's left in the fridge.

Tired?

2011-07-22T10:39:00.002+10:00

I thought you were supposed to be tired from riding, not from watching riding....
How good was last night? Branko and I exchanged a few texts and the stage proved to be a cracker. I reckon that Cadel may just miss out again this year. My prediction is Frank. He did stuff all last night and he'll be all over the mountain tonight.
As for the night at the GFC garage, it shall be a cracker. I will have to wait till The Handbrake gets home from the movies till I can get over.... I can hardly wait.
Lastly GFC Contador!!!!!Ha Ha Ha

Le Tour Fever hits Cora Lyn

2011-07-17T17:07:00.006+10:00

Greetings brothers of the GFC

On arrival at the Cora Lyn Football ground there were cars parking in the side roads - I though gees what a massive turn out, but the parking area was a mud heap causing it to be a NO GO ZONE. MR MIYAGI was kitting up in Hampton splendor, A grade I say - he reply's unfortunately. Today saw a smaller than usual B grade field for Cora Lyn - Nar Nar Goon which is usually 3 laps of the 25 K circuit. We roll up to the line for the usual briefing to be informed (4 laps) a quick calculation WTF that's 100K.

One good thing was I could site any ring in's. A bloke from Fitzroy Cycles that self promoted himself to A grade after the Braeside event was back after continually being dropped, good on him for having a crack, he always contributes during the race and he doesn't sprint. There was a lone rider from Warragul Cycle Club with legs like Wisey riding a new Merida with a 100mm rear wheel. I had him picked for a late charge rider. Good to see Ron Jacobson back in the peleton after his operation. He tells me that he is going to test his form as he is thinking of riding the States Masters road race at Castlemain in a few weeks. When Ronnie is on form he dishes it out like Jens.

Initial start was a little slow prompting Ronnie to take off in the first 5 K's we as a bunch let him go. There was a solo rider from BECOZ with HTFU on his top tube. "Note to the Dom sign of mental weakness, I must test him later". Slow rotations started a stopped before we settles into a 38K lap average. A grade came past us on lap 2 and the guy from Fitzroy used the vortex and rode the wave to bridge to Ronnie who was starting to tire from his solo effort, with still 50Ks to go there was no real concern.

Dale was in fine form and pulling big turns on the front, I kept mine shorter than usual as I didn't no what was going to happen attack wise. Mr BECOZ was keen to pull the break back and was happy to contribute to the pace making so 6 of us started a pace line trying to get the others involved, I guilt-ed Alex Newman who pipped me on the line the other week to join in and assist. Ronnie was feeling the heat and sat on the back of C grade for a while before taking of again.

It was then time for the DOM train to put Ronnie out of his suffering, a couple of taps on the right shifter slip in to David MILLAR aero position and off we go into the zone and the catch was made. Ronnie looked relieved and slotted in for a well earned rest.

Bell lap came with 75Ks down I took a gel and was feeling OK not great but OK, time would tell if 10 days off the road bike would cost me over the distance. A couple of riders from the back came forward as the rotations kept swapping but with nobody up the road it looked like it was going to come to a bunch kick. The turn towards Nar Nar Goon saw some surging start and quite a few of us shifting in our saddles as fatigue set in. There was a big effort from Dale to see who was there to play that caused the dagger elf to make an appearance in my thighs, not good I thought. With about 10 K's to go Warragul makes a come from behind effort and goes up the road, that's surprised me a little as I had him pick as a sprinter. I was right he faded and came back after cooking himself. The surges started and my legs did not like it one bit. I went with the moves and let Alex and Dale know that I would be out of the sprint but would keep the the pressure on as far as I could. The turn towards home saw a little lull before Tony Sullivan took off up the road, he was my first scalp, then Fitzroy went and got a gap with still a K to go I offered lead out services and the peleton parted like Moses and I went head down caught and past Fitzroy and kept going until the tank was empty providing a perfect leadout for Alex and Dale.

Dale got chopped out and missed out on a podium and Alex got 2nd. An Asian bloke from O2 racing got his first win. I was empty but very satisfied.

Alex approached me after the race and offered me half his winnings. I refused and told him that he could lead me out next time.

Check that stats on the link - I was very hungry after the race.

On a side note I have the Merida of the OWL in the GFC garage undergoing repair ready for the resurgence of the band. Once completed he will be presented with a little treasure obtained by our boarder brother from the USA.

DOM

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Back and raring to go

2011-07-13T13:17:00.005+10:00

Greetings brothers

Having spent 10 days in the glorious sunshine it was almost good to get back to the reality of Melbourne weather. Had a great time with the family in QLD staying in a modern apartment in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

We all had a ball doing the theme parks and the kids swam until they turned wrinkly each day.
I was able to find cycling solace in the Hotel Gym in the form of an electronic programmable spin bike, or the prison as Fiona referred to it.I am not religious but thank god for the ipod. By the end of the trip I was actually used to the bike and quite enjoyed the indoor sessions trying to simulate in my tiny mind, chasing or being in breakaways, battling crosswinds, climbs and sprints. It's amazing the difference some good music makes.

Got onto a great cycling magazine for holiday reading from the UK "Procycling" highly recommended.

Andrew if "Mary" still requires attention book her in ASAP the garage is always open for you.

If any of you are thinking or riding give me a buzz - on holidays till next week.

DOM

WINTER BLUES...

2011-07-06T21:55:00.002+10:00

After four weeks off the bike.......I feel like this bloke. Gotta love his attitude.....

Wet and windy Casey Fields

2011-07-03T16:33:00.003+10:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC.

Very strong winds greeted us this morning as we made the journey to Casey Fields. With dark sky's looming in the south west we hoped the rain would hold off.

Number were down - probably due the the insane wind. Several regulars had brought the training bike or ditched the deep carbon rims for low profile alloy.
Just as E grade started it started to drizzle. A couple decided that was enough and DNS. "C" grade only had 7 starters. "B" grade started with about 25 starters including Clint VAN BEVEREN (CVB), I'll get to him later.

The wind was blowing from the north / west at about 50K's. A new face in Freedom Machine kit on a new LOOK decided to set the pace for the first lap. The plan was for Gabriel to work for me today after leading him out to victory last week. JP and Tony Sullivan represented Super Store with Dale, MACCA and Shane BARR keeping a close eye with me towards the front. Lap 2 JP sells the dummy assisted by the tail wind and the TFM rider took the bait, but not for long. Lap 3 TFM and Shane BARR jumped away in a move that looked promising so I bridged dragging CVB and Dale with me and in a little while 8 of us had a gap but nothing substantial. The call was made to work a pace line and split the field to create a gap that would hold. With 8 strong riders rolling turns the gap extended quickly and the peleton disintegrated in their scramble to stay in touch. A couple of laps later all but 2 dropped riders from the B grade bunch had pulled out as the rain lashed down. After a couple of surges from CVB two more dropped off the end.

