My last ride before leaving Porepunkah was out to the end of the misty Buckland Valley (COLD!) and back via Quins Gap to the bakery for coffee with the Bright boys on Easter Saturday.
Smithy suggested we do a bit more riding so we headed 200 metres down the road to the Sweet Retreat for coffee (still COLD!).
That gave me enough oomph to consider a few more miles so Smithy, Mark Grim and I went for a quick spin up to Tawonga Gap. The Easter weather has been kind to us and it was beautiful to roll back down to Bright in absolutely gorgeous sunshine on a crisp autumn morning. Bliss!
Since then it’s been all about chocolate, hot cross buns, easter bunnies and pancakes. And oh yeah... about that day Jesus rose from the dead having died two days before! We even went to church on Sunday morning. Here's mum doing the reading (right).
And I can't forget Karen's birthday yesterday. A fantastic day celebrating out at Weller's Restaurant in Kangaroo Ground with the fam.
Stu, Jules, Joy, Brad, me, Karen at Weller's
The kids at Weller's
So after two days of glutony, I felt the need for speed (and the expulsion of some calories). We met at 7am this morning for a tour of the Smiths Gully trails.
It's not often you see such a group on mountain bikes in uniform (except for clean-skin Smithy - I think his covert appearance had more to do with the thought that his kit would probably be going home with holes in it).
Unfortunately we only got three quarters of a Rob Roy loop in before Foggy was on his feet walking back to the shop...
... and Gus was wondering if he'd ever see his trusty Soul in the same condition again! It really was a bugger for Foggy as he was starting to get into it big time. Despite this experience - a smashed derailer and chain - he's already looking for a cheap option to get him out there again on his own machine. And the Soul is in my garage waiting for repair.
Other incidents of note came in a group of three and involved the same person...
That's right, arguably the 6am-ers best bike handler had at least three low speed crashes... at speeds of less than 5kph. WTF?!?
He's lucky we didn't have a video because they really were quite hilarious.
We missed out on meeting the road crew for coffee. They were a bit early and we were a bit late. Probably a good thing for the Smiths Gully Store but it was a nice idea and should work one day.
The trails were tacky, the weather was dry and the company was fantastic. It's something we should try to do far more often.
What a cracking Easter! Thankyou God.
The Box Hill boys in Bright
I had been very keen on the Bright mountain bike night ride tonight. I get very excited when I'm up here on a Wednesday night but the solid rain since lunchtime put an end to the idea.
Three stags 
What a great sight to see when you return from a lone 3.5hr mountain bike ride! Thanks Kate... although I only got one piece.
All in a good bush night ride.
Me and my girls at the Riverdeck
Lochlan, Jack and Josh on the Porepunkah cable bridge
Jack and Emma by the Ovens River
Emma after a swim
Our swing providing entertainment on the Porepunkah block at 'Jandy's'
The odd Guiness
It’s the basis of my nickname and the thing that draws me to the events I enjoy (enjoy?) – 6 hour mountain bike races, Alpine Classics, Otway Odyssey’s and such.
But my endurance failed me this weekend. It troubles me to admit that I failed to stay awake to see the last 50k of the Paris to Roubaix. I will learn from my mistakes, but the move I made to lie horizontally on the couch at about 11pm was my downfall.
The error may not have avoided the final outcome (big Zs) but it’s always best to avoid the likelihood of failure by making the most efficient decisions throughout the pursuit of your goals.
I did however, manage to make a few efficient decisions this weekend. Starting with the subject of my last post – a day off on Friday to load the car and get the family up to Bright nice and smoothly. I was keen to do well in the Bright 6hr Enduro on Saturday.
And that I did, in the end...
For me it was second in the masters and sixth overall. I was very happy to have achieved this result with 11 laps of the 10.2k circuit in six and a half hours. More so, knowing that only 8 out of 70 solo riders managed 11 laps. Rod Stormonth, a workmate, pulled out a third in the masters and it was a pleasure to shake his hand on the podium – that’s considering I was standing above the '2', if I was on the '3' and he was on the '2' I wouldn’t have been so delighted! (Nuh, kidding ... course I would Stormy)
I admit I needed Dave and Mick to hold me up after the race. I didn’t have a lot left in the legs after that 11th lap!
It was great to catch up with some of my Bright mates, including the bogans!....
I was glad not to have seen the above sign on the trail but I know this gun team went well despite their team name and kit!
Brendon and Aiden pulled off a second in the male pairs for Team Cyclepath.
Brendon looking fresher than me at the finish!
Full results can be seen here.
After smashing down a whole large pizza (each) at the Alpine Hotel after the race, Mick and I jumped in the car and headed back to Melbourne so that I could get ready for the Marysville to Melbourne on Sunday. Home at 10.30pm, into bed and 11pm – alarm off at 4am. Fun!
Mark, Steve and I had to be at the start line in Marysville by 5.45am yesterday morning for Mark’s run start at 6.15am. The atmosphere in Marysville was fantastic, despite the soaking rain overnight, and the runners got off on time in relatively fine conditions (apart from underfoot).
The race format was as follows:
It was a magnificent race, extremely well organised by Rapid Ascent (who always do the Odyssey well). Our team is very proud to have pulled off fourth position in the Corporate Teams of Six category and Steve and I super-chuffed to have both pulled out the fastest rides in both cycling legs overall (in the money!).
You can see the full results here.
So then off I went to catch a train and bus back up to Porepunkah to catch up with my family who I hadn’t really seen properly for about 48 hours.
I sat down at 10.30pm to watch the Paris to Roubaix.
I lay down on the couch at about 11pm.
I ran out of Diesel.
I slept.
Someone won in Roubaix.
Just a very slightly sad moment yesterday when I had to give all my carbon back. These frames have given me great pleasure so it was with some regret that I returned them to Bikepro. Andy should have his shiny new model ready for me to collect in the near future.
