Thursday night ride and image meeting

The starting point for the Thursday Night Ride was changed to Carp St to allow for a group meeting at the end of the ride to discuss the group "image"
Van Velo led the evening ride with a combination of in town street riding up the steeper parts of town, it was then off to the trusty Springvale area before returning home with the usual sprint across the bridge, sorry not sure who won that one as I was too far back.
The Tools then gathered for coffee at the unoffical Carp st headquarters to discuss the image and apparel for the upcoming trip to France. Jo presented the design options and there was much discussion and many points of view but we did end up with a result. Jo will now send off the final design for production.

Tour Itinerary

Click on this link to see the latest itinerary for our trip to France

Tour Itinerary

The Double Brown sub 50 mins

Le Bandit decided to invite others to experience the Brown Mountain this week with the aim of doing the "Double Brown". Two fellow tools showed up to accompany him, Van Velo and Just metre vos sac, so it was off to the mountain.
Two out of the 3 starters were yet to tackle the double but were very keen to join the club.
Le Bandit showed the way on the first ascent and got to the top in the very good time of 49:35 very closely follwed by Justre Metre vos sac in a time of 49:45 with Van Velo coming in just under the 50:00.
All three riders were very impressed with their efforts to get under the 50 mins but it was going to be very tough to repeat on climb number 2.
Climb no 2 started with the trio very keen to at least get close to their first effort and it was Le Bandit leading the way yet again, closely followed by Juste Metre Vos Sac and then Van Velo. All put in a big effort to the top and were abosolutely wrapt to get the top in even better times with Le Bandit breaking the 49 to record a 48:36, Justre Metre Vos Sac was equally up to the task only 26 seconds behind in the time of 49:02 with Van Velo rolling in not far away.
We received news that fellow tool rapide took the top spot in B grade, so a  great saturday for the "tools"

Training in Wollongong

Some work in Wollongong provided the opportunity for one tool to try some training rides elsewhere. With Mt Kiera overlooking the city yet quite close it looked to be the perfect training ride, for a tool preparing for the mountains of France. So its a 7.5 k climb with about a 450 m gain in elevation. The grade varies all the way up for a bit of variety and a spectacular view at the top as you can see. A highlight is the 60 or 70 metres just near the top that can't be far off 18% gradient. Excellent fun.
So been up twice now, tomorrow arvo will make three and can be recommended for any visitor to the Gong.

A Sunday Ride

4 Tools showed up for A Sunday morning ride. Other rides have overtaken our old favourite these last few weeks. But the disapppointment of missing out on the Cooma race didn't stop some tools from making the start. So our old favourite trip to Tathra and return was the order of the day. It was a beautiful day for a ride but did start out a bit foggy.
We rounded up Heather somewhere near Kalaru, who was also returning to a sunday ride after a nice trip to darwin. Somewhere around now the bandit told us his secret. He had lived up to his name and done a solo Brown mtn ascent in around the 50 mins on Saturday. Light beat him for a double, but is keen to try again next week and this time we are all invited.
Le jardinier got his tyres fixed up and this week to his delight enjoyed a trouble free pedal where we all kept up a good pace, but none ever really went into the red zone.
On our return we checked chez jardinier almost completed and it looked very nice. Should have taken a photo but that's life.

Back to Bega for a well earned coffee and a ride enjoyed by all.

Wyndham Boy gets lost in Bega

Le Symbol led the Thursday night under the pretence that he had a planned route but I'm pretty sure that he really just got lost and then had to find his way back out to the highway.
Anyway it ended up being a very hard, fast and enjoyable night on the road with a mixture of town streets, a flat out session to Springvale and then a nice hill climb up Coopers Gully.
The Thursday night ride has become very popular and the idea of  "follow the leader" provides the opportunity for a bit of variety - whos turn is is to lead this weeks ride.

BV Century - 2nd edition

All tools fronted up on Sunday to tackle the second BV100. The weather was fine and clear and the enthusiastic tools all arrived early keen for the awaiting challenge. Of course fate being as it is, the first setback occurred before we left Merimbula with Le jardinier, having a flat. L'symbole received the Wyndham handicap getting up the road while the necessary repairs were made. Of course this presented a challenge to Rapide who just has to try and chase down any breakaways. So getting back to the road a good pace was kept by all up the highway towards Bega. Approaching Bega Rapide made his bid to haul in the breakaway which he managed within the town limits.