I was starting to talk tactics with Dale about the 40 minute mark when he punctured and we were down to 5. I was sitting 2nd wheel when I pulled out a gel and was sucking down the nectar when CVB attacked like GILBERT along the back straight we all stacked on and were soon back together. Tony Sullivan then casually rode forward and we allowed him to get a gap rolling along waiting for the next attack. TFM was the next to go and I let him get a small gap then bridged hoping nobody would follow but Shane BARR did and the CVB. Back to a lull with SULLIVAN riding his own race JP had pulled the pin and urged us from the side lines to let SULLIVAN have a solo win, and gave CVB a spray telling him to get up to A grade where he belonged.

SULLIVAN had a good gap but not a winning gap if all worked. CVB attacked again BARR on his wheel the me then TFM who was on the back. CVB tried another 3 times to get ride of us but could not shake us off his wheel. The surges put a big dent in SULLIVANS gap, but we had no interest in catching him it was us versus CVB. He tried once more before the bell and then tells us, " you guys can have it, I won't chase you."

WE get into the back straight and BARR takes off with me on his wheel and the others in tow. Left turn up the rise I'm poised to come off BARR's wheel when CVB comes from behind and takes the lead full gas into the wind, I jump across to his wheel and we turn into the home straight, he kicks again and is too strong for me I'm grinding away looking a 3rd again when BARR comes off my wheel with 5 mtrs to go and pips me on the line.

Correction - After viewing the results Shane BARR is actually Alex NEWMAN.

FFFARRRRRKKKKK I say to myself. A very hard day in tough conditions. I loved it. Would have been better with some spending money but at least I'm mixing it up at the pointy end each week.

Off to QLD in the morning for 9 days on the Gold Coast.
Family activities during the day. TDF at night. Yeah Yeah.

DOM

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

63 days

2011-07-01T10:26:00.004+10:00

Thats how long since I've turned a wheel....Farck...how fat have I got? Geeze Phil you've got to get out on the bloody bike....but it's too cold, windy,wet, the kids have got sport, I'm working too long, I don't like riding in traffic.....Pathetic excuses. I'll often see the shape of Nugget powering to work along Beach Road and think to myself...where the fuck do these blokes get the motivation? Mr Miyagi, Dom..the only bloke that's like me is Wisey and he's running around chasing the footy over the winter...I'm chasing Poofies and chippies.. Well it finally hit me riding the Honda to work a few days ago...I was slowly passing the North Road 6am group sprinting up Meares Mound at 55 km/h. I couldn't believe it and I had a great view as I slowly motored past them. (I was looking for Miyagi San) I became a bit despondant...not that I was anywhere near that pace but I felt before Easter I was travelling well then I had a stack on the MTB in Tathra and it's all gone out the window. So now here I am struggling to sit the laptop on my knee because of my Sump...
Yep I pumped up the tyres and headed out into a stiff northerly yesterday and rode off towards Black Rock. My first scalp was a 77 year old on a bike nearly as old as him. I was only managing about 25 into the wind and then a bloke passed me at 28-30, something that I would have smashed before....and I couldn't hold him....OMG the embarrassment. Then I sight another slow mover up ahead. It took from the Mentone Hotel to nearly Cerberus to catch him but I managed.....I kept going and got passed like I was standing still by a Nuggetty type... I arrived at the Baths with quiverring legs and a heaving chest...thankgod for the tail wind.
Then on the way home I was rolling at about 28 all going good when I get passed by 2 relatives of Cat Weasal. They both had pack racks and lime green high vis tops and one even had a woollen balaclava on which matched his track suit pants and school shoes. The first guy could keep me in his sights with his little rear vision mirror hanging off the helmet....

Talking of mirrors and weirdos, I got caught by Mick the ex copper from Sandy. He had one on his helmet too. Must be the latest thing that I missed out on! I say hello to him and roll along for a while. He remembers me as the bloke that had the food flat in Mt Eliza that time.. Oh great even he thinks I'm a spaz. And the thing that pissed me off about that was for what I remember about him, he was slower than me last time we rode.....Cunt.

I finally pulled in at home with a sore arse aching shoulders and a undertaking that this ride wasn't a one off....I'll get out there again this month...for there is 3o days left.

The highs and the lows or should it be the ups and the downs?

2011-06-26T21:13:00.007+10:00

One image is of Fozzy the Younger's new wheels....the other is Uncle Mikes mug after he hit the road.....read on "Hit a rock with my front wheel while descending this morning. Dint know what happened as my head took all the hit. Reckon without a helmet I would have been a lot worse off as it took the brunt of the impact.

Only 5 stitches and concussion. They thought at first I had cracked my eye socket and jaw

Will be ok in a few days"

Do you reckon I should show be what he might be getting himself into?
It might even motivate me to turn a wheel....
here's the specs off Ebay. All for $400. I reckon its not a bad buy.
Bicycle Type Road race & triathlon
MSRP (new) $1,199.00
Weight Unspecified
Sizes C49cm,
Colors Blue/Black

Frame & Fork
Frame Construction TIG-welded
Frame Tubing Material Dedacciai Force 7005 Butted Aluminum
Fork Brand & Model Kona Carbon Race
Fork Material Carbon fiber, aero crown
Rear Shock Not applicable

Components
Component Group Shimano 105
Brakeset Tektro RX 40 brakes, Shimano 105 levers
Shift Levers Shimano 105
Front Derailleur Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur Shimano 105
Crankset FSA Gossamer, 30/42/52 teeth
Pedals Not included
Bottom Bracket TH BB-7420
BB Shell Width Unspecified
Rear Cogs 9-speed, 12 - 25 teeth
Chain Shimano CN-HG73
Seatpost FSA SP SL-280
Saddle Selle Italia Initiale Special Edition
Handlebar FSA RD-300 OS
Handlebar Extensions Not included
Handlebar Stem FSA ST-OS-150
Headset FSA Orbit C8 Integrated

Wheels
Hubs Mavic Aksium
Rims Mavic Aksium
Tires 700 x 23c Continental Ultra Sport
Spoke Brand Mavic

Hows the Trial going Mr Foreman?

Crib Podium

2011-06-26T20:24:00.008+10:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC

A windy day with sunshine and big numbers greeted us at Crib Point.

New faces - old faces grumblings about the wind.

This week marked 20 years since my Dad passed away and I swore to myself that anything less than a podium would be unacceptable. 8 laps which is about 70 Ks.

