Music to my ears - 29/05/2011

It's not often I go more than seven days without riding but today is my eighth and I'm getting very restless!

Amongst man-flu, music competitions, netball, basketball, essay writing and work the riding has quite unusually had to take second fiddle.

My gorgeous girl Kate was delighted to win her duet section at the Clasax competition yesterday.  Kate and Jessica played a piece that required very precice teamwork and I reckon that's what caused them to succeed.

Well done girls!

Jack and Josh didn't have any luck in the duets but Jack got a Highly Comended prize in his Sax solo section up against some very skilled musicians.  Yes you read it correctly.... Jack got beaten by his little sister!  Ssssshhhhhhhhhhh.

Well done son!  Your solo piece was fantastic and I absolutely loved it with the piano accompaniment.

Jack and I did fit in a ride on his new road bike though (his bike completely purchased with sax busking money).  We rode from home into the city all via the bike track.  It's about 33k altogether.  Jack rode strong all the way and showed many signs of his ability to come.

Here he is smashing it up a short sharp one near the boat sheds.  He really looks a natural.  As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think it will be long before he's killin' me.

So here's the proof of some really hard work musically for my kids.  Very proud.

Another "BE CAREFUL" Lesson - 22/05/2011

Today's Sunday 6am-er ride contained another lesson in how diligent we must be to take care on the roads.

It's never a good thing to have a 6am-er carted off in the back of an ambulance.  Luckily this is the first time I remember it hapenning. 

Horny's okay now but he spent a few hours in the Austin hospital having his face stitched up and his body checked for broken bones.  The end result is not too bad considering the way he managed it.... but he's lucky.

Bender's crash back in January was a bit of a shock and a lucky result as well.  Bloody hell guys!.... let's be careful.


Our Slide Ride today started out as normal with a good deal of fun and some good solid riding in the strong northerly out through Wonga Park, Chirnside Park and Yarra Glen.

We topped King Lake ten minutes ahead of our last best time and made it to Smiths Gully for muffin and coffee in time for a ten thirty finish (little did we know).

A last minute decision to miss the Eltham traffic took us down Mt. Pleasant Road with the intention of enjoying one of my very favourite roads.  About one k down was where it all turned pear-shaped...

The scene - Sharp steep left-hander - taken wide and into the stone wall

No LOC and thumbs up from Horny once securely in the ambulance

One not-so-healthy Cinelli carbon frame

Smiths Gully - half hour before...

Let's work on keeping the rubber side down and these smiles on our faces!

In/out - 18/05/2011

In

Out

60k geared road

.

Steel is real - 17/05/2011

I've heard Dom refer to his old steed as the 'Two Tonnes of Fun' many times.  I never realised it actually weighs two tonnes!  We all took turns to feel the weight after coffee this morning and were amazed at how heavy it really is.  I think it might be made of solid steel.

Here tis...

It prompted me to get a shot of all the steel on show for the Tuesday morning Hurt Box. 

Dom's Two Tonnes of Fun, Shawies absolute classic Moser and Diesel's Pink Single.

(Photographic artwork by Big Horn)

13 riders turned out for the HB this morning and it's fantastic to see how we roll these days compared to when we first started this ride.  Smooth as silk... mostly.

I started to feel good today even considering the ride this morning so I gave in to the temptation to take the Hoot of a Commute home.  I've had my Anthem sitting at work ready to go with two brand-new Nobby Nicks on it for a week.  The trails were in perfect tacky condition and I nailed some stuff I haven't nailed in weeks.

Grouse!

65k moderate road (SS).
1.5hr moderate MTB (geared).

Daisy baskets, spoke clickers, orange flags and mud-guards - 15/05/2011

Hate the Man-Flu!

The fact the weather has been so bad this last week has provided some small concelation for the horrible riding week I’ve had.  Being sick is not so hard to handle when you know you probably wouldn’t have got out much anyway.

However, I couldn’t resist the 6am-ers plans today for the Pav-Macca Loop. The gorgeous roads of the Pav (Lysterfield, Beaconsfield, Emerald) followed by some fast turns around Macclesfield was too much to pass up.  Not that I was ever going to make it!

I headed out on the Lynskey with some new accessories fitted…

Yes, old fashioned mud guards… or the new moderrn version of old fashioned mud guards.  Is that possible? 

And did I cop some crap from all my big tough mates?!

“Hey Diesel, you going to bring your daisy basket next week?”   (The Duke)

“How can you ruin a good road bike with silly lookin’ things like that.”    (Foggy)

“Where’s your flag and spoke clickers Readie?”   (Some other smart arse)

Well here you go boys…

- after a pretty wet ride, nice clean front mech (above) and clean saddle, stays and brakes (below).

And if anyone had managed to sit on my wheel today in the wet I could have taken a photo of their nice clean face – because there was no crud flying.  (They’re great for following riders)

These things are really good and I’m going to get another set for my PINK single speed.  Imagine the shit you can give me then!

Along with eleven 6am-ers, it was great to have a couple of guests along for the Sunday ride.  Tom Leaper joined us again after a good win yesterday and Mick Day came along for the ride and annointed the Pav-Macca Loop a three donut ride.  Not bad!... apparently.

As for me… I was so weak and insipid that I stayed left at Emerald (whilst all else went to Macclesfield) and rode a lonely slow ride home pushing about 100 watts.  I was glad I got out but there was no way I was ever going to be able to manage the normal thrust and parry of a 6am-er Sunday ride today. 

I'm currently curled up on the couch in my jamas cuddling my mud guards and thinking about my nice pink bike.

Bring it on!

Golden Retrievers are supposed to smile - 11/05/2011

Golden Retrievers are supposed to smile - but not this old girl.  Not today anyway...

  

Em looks how I feel.  

Not riding and not working so I can nurse my dog! It must be bad.

(Still waiting for her to improve)

My poor pup - 9/05/2011

Jack and Emma

My gorgeous Emma has come down with Idiopathic Vestibular Syndrome.  Very Scary.  Last night when I got home to find her unable to stand up and constantly turning her head to the side, I thought she'd had a stroke and it might all be over.  Earlier she'd thrown up in her bed and couldn't even get up and walk away.

My children's first experience of grief was about to begin, or so I thought...  and I'm really not looking forwad to that one.

But the vet cleared it up by diagnosing the above.  Apparently it should improve after three days and completely clear by three weeks.

I hope so, because tonight she still seems as bad as ever. Can't walk, can't eat, drink, poo... anything! 

Geeez I hope she's okay.

So with my dog Emma sick, my workplace constantly in the headlines, study to do that I really don't want to do and children's sport and activities every night of the week - my 'winter' riding is already suffering.  I'd better get that trainer fixed or I'll end up a blimp by June.