The Thin Blue Line

Which squiggly blue line are you?

The Sunday Sessions

Well the Sunday roadie ride started out exactly the same as the Saturday morning ride - a flattie within 1k of leaving the start.  Snapper thought he was at the Nitro Circus try outs and was jumping all over the road to avoid the hole.... or maybe he was just  being mindful of his nice new steed and didn't want any first week bingles?? 

Croz was in charge of the flat tyre change - no instructions needed today Caro!  Might I say though that I think the instructions are a mighty good idea for newbie riders (and those that don't ride with their own mechanics) however, you may want to leave out the "squeal like a girl" part when you use the gas cylinder - that was a little embarrassing Croz!!

Unfortunately for us, there was no coffee shop to pull up at in Goondoon Street at 5:30am so we had to change the flat and ride on.  I can honestly tell you that I was looking around pretty darn hard for that coffee shop too.

Weekend Riding

So the weekend has begun and there's lot's of riding to be done.  Some of us were up early, out in the dark, trying to steal more dirt Strava Scalps whilst others put their skirts on and pulled up at the coffee shop before the bunch ride had even begun - well technically it had I guess.... by about 400m from what I hear.  Oh and Mr Anderson - sitting at Craig's for a good hour and a half isn't going to help you on the Quarry... or the other one I passed you on this morning.

If you're still in town for the remainder of the long weekend, don't forget the bunch rides tomorrow - take your pick:  MTB at 5am.  Easy roadie at 5:30am and L Plate MTB at 8am. 

Perhaps there will be some mountain bike madness on Monday???? - stay tuned.  We'll keep you updated with riding plans for Monday.

On a final note, I just had to steal SpyCat's photo from this morning - life at it's best: sunshine,  a pink bike and a coffee cup in the back bottle holder.

The Trailmakers

With Tom's track freshly whipper snipped and groomed, Hef and I snuck out for a quick lap around the track this morning.... Just near the ride-thru car wreck we came across this.  We must remember that without the Trailmakers and Maintainers we would have no awesome tracks to ride, no bridges to scuttle across, no hairpins to master and no logs to fall off - all hail the Trailmakers & Maintainers I say!

Don't forget the L Plate MTB ride on Sunday morning at 8am leaving from Choice Petroleum near Sun Valley.  If you've been afraid of the first Wahoo boy after the rollers on the way to Wendy's, be afraid no more - there's a cool new side track that will keep you upright and rubber side down!

Saturday Morning Ride - Time Change

As the season has changed, so has the time of the Saturday ride...... ha - we could star in our own TV show with an introduction like that!  

Actually, after the effort on the last of the summer time Saturday Smashes I'm damn sure we would make an awesome TV soap.  There was the bunch evil guy, Hef - lead character of course. The Damsels in distress, SpyCat and Blogmistress - who REALLY WERE in distress, the bunch was going too hard.  The Hero..... was there a hero to rescue the Damsels in distress???? Nope, I don't think there was.  Plenty of extras though working for the Evil Hef.......

Sorry, I got a bit side tracked.  The purpose of the post is to let all the riders know in M1 land that the Saturday rides now leave at 5:30am from Craigs at Sunvalley.  Winter woolies aren't quite needed yet, but it won't be long.

Don't Forget!

The Steady Sunday

Everyone in M1 land was in for a bit of a easier morning this morning after yesterday's little hit out.  On the roadie ride there were a couple of new-old riders (Croz and Drop Bear) and a new-new rider (Charmaine) to complete the morning.  

It was a leisurely roll around the circuit but somehow a few didn't make it to the brew shop??? Super short cuts perhaps???

Steve received his initiation into the Dirty Rat clan with an over-the-handle-bar-dismount down Hayden's Hill on the 5am MTB ride. Ahh, the State Forest is such a great place for Dirty Rat initiations to take place.... makes me recall my own initiation when Pengu made the remark "one more little hill Kate" - I don't know what kind of "hills" they have in Antarctica, but in the State Forest there is no such thing as a little uphill or downhill!! Initiation complete.

The Batman Ride

Well, well, well, it looks like this Saturday's ride is going to be one of Good v Evil with Batman (Zulu) and Robin (Blogmistress) teaming up on the tandem to take on the M1 City nasties aka single bikes...