It was Gabriel first race in "B" and he was shitting himself. My instructions to him were the same as what Miyagi and Nugget gave me for my first race "SIT IN".

The wind was a shocker as we headed north with a new face leading the way for the first two laps had some pussy's on tender hooks already with the pace. I kept reminding myself that I had to be patient and not commit to any Jens like escapades off the front. I sat watching and waiting and going with the moves, using the gears to keep the pedaling soft when it needed to be.

Several attempts in the wrong spots saw breaks come back together in the downhill section, I did feel sorry for a couple of the blokes who had assumed my usual position at the front and slogged away without any help. It was cruel to watch but "GFC" I cop that every week.

Lap 6 saw Dale break away into the wind and after a short hesitation one rider bridged, in the down hill 4 others bridged. I was still happy to watch as there was still 2 to go and I had conserved energy.

Bell lap came and the break had about 200 mtrs that started to dwindle into the wind, I was confident that it would come back together on the downhill section. By the time we got there the gap was 80 mtrs or so and I found myself hovering near the front of the chase, I looked back to see a bunch sitting waiting to see If I was going to do any thing? I didn't want to be chasing into the wind and I knew that if we got the catch before the cross wind there would be a lull. We roll on some more and nobody was going to make a move and with the break approaching the fast section my hand was forced to go head down and close the gap. Strung out like a snake we caught the break as we got to Cerberus.

The left turn towards home was the usual burst from the corner before it settled down and then the lull commenced through the cross wind into the wooded "forrest" semi sheltered section and the usual couple of cock head breached the rules and crossed the double lines riding up the outside to better there position. They felt under a tyraid of abuse from the peleton. As we neared the bridge quite a few realizing that that couldn't pass on the outside took their lives in their hands and travelled up the inside on the dirt/sand - causing panic / bumping it was all turning to shit. I had lost a couple of positions but was still towards the front as we got to the bridge and hit the block head wind. The speed picked up and there was riders going everywhere. I was a little lost because of the strong wind I didn't want to go too early. Then I see to my left the Gabriel and come off my wheel with Tony Sullivan on his - I had some riders in front of me that where starting to fade, so around them I went and unleashed what I had left into the wind. I had a good sprint and was closing with a great speed but just fell short of a win picking up a 3rd. Another couple of mtrs and I would have got there. But I achived what I aimed for a "Podium".

Crib point is a prick of a race to close and tactics will be used next time.

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

PROJECT 'BEONE'.

2011-06-19T23:53:00.005+10:00

As The Dom indicated, I have started on another project. Earlier this year I completed ‘Black Betty’ being my single speed commuter. She serves me well on my daily commute to and from work and, being a single speed, my daily ride has resulted in added strength to the legs.

Soon after, I picked up a 90’s era Giant carbon frame and Rigida wheelset from a mate who was having a garage sale. Ten bucks, what a bargain! Within a week or two I had put together a Shimano ‘105’ equipped 10 speed wind trainer which has also served me well as a spare roadie for when the Specialized is out of action awaiting an upgrade or service.

My many hours of tinkering in the garage late at night (no sexual references needed Fozzy!) while the kids are sleeping has given me the confidence to take on some paid work. As a result, I have been regularly servicing the bikes of a group of local triathletes. As busy as they are training for their respective events throughout the year, they are somewhat time poor when it comes to looking after their bikes (no Fozzy, you can’t use this as excuse #213). This has enabled me to save enough cash for a major upgrade, being a carbon frame. Only problem was, what to decide on.

I had been trawling eBay and the like for some time before spotting a Beone Carbon Raw. Not knowing much about them I set about doing the research and the more I read, the more I liked it. I won’t bore you with the specifics but it’s made in the Netherlands from top quality carbon and uses a different manufacturing technique which results in a stiff, strong but light frame and fork weighing in at just over 1300 grams. Being new and already fitted with a Ritchey carbon headset I decided on my limit and employed Auctionstealer to complete my cunning plan.

Brankos Auctionstealer Tip;

I’ve found that if I set my upper limit using Auctionstealer, my bid is placed within the last 10 to 20 seconds which still gives others time to out bid me (sometimes by only $1). Instead, I set a lower limit with Auctionstealer then have a my highest bid ready to go via eBay in the final 20 seconds. I watch as my lower limit comes into play and then wait for any other bids to come in over mine. These over bids are usually between $1 (cheeky bastards) and $10 over my lower bid at which time, with about 5 seconds left, I submit my highest bid via eBay. This system has served me well and I hereby pass on my knowledge for you to use if you wish. It’s no secret but works well especially if bidding against inexperienced eBayers.

In the end the frame was mine for $300 less than my highest bid. I used some of the remaining funds to pick up a carbon FSA seatpost and some Ultegra 6700 brakes.

The frame arrived last week and has been sitting idly awaiting parts. The plan is to save enough cash to purchase a full 6700 Ultegra groupset and finish it off by adding a pair of Shimano RS80 wheels. I’ll need a lot more bikes through the garage over the next few months before she's completed but I’m in no hurry. Or I might just swap the Dura Ace from the Specialized over. Time (and funds) will tell.

Dom's tinker time

2011-06-16T19:31:00.004+10:00

Greetings brothers,

I am on nightshift surveillance duties at the moment so I am getting a ride in when I wake up and doing a bit of tinkering in the garage fixing a few things up. Something I have been meaning to make for a while is a race number holder for the F1.

A quick trip up to Mitre 10 and I purchased a piece of strip aluminum for $3.50 and I set to work like a cobbler, twisting, cutting & filing. And this is the end result.

I hear our brother from the boarder is working on a special project????????
Let's hope he shares the progress with us in a post.

After receiving some words of wisdom from the great hard man I was set to task again and decided against the racial overtones of "wingnut" and settled for a plastic thumb wheel with a modified bolt glued into it, the nut on the other side that contacts the race number has a wide flange with a knurled section for grip. Works a treat. Thanks for the advice Nugget.

3 Day Tour Of Gippsland

2011-06-15T10:48:00.002+10:00

Well, really don't know where to start.
Saturday 1 pm start:

65 km started off neutral for a couple of k's due to traffic etc, but the attacks came shortly after that.......... mostly from me LOL
got over the first climb and KOM OK but 3 blokes went off the front and they were left to dangle for a while, MISTAKE.
One of them was a TT specialist and the gained a huge lead. After the first intermediate sprint, I thought I had better try and get myself across, but every time I tried the bunch were all over me.
I decided that I wasn't going to drag the bunch up and one of the Gippsland teams could do it if they wanted..... they didn't, so the bunch had to be satisfied with the bunch kick for 3rd, I had to settle for 6th.

Day 1= 6th in the GC

Day 2 10 am start at Shady Creek = 2 deg C and foggy

My TT set up consisted of an extra 60 psi in my tyres.

