Albert Park--Black Rock (36@25, 1:45)

It was the foggiest I have ever seen; everyone's glasses were fogged up and it was very cold. Mike G stopped in Black Rock to purchase warm riding gear; David, Mike C and I went on to Mordy, and all ended up with bowls of coffee on Armstrong St. We went reasonably quickly and got back by 11. Today's star sighting: Mike Klim (Mike C can provide further details).

Sam 1
David 1
Annalise 1
Mike G 1
Mike C 1
Simon 1
Tom 1
Ross 1
Robbo 1

Albert Park laps

The team split into two groups: Ross chasing Robbo and Tom chasing Simon. About four laps were completed.

Simon 1
Tom 1
Ross 1
Robbo 1

Surviving Around The Bay In A Day

The much anticipated forecast was max 31, updated that morning to 33, and a northerly wind blowing all day. We had trained all through the cold months of winter and spring, preparing for everything but the heat.

Although members of Team DCC signed up for today's ride on the very first day that bookings were open, almost six months ago, 11 of the initial 13 were there this morning at 5:45AM with plenty of readiness to get started cycling around Pt Phillip Bay. Pictured above are, from the left: Jenny (JK), Tom (DCC impostor), Annalise, Adam, Ross with mascot, David (new bike May 07), Juzzy (kneeling), Simon (Cecil Walker with 80's colouring), Robbo (squatting), Damon (flew in from Singapore just in time for the ride), Stephen, Sam, Bill, and Steven (Mr Mo).

Ash T, Michael W (new bike Feb 07) and Steven W arrived seconds after the photograph; Tom and Nick were the two DCCers who signed up but didn't ride due to unavoidable triathlon and travel commitments.

We rode as a single large bunch at a stately pace--about 25--from our favourite meeting place in Albert Park, over the West Gate Bridge, and to Bruce Comben's Reserve in Altona. There we divided into the Coffee Bunch, with Juzzy (the Team Sweeper), Mr Mo, Simon, JK, Ash and Annalise, and the Other Bunch (everyone else).

The Coffee Group did well down to Geelong (average 26.3), then stopped for JK and Annalise to ensure that their caffeine levels were just below the maximum limit. They had a good solid ride to Queenscliff although Mr Mo had a little trouble up Leopold hill, and arrived at Queenscliff about 11:20, 113km 4:28 riding time (Av 25.0). After catching the 12:00 ferry, Annie and Simon rode ahead to Dromana in a good pack (28-30km/h) whilst the others followed at their own pace. After that, Annie and JK went on ahead together with their domestique Dennis.

Sweeper Jus, Mr Mo and Simon kept together for the trip home, actually finishing a little after 6pm, 214.68km, 8:55 riding time (av 24.0).

The Other Group also did well basically the whole way to Queenscliff, stopping only to re-group, imbibe and excrete at Little River service station, Geelong and Leopold. Any gaps in the group were caused more by other cycling traffic than by fatigue. Particularly an encounter with similarly uniformed riders may have precipitated value judgements. All rolled into Queenscliff feeling pretty hot and tired, but not yet shattered, and lined up in time (about 10:25) to catch the 11:00 ferry. Av speed was just over 30kph. Just after arrival, the line grew very rapidly, so the group was probably near the mid-point of the 210 distance crew. Lunch was a good feed, eaten in the line, followed by an hour’s rest on the crossing.

The group filled up on the nasty water in Sorrento, then faced the busy road to Dromana. The day was getting later, and there were more cars, plus loads of cyclists, fitting into a narrow bike lane beside the one-lane highway. The DCC Bunch repeatedly got broken up by other randoms, either when as joining a bunch or being joined, then got pulled together by someone flying off the front (dodging traffic) and dragging the others in their wake. (I remember Robbo, Tom, Mr Wulff and David at least doing this on a number of occasions.) The distinctive uniforms were pretty useful at this point.

