It was really great to get into Wodonga last night and see the posse from last year. Ray, Roger, Hari, Susan, Shari, Bindi Pete, Dave, Craig, Jamie, et al - all in fine form. And Jamie has taken on the mantle (set high) of video production this year so no need for me to muck about with that - just ride...
Ged & I dropped the bongo van back in town (not the last thing we'd drop this week - boom-tish...that one's for you AZ) and headed in for a cracking pre-ride feed: Chicken Parmy and Lasagne. I followed with sticky date pudding and ice-cream (carbo loading) and Ged opted for coffee (drug loading!).
This morning was a bit chilly - not bad at about 8 degrees. I struggled between long fleecy leg warmers or lyrca knee warmers; full jacket or vest only, summer undershirt or autumn weight under-tee - these are the big decisions...get too cold at the start and you can get sick; wear too much and then you sweat too much while climbing and then you get cold on the descents and get sick - I'm telling you, it's a full time job working out what to wear. I went for the vest, summer weight undershirt and knee warmers - phew!!
As you will see from the ride link below - it was a lot lumpier than I remember from last year (even though we were going in the opposite direction). In fact, what I remember as a great descent was actually a wall for us going towards Khancoban.
See the ride here: Wodonga to Khancoban
It was a beautiful day. Sunny, warm, light winds (although it was a head wind all day), the bikes rolled well and spirits were high. GT was strong all day, he was happy to work, he pulled big turns, he blocked when he needed to and he lead out at the right times. And THAT, dear readers, got Team Bravien every town limit (bar one) and every KOM. I take full responsibility for the one we missed. I knew the sign was coming up, I was perfectly positioned on second wheel, it was slightly downhill...but I got caught napping, saw the sign in tree shadows way too late and missed it by half a wheel. The redeeming point was that it would have been worth about 1 second. Now considering GT and I rolled over the last 2 burgs and into Khancoban about 10 minutes before the next player means that one sprint was hardly a biggie! (I'm not even sure there was more than one house there.)
Greg Mitchell (spade working in the main peloton) was left behind today. Unknowingly, he tried to bridge solo across to the lead 4 but was badly stuck in no man's land for about 80k. He stopped at Corryong to fuel up for his last 24k with a sausage roll at the bakery...we'll ensure he's with us tomorrow...if he can put the shovel back in the shed.
Now, we've all been swooped by magpies - and today, for many of the team, was no exception. But on top of that, the bunch was swooped by a flock of sparrows and GT and I were swooped by a flock of massive black cockatoos. It was sort of like a scene from travelling birds as both they and us seemed to be in the wrong world - we without wings, and they without wheels - but actually when I think about, we were closer to flying than they were to riding!!
Anyway- great day and we all pulled up well. Tomorrow, 172k and 2,900m of climbing - it's a big, big day. Sleep well comrades - you're going to need it.
P.S: Absolutely top BBQ with white linen at the local park tonight. Put on by Shane O's café. Chapeau to them - the home made cheesecake topped with glazed strawberries had a delightfully magnificent biscuit base that was quite perfect. Yum.
Team Bravien: bikes, horses, whatever!
What did I tell you, Jezman? That 2012 descent was going to be a 2013 ascent!! (shakes his head - young blokes!! :-) )
ReplyDeleteGood luck berging it tomorrow, mate.
Rayzor