Rode within myself as I had no hope against the TT set ups of the GC leaders.

8.66 km in 13.05 mins on a bumpy goat track riddled with pot holes and couldn't see due to glasses fogging up, but finished 11 th and gained 6 points for the GC.

Stage 3 1 pm Shady Creek:

4 Laps. 65 k or there abouts

Attack attack attack, was the M O for the race. This is the stage that cost me second place, got ripped off in an intermediate sprint and wasn't awarded points when I should have got 4.

That's racing!

Shane Dove and Roland rode away on the last downhill and stayed, the GC contenders were happy to let them stay, even though Dovey had come 2nd in the TT, Roland dropped off before the last turn.

One other bloke took off also and stayed away.
I won the bunch kick for 3rd, pretty good sprint if I don't say so myself :-)

Day 2 = equal 5 th

Day 3
60 odd k 2 Laps of a tough circuit

Pretty sedate mostly due to the fact that the first 6 k downhill was neutralised due to heavy fog, it then livened up for the first KOM, I kicked 500 out and got a good lead and almost pulled it off, until the GC leader (by a mile) beats me by half a wheel...... cost me 5 points and a definite 2nd in the GC

There was a bloke who took off and he ended up soloing for another lap for the victory.
I took it upon myself, along with the GC leaders team mate to HURT the second overall going up the long climb and did we hurt him LOL he popped like champagne at a wedding.

Past the line the first time for an intermediate sprint...... missed out on points cos I was knackered.

Last lap started with speeds hitting 73 kph down the hill.

There were KOM points up for grabs and with a k to go a young kid who was having a dip all weekend at the climbs too off and got a good lead, until a young bloke from Warragul chased him down..... prick!!!

So my mission was to get the kid points and "chop" the Warragul prick out, success, the kid got points but I had to chase back on to the bunch, I thought I was gone, but made it back just in time for a bit of a rest before a slight downhill, sharp turn and the long drag to the finish.

I hit that downhill and corner as fast as I could go........ past experience over the 3 days, I knew I could corner MUCH better than anyone there.

So I opened up a gap of 50 mts and went for it............. with 20 ish K to go.......... what was I thinking .................... AGAIN.

Stayed away for about 10 km when, guess who led the chase........... yep the young kid from Warragul, who I had chopped in the KOM......... Fairs Fairs I suppose.

There was still one bloke up the road (sensational ride) and we were 5 k out when 2 blokes attacked and got about 50 mts, NO ONE CHASED......... except me.

Caught them, they abused me .............. Too Bad LOL.

Led the sprint out from 800 mts........ what an idiot!!! Finished 5th in the stage.

Overall finished 5th only 2 points off 3rd, but with the missed points could have given 2nd a fair shake!

Great weekend though

Lazy Casey

2011-06-13T14:33:00.002+10:00

Greetings brothers of the GFC.

Rode to Le Butchers house and gathered frost on me along the way. It was so cold and foggy I could have done with a balaclava to stop the pain of the cold on my face.
Things warmed a little between 0730 and 0900 as the sun was slowly melting the fog away.

A fairly low key day out at Casey.
A pretty good turnout for a long weekend and a few new faces.
I had been out once since the bout of poison belly and was still feeling the effects of it.
I went into the race hoping to finish without getting dropped.

The pace was a little slower than normal which caused a bit of kaos as we got caught by D grade then past them again which had them sitting on us creating a traffic jam.
Bill gave us a spray about the pace - so I thought I could contribute one little effort to get us away from D grade.

Once clear of D is was racing as usual - a couple of feeble break attempts were brought back and I sat mid pack holding wheels. Dale was feeling good and rode off the front a couple of times
but a couple of guys from Warragul chased him down.

55 minutes into the race 3 got clear because nobody was going to chase - I was holding up OK but still felt like S@it.
Clint "PowerBar" bridged to the break and I sat back in the pack and watched all the tail end parasites start to panic, then they ran the bell much to the delight of the breakaway.
You could hear the scabs at the back. Ooh Ahh there's 4 now oh know what are we got to do! Their laziness makes me sick.

Passing the pond they had 200 mtrs on us, I suggest that they start chasing with some effort, that fell on deaf ears - so I let out an expletive "GFC" and went to the front.
I gave it all I could to bring the bunch within striking distance of 20 mtrs before we got to the slight uphill and swung off. The bunch caught the breakaway but couldn't pass them and the winning 3 came from the break.

A shift in the surveillance van last night left me a little sore so I had a nice recovery this morning to Elwood and feel quite good this afternoon.

No racing for me next weekend but I will be targeting Crib Point for a podium at the minimum.

DOM
Lazy Casey by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

CHASING LEGENDS........

2011-06-10T22:05:00.002+10:00

Hope you blokes are heading to Federation Square on Sunday the 19th at 8 p.m. to watch 'Chasing Legends'. Looks AWESOME!!! Go to Cycling Tips to watch a preview. You can follow the links there to book and pay for tickets (can't be purchased at the door). Dom, at the very least I expect you and perhaps Le Butch and Nugget to be attending? If I was coming down I'd be there. Guess I'll have to wait for the DVD.

Envious boys.....very envious.

Anniversary Handicap Modella

2011-06-06T11:32:00.006+10:00

Greetings Brothers

A delay in posting was caused by a bout of food poisoning that hit me on Sunday afternoon. Very nasty and not recommended, unless it happens to your opposition.

Sunday saw the 36th Anniversary handicap event at Coral Lynn Modella 70 K loop. Riders start with a 30 minute advantage ahead a the scratch riders. This year I found myself in the 6 minute group just two ahead of scratch and one away from the chasing monster Bling Nugget.

Classic moment of the day started at sign in when Le Butch pulled a Fozzy/Gillet move and forgot his shoes. He was banished to the follow car with JP from Super store who was out with a crook elbow.

Fine sunny conditions but plenty of wind to deal with. The usual B grade group had been split into two groups. BECOZ had 4 in the 9 minute group and one in mine, only one 6 amer. The first cross wind section started like a rusty wheel and took a little bit to get the rotation going at a reasonable speed, once we made the first left turn we began to roll along nicely and already had the 9 min group in our sights and that catch was predictable as BECOZ would have been slowing and waiting to jump on our group.

Once our groups merged it all turned to shit for a couple of K's before the rotation started again then the slower riders began to get spat out the back as we were holding a good pace and rolling well. There were a few riders starting to drop out of the rotation and the call of "yep" from over the shoulder reminded me of the posts Branko used to put up with the Super Tuesday group.
One guy from BECOZ and The old guy from Super store appeared to be saving themselves at the mercy of the rest of us.

