Back on an even keel

Well, readers, here we are back from the edge of the known world. Since your correspondent's return, there have been mid week bike rides by those who have the life in order (ie non-workers) at 9am on Wednesday, and we have had two Sunday trips. On those, I can report.

Last Sunday 29th October 2017 at 9am S Porter, J Fitzgibbon, P Kimber and guest artiste Mark Quinane heads from the RYCT.

The weather was hot and a 'stiff' breeze on the nose. Mona for coffee the plan.

Kimber, after 6 weeks of ongoing dining and refreshments, was pulling against the bit. Quinane was apparently a regular and strong rider.  The Fitz was measuring his heartbeat and constraining his natural interest to sprint. S Porter kept the pace.

So it was a good fast ride to Mona, and enjoyable sit in the sun for coffee before the ride back. The wind "up the cloaquer" was a great aid on return, with speeds in the 40's regularly clocked.

The town was buzzing around the wharf, with one of the early cruise liners adjacent Macquarie Wharf, and hundreds of punters strolling in and out of our bike lane.

TODAY: Sunday 5th November 2017 9am
After a confusing set of texts on WotsApp, which tended to indicate that S Porter wished to travel to Kingston via New Norfolk, we settled down to a view of life much more appropriate to our relative gentrification.

That is

  • Meet at RYCT at 9am, if indeed no-one decides to cancel because of the weather before then;
  • Decide on an appropriate journey dependant on discussion then.
With that in mind the sun came out and warmed the land from 4 degrees to 8, with possibility of 12 by the end of the ride.

The Bonnet was selected, and off Fitz, Porter and Kimber headed.

The professional, depicted below, was only professional at wearing a t shirt - not at riding and confirms he 'found it tough today'.
Image: apparently a bicycle rider: false advertising? Misleading and deceptive?

The wind was on the nose but not strong. By the Riverview Hotel, the band had stretched, with Fitz leading on his WWII Tank (ie heavy bike). Porter kept back to ensure Kimber had 'legs' - and then we reconvened after a sprint to the TAroona Service Station Cafe. Bang! up the hill, and past the Shot Tower, progressively up to the top of the Bonnet.

Statistics: 
21.46 km
average: 18.8 km/hr (should have been over 20)
Max 47.6 km/hr (obviously down, not up the Bonnet Hill)
Time in the saddle: 1 hour 8 minutes and 12 milliseconds.

A coffee at "Lola" and the day began again for the spirited riders, full of enthusiasm to meet the challenges head on. 

Peter Larkey reported in from the First Class seat on an aeroplane travelling between a Bass Strait Island and a Mainland Capital (confidential for privacy reasons - perhaps he is to be the new President of the Senate?).

Nathan reported 'shagger's back' and rested easy while the others toiled.

Next week: will be a Sunday after a high school reunion for me, and that might make early rising either easier or harder, depending on how the night goes.






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Petra across the bridge to Shag Bay

Image
Petra to Shag Bay: the true story! With the Marples all married off to the Windsor, and Red Hair again in fashion, it was an ideal day this Sunday (20 May 2018) to travel to the sunny side and explore the northern side of the bridge. At stages the travel was slow going, but the end product was quite a long ride, with sufficient stops and entertainments to make it feel relatively relaxed. The Glenorchy - Casino (why don't they get their own?) walk/run day was on, so there was doubt about whether we would be blocked trying to cross the bridge. With an agreed start at Montague Bay of 10am, Porter and Fitz took the car option, and parked near Rose Bay. Kimber being uncertain about damage to the limo by poking his bike in the boot, rode over from Nixon St.  By 0915 hrs the Royal wedding had been swept aside like last night's rubbish in the street, and people were back egocentrically exploring their own world. No wind, 11 degrees, and a great wash of humanity tr
Read more

The Stool Pigeons Fly the Coop

Image
Winter is here. 1st June and the pigeons have flown to northern regions. Fitz has taken his long silently suffering to France, where they will again be allowed to speak of the many secret things between couples.  Tony has packed his pedal bike, and shipped it to Germany, where he will tour the lowlands with his daughter, protected by accompanying Karen in the BMW or Mercedes tour vehicle. But whilst some fly way Peter, fly away Paul, others drive themselves back to Hobart from autumn holidays. Larkey returned after the very successful Saint Hill - Man Alive  release in Melbourne: see and listen to clips: Cut and paste into your browser):  https://sainthill.bandcamp.com/album/man-alive With strains of the famous Robert Smith band "The Cure", along with the eponymous Robert Zimmerman, the Saint Hill rendezvous with musical fame is upon us. Larkey will be truly living off the earnings! His retirement from invigilating will be complete. Porter was his reliable self, wi
Read more

Beautiful Wet and Cold Day - the start of Spring

Image
Thank you to Stephen and Lizzie Bourke for being led by their youngest son Ailbe, so he can pursue (instead of keeping up with school work) the stage, the boards, acting and theatre. When advised Legally Blond  was on at the Playhouse for a two week season, the Bikeriders selected the closing Saturday show on 8th Sept 2019 for the entertainment. Tickets were booked, and instead of trying to sort out a pre-show commercial venue for food and refreshments, Kimber put up the idea of 'curries at home from later afternoon'. And so it was. One of the two curries.   Easy to make, only a few spices, and in the slow cooker, get it going by 1pm and she's ready to feed, with mash potato, at 6pm  Peta and Lulu getting to know each other. "Will you be eating all your duck?" Said Lulu. "No" said Peta. "Why do you ask?" - then they walked hand in hand down to the edge of the garden and the friendship was cemented in love, and food...
Read more