Mt Donna Buang

Up early once again after the storms down here last night, on the positive side the wind has gone for now. The wind down here yesterday was cyclonic, it was mad. The climb started about 150 meters from where we are staying so that was my warm up....I think it was about 640 meters in the end and about 7 and a bit K's up. I only got out of my easiest gear once on the way up....Towards the top I was making some grumbling noises and a few choice words popped out as well, it made me feel better. The clouds were thick and the road was that wet it looked to have slime on it. Bigger ones to climb in the next few days though :(

I'm on strava now so check out my rides if you want (not sure if you can as I haven't looked at it and how it works but I'm assuming you can). Strava is awesome, look into it if you haven't already.

Victorian roads suck overall though, no shoulder (except near where Cadel lives) and they are very narrow. I hate to say it but NSW have the best roads by far - that we have driven on so far.

Oh yeah and near Melbourne the rider awareness signs are massive.

Apollo Bay Ride - GOR

Well what a ride, up and into it by 5:30 (southerner time) and about an hour before the first vehicle went past me; this is riding some of the coast line on the Great Ocean Road I might add!

I went from Apollo Bay to Kennet Point i think it was before heading back and up Skenes creek road for a nice climb (if there is such a thing). The scenery is something else. The trip back down the mountain was awesome even though I was stuck behind a cement truck with a f$%^wit driving it who wouldn't let me pass. Of course I went straight to the coffee shop for a recovery drink.

The Ship Wreck Coast Ride

A sleep in after a failed attempt at a ride early this morning, I got up and opened the door to see if the wind had stopped, I went back to bed...I managed to sneak in my ride late this afternoon and let’s just say it was probably the most impressive ride I have ever experienced. Incredible scenery combined with massive headwinds and inclines where I was in the smallest gear I had just grinding it out. Being attacked by a dog while in that gear into the wind up a hill was a bit underhanded I thought, bloody thing bit my shoe too; he got a spray of my water bottle for his trouble. On the positive side when I got to the Great Ocean Road I had the wind behind me and I was in my top gear and feeling like a pro! I am very impressed by the attitude of drivers down here as i have already stated, but when half the farmers I passed today waved I thought this is great. The scenery is magic and the lack of traffic on the little back lanes is such a welcome change. We ran into some friends from Tannum today, go figure! and they said to watch out the closer you get to Geelong because there are bikes everywhere...I'm excited :)

Couple of shots from my ride which was about 50 k's. The shots with water in the background is actually the tops of the 12 apostles!

Greetings from the far south

Folks bloody cold and windy down here at the bottom of OZ! Of course I didn't bring any cold weather gear so I have had to man up and brave the conditions. First ride on the great Ocean Road tomorrow morning and while I'm excited by the prospect the cold wind isn't getting me too excited, maybe it will be calm...They certainly respect riders a lot more down this way without any doubt, sure there is the odd idiot so the lads that I have ridden with say but I'm happy to say I haven't come across any just yet. I've managed a ride in Dubbo, Ballarat and Warrnambool so far with more rides planned as I try to tackle Mt Buller in the high country next week some time! Standby for some more pics :)

Busso IRONMAN

This weekend Luke, Arpit and Clem will start the 2011 WA Ironman, will they all finish?

Wishing you all the best and hoping you all end up with a finisher medal around your necks. Just put the recent shark attacks and hot weather out of your minds as you prepare and you'll be fine ;)

2011 Rockhampton Cup on Wheels

This weekend the Rocky Cup on Wheels will be held and is a great evening of non stop action. There are some locals racing with Kev being of special note as he rides with us on Thursdays :)

There are a few people heading up for the Friday night to watch and returning late that night, just contact me for further info. You just need a chair and there is plenty of tucker there. Racing starts at 6pm Friday night and 3pm Saturday.

The Dogs Breakfast Ride

Well the Saturday ride this week was nothing like last weeks relatively easy ride. Craig, Vaughn and I (no G) left the Coffee Club at 4:30 while Ryan and Myron 'The Greek' left Gladstone at the same time. The 2 early bird groups met at the usual place on the highway before heading back to the Tannum Coffee Club to pick up the 6am starters. I think we had 12 in the group (no G) all up so a healthy number. Luke dropped a bottle almost first thing so he was behind the 8 ball straight up, Ben waited for him to try and get him back to the pack. The pace was bang on at 30 on the trip to the big roundabout so everyone was pretty comfortable. Once the bunch got to the dam road it was 2 x 2 and all was good with the world. The first 2 riders peeled off with some instruction and then Daryl and I swung out off the front after doing our little bit and I was thinking the group were looking the goods; this is where things got ugly....Ryan and Dylan were the next 2 and the pace went up a few notches resulting in mayhem back in the pack as riders were spat out the back. I decided to drop back and we quickly reformed a group behind the pace setters and cruised to the dam at a steady pace. The pace setters wound it back and stayed out in front of the second group by 100 meters or so. Then came the mighty dam hill.......after the hill there were many groups spread out far and wide. On the return trip Ben put the hammer down like never before and rocketed away from the group (what was left of it) at an alarming pace.

I'm pretty sure by the end of the ride Vaughn was a spent unit from all accounts and I'm certain he won't leave it so long between rides next time :)

Next weeks ride we will split into 2 groups at the start of the dam road to cater for different paces.