I was riding strong and it was good to have Dale (in red) to help keep the rest honest. We slowly reeled in the other groups but I don't think any of us had an expectation that we would get home first. Disaster struck in the form of a herd of cows crossing between paddocks and that slowed us to an almost stop which cost us in the end. We got going again battling the head / cross wind at the 3/4 mark and reeled in another group and got the leaders at 8 minutes call.

That stirred a rush of blood and we upped the pace with the core group down to about 10 riders, once again we were impeded by a couple of dropped riders going up the small hill into a township that caused a traffic jam and had us crawling behind the cars until we got through the town. With a slight decent in was gas on and we got the leaders at "1" minute and we had the lead car in sight - only about 5 K's to go we started to think it could be game on. Then like a freight train from behind "RIDERS" as scratch came flying past -we jumped on board the train as we made the left turn with a friendly wind. It was like a beach road train on a Saturday morning with a mix of riders of all ability's in the mix. The scratch boys were too strong and split the bunch but unbeknown to us the lead car was not at the lead of the race - there was another small group of C grade riders 3 minutes ahead. I rode the last 5 K's at a good pace but there was no point in smashing myself to the finishing line. I finished at the start line and rolled into the car park satisfied with my effort for the day.

After that Casey Fields should be a pleasant change.

DOM
Anniversary Handicap Modella by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Metro Road Race Titles--- Saturday

2011-05-30T10:34:00.006+10:00

Saturday saw the long journey to Harcourt for the Metropolitan Road Race titles.
A harder course than last year and on Saturday morning I topped the scales 3 kg heavier than the same race last year....... I knew this was gunna hurt :-(
Profile:
http://www.cyclingprofiles.com.au/HTM/CSV2011/CSV_CCCHarcourtA.htm

For a warm up I rode the first 6 km of the course and was not happy! I knew that it was gunna get MUCH harder than that, but during the warm up I just couldn't get going..... if they started fast I was gunna be in BIG trouble.
At the start line 14 brave souls shivered in the 6 deg temp, so confident was I, I asked a mate to order me a coffee and that I would be back in 15 mins to get it.

The race started at a fairly leisurely rate, thank alah, and we rolled along, covering a few half hearted attacks until the first turn at Elphingstone about 12 k's in where a bloke rode off the front. Unlikely looking bugger, long sleeve t shirt under his jersey with the sleeves pulled up, head bobbing. Thought to myself, let him go, we will drag him back.

Bum Bow!! WRONG
He stayed away for a good 6 k when I decided I was gunna get across to him.
First attempt: FAIL didn't even make head way
Got counter attacked, scramble to get back on.
Back on. Roy Clark....... a genuine GUN says "have another go"
Second attempt: FAIL made a fair bit of headway, decreased the gap.
Got counter attacked,By ROY CLARK!!!! ,GFC, scramble to get back on.
I looked at him and he smiled and shrugged, said sorry, so all was forgiven..... NOT LOL.

What it had done though was decrease the gap to 200 mts

Third attempt at climb 3 at the 18.1 km mark and I am away and chasing and this time I am reeling him in. I catch him and give him a push and say lets go.
Another bloke is scrambling across and I get the first bloke to sit up a bit cos 3 riders will have a better chance.
The 3rd bloke gets on and rolls about 3 rotations and sits in STUFFED, he wishes us well and drops off.

So we roll turns for about 20 k's and I am suffering BIG TIME on little rollers, so I tell the bloke that I am f#cked and if he looks after me on the hills I will tow him along the down hills and whatever flats there are.
I also give him my word that I will not jump him at the end if we are successful escapee's.

So we keep going along until this bitch of a climb at about 16 km to go and BLOW big time. Back is killing me and quads of jelly. He waits but I say to go on and good luck.

I bang in a jell (wish I had 3) and suck the remainder out of on I had already had and settle into a tempo that I hoped would hold off the chasers.

Bum Bow!! No Hope

I get caught with 5 km to go I am seriously thinking these blokes will now beat me by 5 mins but instead of attacking me, they sit up and I have a bit of time to recover. Everyone gives me the old "bad luck, brave move etc"

So sit in and roll acouple of turns and start to feel my legs again. The last turn is ahead and its down hill and I again start to like my chances of finishing with the bunch.

Roy Clark rolls back to me and says "hold my wheel" I say "yeah good luck". So he sits in front of me and there are a couple of attacks and we sit and wait until a final attack that we have to cover and we are off.
Strong rider Roy and we hit the 50 mts to go and I step off his wheel and challenge for 2nd but just cant get there.

So I settle(?) for the bronze medal. One less place than last year and one less place than I would have got if I had of been able to hold on to me fellow escapee.

Tough hit out, I once again ascertain that I AM NOT a breakaway rider, but I do know know that I will never go home from a race wondering "what if?"

Then stupidly I turn up yesterday and race with the vets, get greeted by the smiling Dom..... never unhappy that guy..... need to be drug tested for "happy" substances LOL

Not much to report other than i was F@CKED and that Miyagi son rode his usual strong race

Sump runs dry at Somers

2011-05-29T17:19:00.005+10:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC.

First time out at Somers today, very good turn out with plenty in every group.
A team from St Kilda "BECOZ" had 5 riders in "B" and the word from the group was that they had dominated the week before and dictated terms during the race. There seems to be new faces turning up every week.

The course is almost a square and the road is quite narrow with the standard country road bitumen mix. Conditions were good - no rain and no wind.

First lap was a non event and basically used by all as a course reci. That led to a solo rider in blue going off the front. I have seen this bloke before at Sandown go in a break for 3/4 of the race. He usually rides with CCCC on Tuesdays and Sundays. He rode almost a lap off the front then a very tall rider from BECOZ bridged to him and they were away - BECOZ moved to the front and started a tempo ride - it was early in the race nobody was interested in chasing just yet.Lap 3 in the home straight 4 jumped away and that group also contained a BECOZ rider and a few others capable of doing serious damage if they were let go. As the gap began to grow the same scenario began to blossom - nobody wanted to chase.

After puncturing two weeks ago and missing last week I wanted my $10 buck worth so I rallied Dale, a guy from Super store and a guy from Frankston Toyota and we started a pace line of 4 with 40 + sitting on. To quote the Late Bill Hunter "Deidre Chambers, what a coincidence"

We put a serious dent in the gap and then rolled back into the bunch of bludgers - another lap around and it was time to make the catch, I will never be a sprinter or climber but I love the domestique duties going off the front and winding in the break is what I do best. Before too long I was wound up in the mid 50's and we were all back together again and I drifted back into the bunch for recovery.