We regrouped with Rapide at nth Bega while the breakaway continued. Waiting for us Was associate tool Arch with his camera. thankfully for the blog he took some photos of the intrepid tools. Jo here leading the way in her stylish new black outfit and matching new white bike shoes.


Somewhere around now we lost a tool. While Rapide this time with la feuille in tow did his spartacus impersonation chasing L'symbole again, Le jardinier suffered puncture number two and decided that maybe it wasn't his day and returned to Bega. So a few more pictures from Arch. Metre vos sac on his new bike featuring prominently with his unique riding style.

Regrouped, we climbed Macleods Hill some taking the scenic route and other, tougher tools, doing it the tough way straight up the highway. We waved goodbye to Arch and continued up the highway, pretty well together. We enjoyed a good run to Cobargo all especially enjoying the last few ks which were predominantly downhill. A quick water and energy bar stop ensued.
And L'symbole was reacquanted with some old friends. Well two motorcycles in fact. And no blog would be complete without a picture of these bikes and of La Cle's hand.

We dragged Mark away and started towards Bermagui, the wind picked up and provided plenty of assistance on route towards the coast, so all made excellent time and a general increase in their average.

Bermi was the lunch stop for a well earned rest, where we enjoyed our chicken and salad rolls, chocolate milks and bananas, but we couldn't sit there and enjoy the sunny day for too long, so it wasn't long before we hit the road again. The wind had become quite strong and perhaps offered some assistance as we headed south once more. Perhaps we slowed a little but overall a good pace was maintained all the way to Tathra despite some degree of fatigue starting to set in. Another break in Tathra before we attacked the final section, our breaks were certainly starting to lengthen just a bit and there was some tardiness getting going again, but spirits were still high despite covering over 130 ks and the thought that Monks hill was waiting 10 ks up the road.

The climb up from the beach was especially enjoyable, not. But we all got going again properly along the flats towards Monks hill. While as difficult as ever we all seemed to manage it quite well, knowing that few hills remained to the finish. So we pushed on, regrouped at the top of the hill then enjoyed the downhill into Merimbula and the finish. About 160 ks 8 and a bit hours since starting, between 6 and 6.5 hrs riding time for all, 2400 metres odd of climbing and another long ride down for all.

Fortunately we made it in time to get a coffee, brag about how well we all had done, and make some plans for future rides. A very satisfying day!!

Darragh Dash

Several Tools (La Feuille, Rapide, Le jardinier and Van velo)loaded up the trailer and headed for Pambula, for a ride up the Darragh to Cathcart and return. An overcast day greeted us as did L'Symbole. Clothing selection looked to be the the trickiest decision with rain abouts. A good pace was maintained to Wyndham all enjoying the steady climbs and undulating bits. We waved to the other group in Wyndham as they finished their coffee preferring to wait for the return journey before sampling a little cafe.

We attacked the darragh and you could tell all the training that had been going on as the pace was very solid all the way. Certainly your correspondents fastest ascent, and maybe for a few others as well. The weather turned a tad damp on the last bit of the climb, which was OK going up but not so sure coming back down. 4 tools waiting at the summit made the executive decision to forget the cathcart leg and started the chilly descent (bloody freezing again!!). L'symbole not quite at the summit was happy to follow our lead and turn around also. The wet road made for a careful descent but all negotiated it safely for a welcome coffee break at Wyndham.

The ride to Pambula was lots of fun, I think all of us taking the little bridge about half way back just a tad too fast and ending up on the wrong side of the road testamount to how much fun we were having, plus we finally warmed up again. Of course no ride these days seem complete without a sprint at the end (I'll blame Rapide for this inovation, even though I must confess to being a more than willing accomplice)and this ride was no exception. La feuille on this occasion getting the better of Rapide for a rare victory.

So a pleasant ride for us all and good training. Sorry no photos

Candelo Loop PB

 I invited Bob to join me on a ride to test the new bike with the Candelo Loop selected as the preferred course.

I'm putting it down to new bike excitement but a bloody good effort all the same, we did the 50km loop in 1:48:56 at an average speed of 27.5km/hr.

New bike for Andy

The Easter bunny dropped off a big cardboard box at my office the other day and you wouldn't believe what was inside the box - A NEW BIKE.

Yes I decided that in my 50th year the least I could do was treat myself to a new set of wheels.

Its a Dolan Hercules with a nice set of Dura-ace Wheels, its goes really fast and its even in our group colours (Moo moo black and white). My promise to myself is to make sure it goes fast downhills too.