From what I've heard, all the usual M1 City crooks will be riding:
- The Joker (Hef), does he really need any introduction??
- The Riddler (Mr Anderson), sorry Ando - but you do actually look and behave like the Riddler.
- Bain (LG), the pure grunt of the single bike pack.
- Catwoman (um, SpyCat of course), no explanation needed!
- The Penguin (The Pied Piper), there are some definite physical similarities here.....
- Mr Freeze (Snapper), beware of the frosty glaze of Mr Freeze.
- Poison Ivy (Skeeta), hmmm, gotta watch this one, she's fiesty.

Will Good overcome Evil on Saturday morning??? Will the tandem completely SMASH the single bikes??? Me thinks so!

The Post Pumpkin Smash Rides

Today's riding appeared to have been a little more sedate than yesterdays Smashfest, with many of the Dirty Rats turning up with tired legs this morning.  By the look of your bikes when you got to the brew shop, I think your name may need to be changed to Tutu Rats.... there wasn't much dirt on them bikes.

Without the Pied Piper or Little Tick to lead the Rats, they ended up doing a "Mystery Tour", which somehow managed to avoid all major climbs - how convenient!  On their mystery tour, they came across this.... who knows where it is, but of course the Rats had to ride through it in true Rat fashion.

Even with the early morning showers, there was still a good turn out for the roadie ride.  Drop Bear even managed to climb out of bed and  join us for the loop and the New Girl (Jodine) has now managed to ride two days in a row - here's hoping you manage to keep the roll on!!

Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday in M1 land... see you on the Tuesday morning ride.

The Post Halloween Ride

Ok, so Halloween may have been a few weeks ago..... but yesterday the Tantrum Throwers were at it again... smashing Pumpkins (aka single bikes) on the Saturday Smashfest.  Some Pumpkins were that smashed on Sunday morning that they A)  Drove to the ride (Mr Anderson), B) Didn't even turn up for the ride (The Pied Piper), C) Didn't do Mt Bindello (everyone that did turn up!) or D) Turned up Phillip St and took a short cut to the coffee shop (SpyCat).

Yes, Mr Anderson, I WILL pay for it when I get back onto my single bike - but I tell you what, I'm having the time of my life seeing you boys suffer!

Unfortunately, we didn't manage to average 38k/hr for the ride.... but at 33.5k/hr, I think the proof was in the pudding by the time we got to the Bakery.

The Snapped Snapper Ride

In breaking news from the ride this morning, the Snapper got Snapped in the paceline but none other than his better half Skeeter.  There were no flatties or mechanicals involved - just sheer guts, strength, determination and awesomeness on Skeeter's part!!!!!!!  And as always, everything you read on the blog is true!

Snapper did take revenge along Anderson Way, driving it on the front and splintering what was left of the bunch to pieces.

New rider Monty turned up for his third road ride this week and even felt compelled to join Captain Anderson and myself for another stroll over Haddock.  I believe Andy may have even ventured out there as well???  Chris did an awesome job of controlling the bunch this morning in the absence of our beloved Hef.

If you didn't get a chance to get out this morning, Jordan is heading up the MTB ride that will leave from Choice petroleum at Sunvalley at 5:30pm.

The Protein Bar

Now only the Zulu could get his sponsor "baked beans" to make him a protein bar specifically for the Saturday Smash Sessions.  Not sure it's gonna be a hit with all the roadies in the pack though - it may be a little messy to scoff down when the Zulu is peeling banana's on the front!

The KPSR was a HUGGGGGGGGEEEEEE hit this morning with the entire bunch of about 10 riders heading out along Taragoola Road and return.  Mind you though, it may have been the KPSR circuit, but it certainly wasn't the KPSR pace!  It was a totally awesome ride - especially when I SMASHED the tandem up Haddock Drive!

Enjoy your long weekend!  

The Lucky Ride

What's the definition of lucky???? Flying down Haddock at full noise, blowing your back tyre but managing to hold your bike upright and stop in one piece!!!

Ron aka The Baker - you should buy yourself a lotto ticket or two!

The Saturday Smash... It has begun

Can anyone come up with "Captions for this pics??

The Yeah Yeah Ride

Ahh, how can you not love this face?????  In the words of the King - I shall have my cake and eat it too!  In fact, I shall eat as much as I can stuff in my face!  Happy birthday to the Hef for tomorrow.  Yeah yeah.

Good turn outs on both the Dirty Rat ride and the Yummy Mummy ride.  Flats were also present in good numbers on both rides with three on the roadie ride and one on the MTB ride.  Yeah yeah.