The counter attack from BECOZ took off and then they had the balls to put 2 x on the front side by side and ride a blocking tempo. The bunch like a kangaroo looking into head lights at night just sat there. I look across at JP and voice my disgust - so I rode up to the front and let fly with a word of warning that if they were going to block and ride a teams race then they should F@#k off back to St Kilda. Having gobbed off I was then compelled to ride a lap on the front to keep the break in check. It was only a half baked break and they got brought back through the bunch surging. After that there was a lull and the BECOZ boys started to organise themselves towards the front I had number 66 picked out as there final rider. The tempo was picking up and the jostling for position began. Unbelievable to see a couple of very expierienced SVCC regulars cross over the double lines to improve their position in the final lap.

I had used up plenty of petrol tickets and every now and again the daggers in the thighs reminded me that I had probably done too much. As we continued towards the final bend I found myself in the front 10 - I though I might as well try and exhaust the tank and drag a few along. As we near the 300 mtrs to go mark we start to string out - I am in lead out mode and find myself fourth wheel, I start to think "I might have a chance for a podium here" as we were dropping the field. We are now inside 250 to go and the sprint starts, mid 50's I drop it into 12 to sprint and as I get out of the saddle I seized up - not just a little. I was frozen rock solid I couldn't move my legs at all it was the weirdest feeling, I looked at the drive train thinking it was jammed - but it was just me, the sump had run dry and the engine was seized. It lasted for about 10 seconds before I could start pedaling, it was really freaky something I hope to avoid in the future.

Apart from the last bit I really enjoyed the race. If I can't win yet I still get to in flick some pain Jens style. I'll get there one day.

Check out my suffering.

Check out these two hard bastards Mr BLING Nugget and Mr MIYAGI.
Lets see if I can make it a trio next year.

DOM
Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Bad Days Ahead For Cycling?

2011-05-26T20:43:00.002+10:00

Just watched the 60 Minutes report on Cycling Tips.
Although I hated the reporters interview style it did make for some compelling viewing.
I think we have all suspected Lance at one point or another but I chose to believe the legend and applaud what he has done for cancer research through his Livestrong Foundation. My opinion remains unchanged but one niggling question remains....where are the team managers? We all know what a perceived 'culture' can mean both in cycling and especially with our jobs (Operation BART) but if everyone's doing it and it's being endorsed by those above you then how would you say 'no' without being ostracised?

P.S. Sadly, I'm tipping there will be lot of cheap used 'Livestrong' cycling apparel on eBay after this week. On the upside, I might finally get myself a pair of Livestrong Oakley Jawbones :)

Ridng the line at Cora Lynn

2011-05-16T11:32:00.002+10:00

Yesterday, journeyed out to Cora Lynn. There were about 22 starters. Thommo was in B grade, with his 4.4 kg bike.

I was in a break for about 1/2 of the first lap........ suffering
Then got caught and went back to the bunch. There were many attacks and a few attempts to get away. All the time the roadblock (Mark Thompson)so was Mark Gardiner who never went to the front once was just sitting at the back until at the start of the last lap the roadblock and 2 others went up the road and got a fair gap.

Now I wasn't gunna let him get away with that so at every chance I hit up the road to close the gap and to get the bunch to chase and at the last turn (where I nearly ended up in the creek after over cooking the turn) had them within about 100 mts.
So I kept at it and closed the gap to about 50 mts when the block got spat from the break.
Job Done, but not complete. :-)

So I kept chasing and closing and chasing and closing until I was shagged and blew up with the 250 mt sign within reach Russell ???? from Kathy Watt give me a bit of a spray so I told him to get F'd. He said later he was disappointed cos I was his perfect lead out.
I said that if he actually had done some work I wouldn't have been so shagged and may have been able to keep going.

Trent Brown (CCCC, but not team)just missed on getting the leaders by about 10 mts to get 3rd. But in his own inimitable fashion still wasn't happy :-) but thanked me later........ he is out there that guy.

So finished about 6-7th after dropping the remainder of the bunch.

Was happy with the ride.
But more work to do.

Walk the line at Cora Lynn

2011-05-15T20:36:00.002+10:00

Greetings Brothers

It finally happened today. I had prepared well and was psyched up for Cora Lynn. I like the course and thought the cross winds would suit me.

After parking in the mud fest of a carpark and prepping the bike I roll up to the start line to find the two of my compatriots have been promoted to "A" grade.
That meant to less to worry about. That left me with only one rider that I knew was strong in the long distance races and his form was good as he had put him self into A grade for the Braeside series.
The course had been altered from a 65 K loop to 3 x 22 K smaller loop (reasons's unknown)

We set off and we hit the first long straight 10 mins in ans I puncture (FFFAARRRRKKKK) some bloke yells out take a lap out Mick.

I fix the flat and find out 4 holes in the tire so I put a stick on patch on the inside CO2 inflator and I am on my way riding back towards the start hoping to catch up and jump on the back as quick as I can so I can still compete in the race with any bitching if I place.

Five minutes later PPPSSS PPPPSSSS PPPPSSSS another rear tire flat - looks like I patched the wrong hole in the tire. With no more tubes or CO2 on me I was WALKING back to the start to fix the bike and start again. On the way back the group past me and a few had been dropped (WTF) I thought it's not that windy. I don't know what happened out there but pain was being inflicted.

I walked back to the van to fix the bike again and found the the Battlers Prince had snatched it once again sighting flu like symptoms and trouble breathing. Instead of fixing my wheel I borrowed his and rode up to the finish line hoping to salvage something of the race. waiting - waiting - waiting finally B grade comes along and I jump on the back of the reduced in size groupetto. Left turn onto the first straight to commence lap 3.

I rode to the front and offered to do the work through the head and cross winds which was accepted with a condition I didn't go over 35. I ride through to Nar Nar Goon on the front and shortly after turning left to head towards the home straight one bloke attacked and broke away. The group was happy to sit behind me, I quickly let them know that I was not permitted to chase. They sat on for about 5 K's until PRITCHARD rode up along side and said you should swing off and let the bunch go from here, which I did. I rode with them on the back until they kicked to catch the breakaway rider.

That was it for another week.

When I got home I found another hole through the tire and both tubes had a hole in a similar location as I line the writting on the tire up with the valve.

LANG LANG next week maybe I can pop my cherry there.

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Phillip Island or Crash Central

2011-05-09T09:46:00.002+10:00

Picture 111 kms of the SVCC mass start champs first 3 laps and that's what you have on Saturday.
240 odd riders all wanting the same piece of road.
Averaged 43.6 or so, but wasn't really tested, don't get me wrong, I had my moments the last 3 or 4 climbs over Lukey Heights were really hurting.
But the race was softer than last year, wind the same strength but from a different direction, which meant the bunch wasn't strung out, which made it really scary.
So many crashes and near misses. I nearly come down 3 or 4 times once at about 60 kph the bunch slowed at the first turn........ which they had done consistently......... 65 kph down the front straight the slow dramatically for no reason for turns 1 and 2........ anyway one time I was doing 60 ish and the bunch slowed and next thing I know my front Bora is precariously close to some blokes derailleur and I and rubbing wheels trying to stay up.

