Sunday 13 December- part two

After parting with Roscoe and Dave at Candelo Rob and I headed uphill in search of the the elusive mountain man AKA le Symbole. Rob and I rode at an appropriate pace to allow for the descent of man; alas it was not to be. Up and over the top and half way down the other side we crossed paths and with le Symbole turning (not in any weird way) and joining us on the ride to Wyndham. Very nice coffee, bit of a feed and back to Bega the same way. To his credit (despite some rambling story about water, poly pipe and his wife) le Symbole rode back to the top of Myrtle to send us on our way.

An enjoyable 90ks for van Velo and Rapide. In cruise for the day and still a 24 plus average.

Sunday 13 December 2009

This sunday saw 4 tools make the starting place for the weekly jaunt to places unknown. Quelle surprise!! well it was for this correspondant tool when he arrived to discover, this weeks destination was Wyndham to meet a fifth tool Monseiur Le Symbole. As it turned out only two tools made the full journey with the other two getting as far as Candelo before enjoying a pleasant return journey via Wyndham lane back to Bega and a nice coffee at the regular. the other three ?no doubt enjoyed the ascent of the Mont Myrtle. we wait expectantly to hear!!

And next week, the dirty tools get their turn with the tour de forests. Ditching the roady for a little tour thru some beautiful forests along mainly dirt tracks, generally sans traffic, maybe a little single track, some fire trails and some walking tracks. Same starting place, and will get to tathra but a backcountry route, so remember that mtb

AIS Team Member no match for Tools on Tour visitor

It is always a case of "have swimming carnival to go to, pack bike" during the summer season. This weekend is was off to the AIS Pool in Canberra for the annual Christmas Classic where Miss Brooke Willis and Miss Rachel Britten performed admirably.

For me it was an early morning ride that would  end up at the AIS Pool. Heading off bright and early just before 6am I met a lone rider on the way and took advantage of his local knowledge and his offer to join him. It turned out that this guy (Tim I think) was an AIS athlete and a member of the Commonwealth Games selection team.

We headed out towards Mt Stomlo (all I could think of was the pain of Fitzs Challenge that was stilled etched in my memory), but alas we turned off at Stomlo and headed back to the AIS via Coppins Crossing, and this is where I stake my claim to fame - yes, I beat this guy up all the climbs.

True story - must be all the Tools on Tour training we've been doing.

I was so pumped after my ride that I went back to the hotel, had breakfast and went and did another lap of the 35km circuit.

Now I know you will all find this hard to beleive but its bloody true, and if you don't beleive me all you have to do is contact Tim at the AIS.

PS . By the way you'll have to ask for Tim from the AIS Archery Team

Thursday 10 December

Three men made of stern stuff pushed away from a whimpering Andy to take up the challenge a little after 5:30pm. There was a rumour that Ross kept sliding off his saddle, or there would have been four. Apologies were accepted from Bob (will the secret training never end). Dave continues to disappoint, always needed when the wind picks up.

The usual Springvale run with chain-gang, hill-climb, and bridge sprint. All the better for doing it hard; a couple of maximum heart rates. Well done and fun.

the sunday ride

Only two tools made it this Sunday. A bit of a lull perhaps after the week long s2s. Le Jardinier and Route de Feuille set off on a beautiful morning for a leisurely jaunt to Tathra and return. Somewhere near kalaru the catch was made with Heather rounded up. Being social types the two tools then rode at a very social pace on the return journey. A visit to the growing chez jardinier rounded up the trip with both fellow cyclists much impressed with the new dwelling

Ride to Eden Swimming Carnival via Candelo/Myrtle Mtn & Nethercote

The midday start of the Eden Swimming Carnival was great opportunity to fit in a decent ride and end up at the carnival. I decided to go the long way, Bega to Candelo, then onto Myrtle Mountain, Wyndham, Nethercote and Eden.

It was the first time I had ridden up Myrtle Mountain from that side, riding by myself meant that I had no pressure to ride too hard so I rode at my own pace. A nice little tail wind assisted me as I turned off towards Nethercote, then it was the challenging climb after Nethercote, once you hit the top of that one its all downhill for the last 6kms into Eden





The stats:

Distance - 85.79km
Total Ascent - 1319m
Riding time - 3hr 46 mins

A great ride!!

Thusrday 3 December

A merry threesome went for a leisurely and civilised ride; Ross, Andy and Dominique. Played around at the hill climb and put the course on our garmins. Not so sure it was a good idea as now we can tell how much effort we put in each time we climb. We all cunningly set times about a minute and a half slower than our best. Finished with a review of chateau Roscoe. No racing :(