Sausage in bread

Going to visit friends in Mirboo North for the afternoon. 150 km from home in the Strezlecki Ranges.  The usual deal, I get up very early (5.00am) and ride and I will meet the family there around 11.00am.
As I haven't looked an a forecast all week I'm glad to see that's it's going to be a nice sunny day with favorable winds for a change.

It's 7 degrees on the Garmin but this quickly adjusts to 4. not so bad, i've seen worse.
I follow the Princess Hwy. through Dandenong and Beaconsfield and Pakenham where I join the freeway. But now the temp has started to drop 3.9, 3.8, 3.7........0.0  Every time I look down it's getting lower, is it ever going to stop. At this stage I'm wishing I had warmer socks.

Taking this photo did require an awesome effort.

For the next 25 km it stayed much the same bottoming out at -2.0 degrees.

With the sun now rising the trend has reversed and I start the climb up into the Strezlecki Ranges. Fantastic. It was worth it.

http://www.strava.com/activities/59166127

And things get even better

Oh! and now meet "Black Candy". Strange thing really.  Offering a 2 for 1 deal to a cyclist is like offering smarties to a fat kid. N+1

From bad comes some good

After the loss of the British Edition and 10 days (on holidays) without a bike, Dave came into my life. He has been named "DAVE". Named after my mate Dave. Why? Because it's red, a 29er and it likes going over jumps.

Stolen – Reward Offered

Stolen – Reward Offered

Thursday 28^th March 2013

This unique MTB was stolen from the Bairnsdale Motel on Thursday night.  It has been highly customised and is very distinctive.

Please contact haych.mtb@gmail.com

2012 Felt Virtue Expert duel suspension MTB
Frame: Medium. White with blue, red and black features.
Fork: RockShox Sektor TK Solo Air 15 130mm travel 15mm Maxle lite thru axle.   (They have my name on them "Haych")
Components: Avid Elixir 5 hydraulic disc brakes,
SRAM XO rear derailleur
SRAM XO gripshift 10 x 2
Wheelset: Mavic Crossride15mm disc wheelset, Continental X-King tubeless tyres                           
  
Seat: Thrones.com Union Jack (Only one sold in the world)

Last Lament of Whinging Pom.

Last Lament of Whinging Pom.

T'was just Christmas last.
When you came to me.
Wrapped so nicely.
A  bikethrone.
I did see.

Alas.
It was not meant to last.
A love cut short.
A lament for the past.

Never did I get.
To feel you close to me.
It's now been 2 months.
Since shoulder surgery.

Last night while I slept.
Ear plugs inserted.
Some stranger stole you.
The British Edition included.

A motel.
CCTV.
Fingers crossed.
We will see.
Bairnsdale!
Police!
Optimistic.
Maybe?

I could cry.
If I like.
10 days without a bike.
What shall I do.
Oh how I loved you.

To the Scunner who stole you.
WTF.
I Wish You The Very Badest Of Luck.

Team SauruS - 2013 Flèche Opperman All Day Challenge

Team SauruS Rides Again

So, it's my first ride back after major shoulder surgery. Frank, Kate Harold and I set of for Rochester in Northern Victoria for the Oppy. This years target is a meager 501 km in 24 hrs.  With Julie, Amelia & Geoff in tow as our support we start riding at 8 am from the Opperman Memorial.


It's been a really bad week.  My shoulder has been giving me hell but with a bit of advice from the Physio I have put a riser stem on the GTR.  It looks ridiculous but it has given me nearly 2 inches of height in the front.  He also told me not to ride or to at least minimize the amount of riding I do.  So I have decide to attempt to ride for 6 hours,  the first hr in every 4.

Stage 1 Shepparton - 70 km
We're on the road at last. The shoulder has responded to the new bar set up nicely.  If I stay off the hoods and concentrate on my shoulders being back and down it feels good.