Anyway got round OK and was feeling really good on the last lap and made some ground over Lukey Heights and was close to the front 3/4 way down the finish straight, then the inevitable happens........... CRASH.

Kane Walker, who ironically crashed at the same spot last year, come down and brought others with him. So it was evasive action and got through to continue on to get, what I thought, was a top 30 or so finish.
The official results have me at 59, but they also have Paul Mason in front of me and I am REALLY sure that he didn't participate in the finish, cos I asked him going up the hill if he wanted me to get him through to the front but he said "no thanks, its gunna end in carnage".

Any way was just happy to finish and secondly finish upright.

Didn't see Mr Miyagi at all, the results have him as a DNF, hope he didn't fall. Anyone know what happened to him?

Dromana

2011-05-01T15:03:00.003+10:00

Greetings Brothers

This Sunday saw the journey to Dromana for 10 laps of pain.
The battlers Prince, Gabriel, myself and Grace (girl who used to work Saturdays at Subito) came out for her first race. We all crammed into the Subito van.
Grace signed on and got in E grade, the other two in "C" both saying they were just going to sit back and watch what happens.

The 6.6 K course is undulating to say the least and grinds away at you.
Teams present in B grade - 6 am ers, Super store and Inform Cycling had 4 riders each and Biggin Scott 2.

Foxy and Bill read the riot act regarding obeying the rules due to it being held on public roads.
There was a very good turn out in all grades.

Mr Miyagi and Nugget were one up against Freedom Machine and Inform Cycling in A grade.
They would have their work cut out for them today. With A grade off first etc etc.

I rode the first lap on the front and it basically a warm up lap - then on lap 2 Brendan Philips, a 6 am er & a Biggin Scott broke away. Nobody was prepared to chase at that early stage. They got a good buffer and the distance kept going out and back until a 4th rider attacked and bridged on lap 3. The break was maintaining a distance of 500 - 700 mtrs on us and apart from a mix of about 6 of us nobody wanted to stick their nose into the wind.

As the speed increased we lost quite a few riders who had enjoyed Easter a little too much. The break was beginning to look dangerous as fatigue was starting to settle in to the bunch - I can't believe I am saying this but funny what difference a year makes - Last year Super store were enemies that used to inflick pain on me with their 3 pronged break away's and this year I am conspiring with them to arrange a chase group to bring back the breaks created by the younger stronger riders. Pritchard felt the pressure withdrew and was onto his 2nd crownie by the time the chase was on that left me, ronnnie, mark and another - all being closely marked by the other 6 am ers. At one stage we managed to get a rotation of 6 going and I used my weight and the ceramic bearings to my best advantage on the downhill gasing it all the way to the end. The gap was coming down and so were the energy levels with 85% of the bunch sitting in. Couldn't do much else but keep going otherwise the break would stay away and the race would be over.

Ronnie and Mark were outstanding with their selfless efforts - there are so many that should be ashamed that they just sit in on such a challenging course when a break is away. (same old story blah blah etc)

Eventually the Biggins Scott rider in the break cracked came back to the peleton leaving 3 in the break. I downed a gel and soldiered on being assisted by Super store and a few individuals.
One big concentrated effort and we were able to catch the break on lap 7. That was followed by a tempo lap before inform cycling crew launched an attack with 2 riders and another 2 tacked as soon as the bell was rung.

The gap was not great but it had to be brought back before the end of the down hill. I was feeling a little depleted as were the Super store trio. I offered to go on the front for the down hill as was descending faster than the peleton without even pedaling, and I had to keep the pace up all the way to the corner (crash corner 2010) so I kept the legs spinning all the way down (wished I had of put the 11/23 on) and we caught the break towards the bottom. The only trouble was the 2 x 6am ers on my wheel, as we turned into Mooraduc Road the sit in parasites surged forward and started futile attacks way to early with most blowing up before we got into the industrial estate. The 6 am ers guys maintained great positions they are such strong riders. The turn into the finishing straight was smooth with the bunch together and then things started to string out when the 6 am ers kicked together - I had nothing left and I was going to get mixed up with a bunch sprint today. I sat up and dropped it into the small chain ring I was knackered.

The 6am ers came in with a 1-2 finish and a newly promoted parasite for 3rd. Dale who rode strong and helped out a fair bit got 4th.

I say - "Better to have raced and lost" - than sat in and lost.

DOM.

That Battlers Prince had a touch of wheels in the hill and went down on lap 5 and that was his day with a hypochondriacs wrist injury. Gabriel finished with the bunch and was spent.
Grace got 5th and was the first unplaced female picking up $20 for her first race.

I won't be racing on Mothers day.

But I'll be looking for a podium at Cora Lynn the following week.

Check out the pain on the Garmin link.

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

SVCC Easter canival day 2

2011-04-25T13:10:00.009+10:00

Greetings brothers of the GFC

Day 2 of the Easter carnival at Braeside.

A foggy morning saw A grade off first at 9.00 am.

A GFC battle to be hold Mr Miyagi's Hampton boys (must be pronounced with a toff accent)
versus Nuggets CCCC boys - Could the Vic M4 crit champion steal the show. The field was much bigger today than on Saturday with several teams battling it out.

Nugget was in a great spot at the 59 minute mark and called for the bell, but Bill Upston and the Hampton boys had other idea's, the break away's went out and back like a yo yo. The final lap saw Mr Miyagi pull a mighty turn on the front chasing down the break while CCCC Paul MASON sat perched like a cat on a hot tin roof. As the entered the finishing straight it was Paul MASON 1st with Hampton's Leigh Shilling coming in 3rd. It was also good to seed a couple of B graders promoted themselves for the race and rode around on the back surviving until the bell lap.

10.30 start for B and D grade.

The battlers prince was after a win and got into an early break that went out to 22 secs, that got reduced to 10 when a corner Marshall on Lakewood Blvd let a car through in front of them that then slowed and turned left across them causing them to almost stop and start again. The Prince was out maneuvered in the final leading and pipped for a podium spot in a close finish.
After the race he approached Foxy and asked to be moved into "C" grade. (message to Farticus - there's now 2 in "C" YOU need to make it 3).