Right.  Mrs Huth gets to spend the week in the naughty corner for jumping the start of the ride and getting to the coffee shop well before we even looked like arriving and Mr Anderson gets to spend the week in the naughty corner for smashing the birthday boy on the Dirty Rat ride - no chocolate milk for you either Mr Anderson!  Yeah yeah.

And in the words of Zulu - "It would be nice if spring would stick around for a little longer than a week, it appears that we're into summer already".  About time I say!!!  Yeah yeah.

Caro - Yeah yeah!

The Saturday Rides

It's that time of year boys and girls - actually we're a little bit late this year - for the Saturday morning rides to swing back to the Saturday Summer Smashfest Rides.

From this Saturday, the bunch will start rolling out at 4:45am from Craig's Bakery at Sun Valley.  Riders will have two options:
1.  Hitters:  about 90ks in total.  Turn around point this year will be about 10ks out along the Boyne Valley Road.  We've abandoned the Kroombit tops road due to road works.  
2.  Kitty Soft Paws:  about 60ks in total.  Kitty soft paw riders will swing off at Taragoola road just through Calliope and make the return trip back into town in front of the hitters.

The aim of the ride is to keep the whole bunch together until Calliope.  After that, the Hitters are free to destroy each other as they will - may the strongest riders survive!  Hitters caught smashing the Kitty Soft Paw Riders before Calliope will be banished to the small chain ring and must pedal with one leg for the remainder of the ride (Note:  The Blogmistress' decision against all Hitters will be final and no arguments shall be entered into!  I can see a lot of one legged pedaling happening this weekend!). 

Both groups SHOULD arrive at the brew shop around the same time.

The Tuesday Night Mountain Bike Ride start 5:30pm 18th September

The Love Is Ride

Ok you Mere Males in M1 Land, listen up.  Remember the little cartoons "Love is.....", well this morning's ride was a clear indication that Hef, Snapper and Mr Anderson all need to be reaquainted with the Love is theory.  Let me explain....

Mr Anderson.  Love is NOT.... 'deliberately stalking down your wife on Haddock Drive and passing her 10 metres before the top'. 

Snapper.  Love is NOT.... 'catching your wife just before the railway line with about 500m to go before the coffee shoop'.

And Hef.  Love is DEFINATELY NOT..... 'sprinting against your wife as you come into the final corner 100m before the coffee shop to take victory for the boys'.

It's probably a good thing that LG wasn't on the ride this morning as I'm sure he would have been influenced by the other Mere Males in the pack!

And "Enforcer", you took Kitty Soft Paw Ride to a new low this morning when you turned on Jim Whyte and missed Haddock altogether.  Tsk Tsk.

The Payback Ride

They say that Karma bites, and after this morning's ride I'd have to agree with that statement.  Last week, the girls were on fire, smokin' up the road - this week, we three chicks couldn't stop moaning and groaning (and we hadn't even rolled out from the shop yet!).  It was a ride of sufferance on our part and other than that, I have very little to report!

In fact, I'm sure we all had our pink tutu's on as we all disappeared early down Harvey Road - avoiding Ando's Lane, Haddock Drive and basically anything that remotely resembled a climb.    

It was definately a boys morning this morning.  But never fear, we will come back - with a vengence... eventually!! 

The Pie Rides

Today was all about pies - and of course the Drop Bear living up to his name.  There wasn't many of us on the roadie ride... only 5.  Baby Wex has some explaining to do, after his no show.  Let me tell you Baby Wex, Papa Wex absolutely smashed it this morning - including a few extra Haddock repeats!!  See what you missed???

So the roadies arrived at Craig's first and Paul (aka Daddy Long Legs) comes out with a pie.  Correct me if I'm wrong but it's a ned kelly???  And apparently, this is the way you spread sauce on a pie.  To me it looks like Daddy Long Legs was just looking for an excuse to play with his food!!

About 20 minutes later, the Dirty Rats ride in, with Drop Bear hobbling along at the back.  Not only did Drop Bear manage to have one off, he had two offs of similar fashion.  Despite the lack of claret, Drop Bear did actually look a bit worse for wear - don't forget to send me the photos when the bruises come out!  And then there were the pie-s.... This is how the Dirty Rats do it, small and petite.  

The Yawning Ride

Whilst the boys were busily yawning at the start of the ride this morning, the girls took advantage and totally owned the road!