Stage 2 Katamatite - 130 km
Woo ho! I'm still riding into stage 2 and feeling great.  I have been looking forward to this event for so long and I was told the recovery for the op was 4 - 6 weeks. And I'm pissed because it's taking much longer.  Two flat Tyres in 10 minutes. Bugger

Stage 3 Mulwala NSW - 170 km

Still going.  There is a great tail wind and the average speed is still above 29 kmh. As we ride into town there is a light drizzle. The roads are wet but we manage to stay warm. It's still 20 deg.

Stage 4 Corowa NSW - 210 km
I just had another flat Tyre  We see 4 other team going in the other direction. It's so obvious they are doing the same event.

Stage 5 Berrigan NSW - 290 km
Now for the hurt.  The legs are getting tired and SauruS syndrome has started. We have been riding into a nasty cross/head wind for the last 80 km I'm finding it very hard to keep up a rhythm. I'm looking at the map on the Garmin as I ride and I can see what is coming around the next corner.

It's been 6 weeks since I have been on a bike and I've now done 290 km in 14 hrs.  No shame in giving up now.

Stage 6 Cobram - 320 km
Kate, Harold and Frank push on they ride the next 100 km into the wind. The next time I see them they look destroyed. Going has been very slow. The rolling speed is now below 20 kmh.


Stage 7 Nathalia - 385 km
A very hesitant start.  It doesn't look like anybody wants to restart.  The slow going has reversed any time advantages gained earlier and it is going to be a tough ride to finish.  5 km into the stage I'm back on the bike to help out. 70 km to go to Rochester.

Stage 8 Echuca - 430 km
It's about 8 degrees,  The sun is rising, there should be an energy surge real soon, it always happens when the sun rises.....................


Stage 9 Rochester - 460 km
7.35am we ride into Rochester and go straight to the memorial.  Not finished as we intended to but that's enough. We are not the only team who hasn't made the distance.

Stage 10 Rochester -501 km
Cancelled.  We are out of time

Well done Kate Frank and Harold you guys are cool. Ride 461 km in 24 hr under extreme conditions. That's 3 new PB's.  Me, 364 km a 6 weeks after shoulder surgery and 6 week off the bike.

 Some more stats

4 riders total km 1747
461 for k,h, & f 364 for h
It was my first ride in 6 weeks
Ride time aprox 20 hr
Can of coke 8, jells 12, bars 12, fruit cake a big one
Chicken sambo...... No more please
Hrs ridden in the rain 0.5
km riden into a really shitty head wind 230
teams competing about 20.   Min distance 360 Max distance 540
scabs on my arse. 4
We all had trouble sleeping friday night and got 1-2 hrs of sleep. So really we went two full nights without sleep

Sins of the Father

Forgive me Bicycles,  it has been 38 days since major shoulder surgery.

Oh how I miss the feel of your grips and the comfort you give when my seat touches yours.

I promise you all. Soon I will get you down,  dust you off and take you for a much needed ride.

Who Dropped the H Bomb + Ritual Dance to the MTB Gods

1 in 20 fun.

Cool,  just 2 days after a tough ride up Mt Buffalo I'm back on the 1 in 20 again.
20:42,  Just 8 seconds of my PB.

Bright Week. January 2013

We had another great week in Bright Victoria as usual.

The nerves were a stretched a bit thin as a fire was started by lightning in Harrietville on Tuesday leaving a cloud of smoke over the area for the rest of the stay.

This year I managed to squeeze in 480km in 8 days that included:
3 Mt Buffalo's.
A couple of Tawonga Gaps.
A Wandy Classic.
A family trip to the Bright Berry Farm for an ice cream.
And the usual fully sick MTB fun.

I finished on the last day with the Happy Valley Loop and little climb up Mt buffalo on the way back. 162km with over 2800m of climbing.

2012. A few ride stats and a few PB's

Best year since records began.  I love my Garmin Edge

9681 km

• 31534 laps of Blackburn CC Velodrome
• Distance from Morocco to Casablanca

105 km Elevation

• 12 times up Mt Everest
• 167 times up Mt Dandenong

305,000 calories

• 1968 cans of coke 
• 1260 Mars Bars (@242)