Dromana was a brief stop to prepare for the fun part of the ride: hills! Everyone had a good hack at Mt Martha, and she hacked right back. It’s a very nice steady climb from the south, with plenty of space beside the road. The group regathered at the crest, which was unfortunately the last time everyone was together. The hills broke people up, generally into mini bunches of 3-4, all going at different paces both up and down. Robbo, Mr Cogan, David, Sam and Tom (bunch A) stopped at the official rest area in Frankston, waiting for everyone else until they realised that the others must have stopped elsewhere: there were three other false rest areas in Franki. Michael had in fact gone past, but Mr Wulff, Damon, Ross and Adam (bunch B) had been caught by Steven’s puncture double, just at the top of Oliver’s Hill. The hot dry northerly seemed to pick up dramatically from Frankston onwards, and it was a long thirsty ride to Mordi. Bunch A stuck together, assisted by Tom’s colleague Rob who was out playing domestique, and other hardened riders, riding single file and avoiding the dangerous bogan drivers enjoying their first beach day of the year. Bunch B made it to Mordi before Steven completed his puncture hat-trick and every named muscle in Damon’s legs cramped simultaneously.

Robbo, Sam and Tom finished at about 4:40, total distance ~215k, 8h riding, av 28.55 (inc walking), max 66 (down Oliver's). R immediately left to reassure his family that he was still alive. S & T flaked out on the lawn. Stephen had pulled off in Albert Pk at his car, thus missing the traffic light delight of City Rd. David had to sit on a park bench, watching the stream of bikes, waiting for cramps to die away in his quads: his eventual solution was to ride the whole way in by 5:00, and back home, out of the seat (needless to say, he didn’t stay around for beers). Bill rolled in at about 5:15, then Dennis brought Annie and JK home at 5:35. For anyone sprinting the finish line, there was dramatic braking required to avoid the cheering crowds. By then, Sam, Tom and Bill were ready to join the girls for dinner at the London.

Michael finished exactly 210k on his computer, then turned directly to go home. Ross also turned in, before Ash—who had left the Coffee Group in Dromana—woke him up for a swim (with Adam?). Stephen and Damon got a ride back to their home (also practically en route) for bike maintenance and massages.

For more photos, visit the following album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/sam.mickan/20071021AroundTheBay

P.S. All Team DCC riders were able to walk on Monday, most having a delicious lunch together, with lots of protein and no carbohydrates.

Last Training Ride

The styl'n Team DCC Uniforms have arrived.

Saturday Fun

Steve M and I went for a ride on Saturday from Kerferd Rd to Frankston. It started to drizzle just before 7am and I was wondering if anyone would turn up but Steve did and we set off into a headwind at a fairly easy pace. Fortunately, the drizzle cleared by the time we got to Sandringham and it turned out to be a beautiful morning for a ride. After fighting all the way to Frankston by ourselves, we had a bit of a tailwind home and several other riders latched onto us until we got to Mordi. With Steve and I doing all the work, I was definitely feeling it on the return leg and it was a bit of a slow ride at an average of 25.5km/h but well worth it. Returned to Middle Park at 11am (88.5km, 3.5 hours riding time).

Simon

PS Ross was probably still out on the town and Steve W was probably tucked up in bed.

V&I Exam

At least some people went to Mordy, and back into a really bad headwind.

Strong Northerly Tortures Local Cyclists

It was a beautiful morning: the sun was well up by 7AM, the birds were singing, and there was a gentle dry breeze blowing from the north. Although reasonably chill in the morning (8) the day slowly warmed up towards a forecast maximum of 22. Six of us, Robbo, David, Michael, Stephen, Simon and myself, started shortly after 7 and rode at an average of about 31 to a rest stop at Frankston's picturesque 'Comfort Station'. After partaking of various forms of comfort, we rode up Oliver's and through the hills to Morny, during which our bunch fell apart pretty badly (one rider "I find we all go up hills at different paces" found himself some minutes ahead of everyone else). After regrouping, we rode down to the beach, up the esplanade hill--where the above photographs were taken--and back to the Nepean. By then, Simon had popped and soon decided to return home at his own pace. We stopped once more for Frank's Comfort, then began the long and painful battle into the headwind towards home. We tried rolling turns, but with only five, then four, it was barely restful. After Mordy, it was every man to his own personal world of pain, spread across various morphing groups. We basically kept in communication until Michael disappeared, and Robbo went home directly. Stephen, David and I enjoyed coffee for survivors then made a slow painful way home. I hope I will be able to walk tomorrow. At least I won't be sitting down for 16 hrs on a plane. [Total distance 115k, plus home-albert pk; Ride time 4h, but finished about 11:50AM; av. speed 29.3 kph.]