B grade had another great turnout - No Hampton though. 6 am ers, Inform cycling and Super store were the teams present with most riders and lots of new faces. My aim for the day was to try and better my result from Saturday, so when the race started I sat towards the front and followed the moves for a while is was fast again with lots of individual attacks. In the end I lost patience and wanted to get my $10 bucks worth so I launched an attack on the peleton to see what would happen when I wound it up to 60 kph before flicking the elbow. Lately I have been forming a bit of an alliance with Mark, John and Ron from Super store - Ronny was on domestique duties again and I told Mark Gardner that there was no way I was going to let the 6 am ers control the race and come off with a win.

As the race progressed the attacks continued and the 6 am ers sent one up the road and the bunch brought him back within the same lap. 4 x ladies in the race today with a good looking chick from TORQ with "moist & chewy" across the rear of her knick. They were happy to throw in a few attacks and were pleasant to sit behind. 3/4 of the way through the 6am ers had used up 2 riders when a lone Kings Men had a crack and was counter attacked by Dale one of our regulars that always has a dip. It's good finally being in the mix and not at the back scrambling to keep in contact.

During the lull towards the end of the race,(2) x 6 am ers crept forward
and tried the you attack and I'll ride tempo, they did it well on the bend leading into the round-about, I said to Mark G "do we let him go a bit and watch. If he is going alright we can pull a train and bring him back?" Buy the time we got around into the finishing straight he was nearly and the finish line - the decision was made to chase and I was more than happy to oblige.
Head down and with the peleton strung out I caught and past him and went to roll off when Brendan Phillips comes past with 3 others and says we've got a gap let's go. I look back, it might have been a gap but nothing that was going to stick so before long we were all back together and heading towards the bell lap as I sucked in the air recovering. Unlike Saturday I was in a good spot when we got the bell and I was able to maintain it right through to the straight - when the bunch kicked I just didn't have the speed in the legs but at least I finished with a smile on my face and another top 10 finish.

Improving a little each week, patience and a bit of luck and it won't be long my brothers. The podium beckons.

DOM

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Braeside Easter day 1

2011-04-23T16:36:00.001+10:00

Greetings Brothers of the GFC.

Easter brought a change of venue for the local SVCC carnival
Day 1 on SATURDAY afternoon with a 1.00 pm start.
Riders came out of the wood work with a 60 strong B grade bunch.
Teams from CCCC Tuesday night B grade "open" were there in force.
Hampton Cycles
6 am ers
Ex Machinea
Burnley Finance
& Super store.
Braeside is a fast tight circuit and with the teams present there was going to be plenty of attacks.

It started off fast and stayed that way with attacks on almost every lap. It was so different racing the open grade riders who had team support and used riders up like pawns. I rode a good tactical race but wasted of energy a little bit early on. Hampton had the biggest group and sold the dummy plenty of times with donkeys a plenty chasing them.

There was a real buzz towards the end of the race as tension built - as we entered the home straight around the 57 minute mark one of the Hampton boys took off and gets a gap - then they ring the bell, like me I think most thought we would get another lap before the bell so panic stations kicked in and the chase was on. I made good ground to improve my position for the last bend, but got caught a little short as you need to be in the first 4 into the tight fast corner. I made up good ground in the sprint and again finished 6th.

The first 3 sports went to open riders so I was very pleased with my performance - something I will try to improve on for Day 2 on Monday at 10.30.

The Butcher who has named himself the "Battlers Prince" got a third in D grade - one more place and he is in "C" He reckons he will be promoted on Monday.

Stay turned for Day 2.

In "A" grade Mr Miyagi was in the Hampton group and rode really well. The break in A grade was out to 22 secs at one stage and got brought back. Some seriously strong riders in that bunch. Miyagi looks in good form for the road season.

DOM

Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details

Crib Point debarcle

2011-04-17T13:21:00.010+10:00

Greetings brothers,

A very frustrated Domestique compiling this post.
A ripper morning greeted us for the first suburban road hit out for the year.
The butchers broom wagon transported 3 of us to the race.
Le Butch, Gabriel and me.

Very good turn out and perfect conditions for the blooding of the new Jayco Skins kit.
Mr Miyagi was there with a crew from Hampton Cycles also sporting new kit for their A grade hit out. A reci of the course for a warm up was conducted and we were back for the 9.00 am start
A grade off first.

Over 45 starters in B grade - Super store had 6 but Ronnie & Mark Gardener can't afford to place as they risk going back up to A grade. They would be domestique's today. Brendan Phillips was also in the same boat.

8 Laps was the call from Bill and we were off. At least 20 new faces in the groupetto so the idea was to sit back and watch but mark anything that looked dangerous. The race was fairly routine and I was finding the pace quite easy compared to the same thing last year at this course. The couple of times that riders tried to go up the road they did it on the long residential section which is slightly downhill and the result was an easy catch.

Lap 6 a guy from the 6 amers took off in the right spot and was let go, a couple of attempts by new faces to bridge failed and we were happy to let him cook for a lap and a half. Bell lap came and we were all back together - I managed to avoid doing a single turn on the front, although I did tow plenty along in the surges.

Things started to liven up as we past Cerberus and took the sharp left hander. A regular in CCCC kit took off (way to early) and I said to Mark Gardener I remember doing that last year, he'll be fried before we get to the bridge - it didn't even take that long and we were all bunched up again. With about 1000 mtrs to go there was a bit of a lull and the road narrows (position - position - position) was they key I had made my way into the front 10 and was situated just inside the centre line of the road - (Rule of the day was stay left of the line until you cross the bridge ) then you have both sides for 250 mtrs to the finish.

This is where it all turned to shit. At least 20 mostly new faces decided to disregard the rule and crossed onto the other side of the road to come forward and better there position. The corner Marshall prior to the bridge spotted it and walked into the middle of the road with his stop sign and directed the bunch to the side road - confusion reigned half sat up - the 20 on the wrong side of the road got directed onto the front - nobody turned off - the bridge was insight those on the curb side from the original 10 got though and started the sprint from the bridge - the rest of us had to dodge slow traffic like a down hill skier - I had good legs and was stuck behind a pack of morons - I went as far to the right as I could to get around them and was dangerously close to spectators that were on the edge of the road. I had a ripper sprint of 58 kph without any assistance - but too little to late. Le Butch reckons I got 7th. (doubtful)

There were allot of us SVCC riders pissed off and several complaints made to the commissars.
I planned this race and conserved energy well and it still turned to shit. After the race I still felt fresh, I was spewing that I didn't attack with 500 to go and take a chance.

The result, due to the careless riding of those that crossed the road - was our race was nullified with no result listed. The guilty parties disappeared quick smart. Prior to the scathing dressing down given by Bill Upston.

As they say, there is always next week.

Vengence.................................................................................................................................

DOM
Untitled by gfcbayside at Garmin Connect - Details