24.85 mi on Colnago CLX 3.0. [Cycling] The Col had its first service during the week and was feeling like an unbrideled Italian thoroughbred as I headed out the door to Hexham at 5.40am for the second consecutive Saturday to test myself against the Maitland bunch again. My first sign of trouble was discovering at Hexham I'd left my tool kit at home, no problem I won't get a flat today, WRONG. The peloton was in top gear along the straight past Hexham Maccas when the bunch split to miss a lump of timber lying in the bike lane. A call of "object" saw me face to face with said object and no option other than to attempt a bunny hop. The front wheel made it over but the back wheel took the full force of impact resulting in a nice old pinch flat. A call-out to Brother-of-Bunter in the bunch rendered assistance. First replacement tube had a hole, 2nd tube was OK, but the rear tail light had also suffered brain damage from the impact. Finally underway at pace to make up for lost time, managed to hang with them until past the Crown Plaza, but lost touch in the brewery sprint. Rode back with the bunch until Mayfield and then cracked off for home, although the bike didn't really feel right. Upon examination at Bunter Team HQ the back rim has sustained a buckle. Although disappointed maybe this is an excuse for a set of Dura Ace wheels, but this is yet to be put to the Director Sportif (not confident about the outcome). A real bummer of a morning.
24.85 mi on Colnago CLX 3.0. [Cycling] The Col had its first service during the week and was feeling like an unbrideled Italian thoroughbred as I headed out the door to Hexham at 5.40am for the second consecutive Saturday to test myself against the Maitland bunch again. My first sign of trouble was discovering at Hexham I'd left my tool kit at home, no problem I won't get a flat today, WRONG. The peloton was in top gear along the straight past Hexham Maccas when the bunch split to miss a lump of timber lying in the bike lane. A call of "object" saw me face to face with said object and no option other than to attempt a bunny hop. The front wheel made it over but the back wheel took the full force of impact resulting in a nice old pinch flat. A call-out to Brother-of-Bunter in the bunch rendered assistance. First replacement tube had a hole, 2nd tube was OK, but the rear tail light had also suffered brain damage from the impact. Finally underway at pace to make up for lost time, managed to hang with them until past the Crown Plaza, but lost touch in the brewery sprint. Rode back with the bunch until Mayfield and then cracked off for home, although the bike didn't really feel right. Upon examination at Bunter Team HQ the back rim has sustained a buckle. Although disappointed maybe this is an excuse for a set of Dura Ace wheels, but this is yet to be put to the Director Sportif (not confident about the outcome). A real bummer of a morning.
22.99 mi on Giant OCR 2. [Cycling] A very brisk 6am start saw me don the gillet for the first time this year. Met MG and headed into town via the usual Tuesday morning route - 2 laps of racecourse, honeysuckle, King EP, beaches & return ascent of Mem Drive. The colder mornings seem to have thinned the number of cyclists, joggers and boot campers. The Col is going in for its maiden service today (be brave my darling, daddy loves you).
32.31 mi on Colnago CLX 3.0. [Cycling] A crisp Sunday morning saw me head solo down the FLT, less my training buddy Elviner, who cancelled due to self inflicted injuries. Very much a mixed bag of sights this morning, a bunter decked out in all his finest cycling clobber having a ciga at the Adamstown end (obviously substituting an energy gel for tobacco), jogger in cycling kit - yes including padded bibs, 2 pissed bogans pushing a shopping trolley with blankets and other bedding material and a selection of other random visual treats. Feeling OK after the FLT in headed into town via Darling Street, and Memorial Drive, followed by a quick coffee at 2300. Very pleasant morning on the fluoro euro, although I smashed into a bitter westerly all the way home from 2300.
26.10 mi on Colnago CLX 3.0. [Cycling] Saturday junior sport commitments saw me hit the road around 5.40am to meet the Maitland bunch at Hexham for my monthly arse kicking, but surprisingly I hung with them until the Crown Plaza straight, but got snapped once they started to really get serious for the Brewery Sprint. None the less I’ll take that as a sign of improvement (I’m usually dropped on Telstra Hill). Cold & stiff southerly blowing this morning looks like autumn is almost a memory.
21.75 mi on Giant OCR 2. [Cycling] Met Elviner for usual mid-week route. Nice morning to be out, albeit a little fresh to start with. A couple of racecourse laps were undertaken, into town via Wharf Rd, together with an ascent of King Eddie Park, return ascent of Mem Drive.
