The Dirty Tools at the Mont 24 Hr

Three tools and two juniors took on the mont 24 hr. La feuille Van Velo and le bandit comprised the dirty tools with one lap Tom and Henry sharing the fourth spot. The last few 24 hrs taken on were as a team of six, but improved fitness saw us take on the challenge of a four and riding thru the night.

A dusty Sparrow hill was the venue and as has been the custom le bandit again provided his caravan as a welcome base amongst the other 2500 competitors.

This years race strated an hour late to allow for a memorial ride for James williamson who had died a few days earlier only 26,


So La feuille lined up at 1 for the start. where he managed a sub hour lap. One lap Tom took over for his one lap, before a sore ankle saw his early retirement. the track was very dusty but the afternoon proceeded well without mishap and all returning respectable times of just over the hour, and no transitions missed.

As the lights were strapped on and the temperatures dropped saw the first little mishap. Van velo suffered a pinch flat and then a pump that didn't want to work 3 k's from home. He eventually found someone willing to give him a tube and he was on his way again, with maybe 10 to 15 minutes lost. Henry put in night lap, but the other nine (three each) were shared by the three tools and no more mishaps. It was a nice mild night and the dust settled a bit.

In the morning we continued with consistent times, got another lap out of henry (his third), finishing at about 12:20. So it ended up 6 laps for Van velo and la feuille, 5 for le bandit, 3 for henry and 1 for one lap Tom, 21 in all, which was 52 out of 185 teams in the open 4's. We were all pleased with our fitness holding up as well as it did, with our last laps only a few minutes slower than our first. Fortunately Van velo found some photos for the blog. Well done

The Sunday Coffee Run - 21/03/10

Just 2 Tools turned out for the Tathra run this Sunday, the low show no doubt due to an slight ebb of enthusiasm for the ordinary, following the epic Mansfield trip.

However Juste Metre von Sac and La Cle a Molette enjoyed a leisurely pace on a fine morning, catching up with associate Tool, Heather at the top of Evans Hill. An easy run down into Tathra was followed by a spurt of energy and competition up Mogareeka(?) hill. Blood was spilt before Andy emerged the winner, although Heather took the points in the dedication stakes.

Scody High Country Challenge

All 8 Tools made the trip south to Mansfield to undertake the High country Challenge. We all took on Option A 180 ks for Saturday and Option D 125 K's for Sunday. After several months where all the tools had made significant progress with our fitness, all felt confident to take on the challenge offered by these rides




After an early start in Bega on Friday saw us all reach Mansfield safely some 8 or more hours later. we were greeted by maybe 30 or more ladies, gearing up for their bollywood night, but all invitations were declined !! A short stretch out ride was undertaken to stretch out those muscles couped up over the long car drive.


We ate at the Arlsberg Resort which had formerly been the Mansfield ladies college.
La Cle enjoyed her ice cream and the local press decided that La Cle and le feuille were obviously the most photogenic for a picture for the Mansfield courier.

So an early start saw we tools with numerous others start the ride towards Mt buller on a beautiful but slightly cool morning. Rapides promise to stay with the group lasted all of about 5 minutes, but generally we all found our little comfortable spot on the trip out. All reported an enjoyable ascent of Mt buller. None more than Juste metre vos sac, who recorded the second fastest ascent. Special mention must also be made la cle mollette the best woman rider in the world. well fourth fasted woman up the hill anyway. WE all enjoyed the festivities on offer at the top and swapped a few stories of our ride so far before heading off downhill.

Five of us enjoyed a brisk ride to the Jamison turnoff with some others, while the other three got lost at Mt Buller drinking coffee. the undulating ride to jamison was undertaken with all of us finding a comfortable pace except perhaps for rapide who tried very hard to regain the lead position chasing down le feuille and le bandit a few ks out from jamison.

Again the group broke up again a bit on the ride home but the gaps were small and all were happy though just a bit weary.

That night we enjoyed an excellent meal at the produce store, were entertained by Deborah Conway, watched a cycling race, told L'Symbole our personal highlights and generally enjoyed a very pleasant evening.



Sunday we awoke to another beautiful mansfield morning and the promise of another good days riding, to Whitfield and return. A slightly later start allowed a bit of a sleep in. A few less riders started than on day one but enough for a sizeable peloton. An easy start led to a lengthy climb where we all found our rhythm and climbed at our own pace Rapide and your correspondant enjoying a lovely ride through the stunning scenery with some bloke from Eurobodalla. A long descent of 12 ks and whitfield awaited and perhaps my personnal highlight with Pizzas from a wood fired oven to feed us all from the local primary school. Fantastic !!

We all kept together more or less up the long climb out of whitfield and once more through the forests, maintaining a comfortable pace for all, Reaching Tolmie the group got excited about the long downhill and a couple lost touch, and two others had to scramble to catch up after a slow start to the descent. A very brisk pace was maintained to mansfield from here generally showing how well the group had managed the 300 odd k's over the last few days.

So we'd all done it! No accidents nothing so much as a flat tyre and all in excellent spirits. Highlights as recorded by L'Symbole included:-
* best women rider in the world
* the descent
* Jamieson to Mansfield
* will that photo be in the Mansfield Bugle ?
* the chase, the catch, the up the down and just being irrepressible
* pizza at the Whitfield PS
* bollywood nights
* spending time with each of you

An enjoyable weekend was had by all, that even the long drive and late return home could not dampen.

Trois sommets deux fois

 Trois sommets deux fois

Trois tools turned up for the weekly Thursday evening ride with other members calling in their apologies. Present were le bandit de braun.  Juste metre vos sac,  La cle a molette and guest tool Producteur de produits laitiers.

It was decided to break the Thursday routine and try something a bit different - Trois sommets deux fois - it started with 2 high cadence ascents up Kerisons Lane, a little something to get the heart and legs pumping, then it was a left turn onto Black Range Rd where the road incline increased greatly and consistantly then it was back down to the bottom and keeping with the theme of the night it was a U turn and back up again.

Two peaks down and one to go, it was off to the estate of many power poles for the final peak, left onto Wattle Close we were greated by a short but very sharp climb 15% in places, then back down the hill and up again for the final ascent of the night.

A short break at the top to enjoy the view and a well deserved rest before heading home only to meet up with Le Symbol on the way, we were done so he headed out to Wattle Close for some individual efforts.

A tough little training effort but one that we will benefit from as we climb Mt Buller next weekend.