WIND IS NOT OUR FRIEND
Today 30 Smiddy riders training either for the 4 or 8 day Smiddy Challenge events and 10 legendary road crew set out from Brisbane at 6am under beautiful summer like conditions and near perfect still windless conditions. How all that changed so quickly, when after 75 kilometres and after our morning tea stop at Rosewood, the wind began to make its presence felt, and felt severely. The next leg into a lunch, along the historic and quiet back country Ma Ma Creek Road, saw a slog of a further 70km's and the gentle mess-up-your- hair type wind, was replaced by an angry wind that was determined to let us know that it hated cyclists.
PUSH-UP BOB
Rolling into lunch a good hour behind schedule it was a welcome sight to see our beloved road crew all standing there waiting for us to cheer us in to a delicious array of bush tucker. I asked road crew Bob what they did while waiting for us when we got behind schedule and he said 10 X 15 sets of push ups... Each to their own hey? Anyway we not only have the best looking road crew for this weekend but now the fittest after their push-up challenge. Nice work push-up Bob!
GETTING NOWHERE FAST
The little bit of protection from the wind offered during the climb up over the Great Dividing Range was soon over, and once again the peloton was struggling to average faster than 18 km/h for the next 20 kilometres. Thankfully we eventually had a course change from heading West, thanks to a sharp left turn East towards Warwick and for the last 30km's we were treated to a much nicer cross tailwind. After a quick afternoon tea break by the side of the road -literally by the side of the road- the Smiddy peloton were on a mission to make up time and get our butts to Warwick before the sun set. While we didn't beat the sunset, we did mange to finish while a whisper of pinkish light left a mesmerizing glow over Warwick as if acting as a beacon and our mission was completed right on 5:42pm.
CAPTAIN HAPPY KEV
We finished with a huddle of course and six riders raised their hands to completing their longest ride ever. Each and ever rider did an amazing job today under incredibly hard conditions. Their were no complaints, just a sturdy resolve to get the job done. Sure, a number of riders needed some time in the van, but that was more because they are good people and wanted to keep captain Kev happy. A happy Kev means a happy peloton, so my hat goes off to you guys who did van time today and took one for the team.
DON'T EVER BE SCARED TO ROOM WITH ME
We are staying at the infamous Horse and Jockey Hotel Motel tonight and we have been staying here for these Smiddy training weekends and events for 11 years now. The showers are awesome, so hot and refreshing after a day like that in the saddle. The owners super supportive and as always they delivered a great meal tonight plus will be getting breakfast for us all that will be ready by 5am. I'm rooming tonight with old mate John Martin and the irrepressible Brocky Yates. They are trying to get to sleep prior to my finishing typing this blog and I know they are scared of rooming with me due to my ability to snore, fart and talk in my sleep, sometimes all three at the same time. Some Smiddy riders have all the luck sharing with me hey?
SHARKY MAY BE A LITTLE EXCITED ABOUT A LITTLE PERSON
Goodnight and don't let the bedbugs bite. Will I say that to my new little human being that is about to enter Alyssa and my life in November? Hope so. Oh and it can expect lots of Dad jokes. All the ones my Dad told me I am sharing with whatever pops out in November.
Cheers big ears.
Sharky.
P.S. Hi Mr Smiddy...
That was a test to check if Mr Smiddy is reading my blogs. Speaking of Smiddy we are gifted to have David's Brother Allan Smiddy as part of the road crew for this weekend. I have to say Allan is way better looking! Do you think David will be reading this?
Today 30 Smiddy riders training either for the 4 or 8 day Smiddy Challenge events and 10 legendary road crew set out from Brisbane at 6am under beautiful summer like conditions and near perfect still windless conditions. How all that changed so quickly, when after 75 kilometres and after our morning tea stop at Rosewood, the wind began to make its presence felt, and felt severely. The next leg into a lunch, along the historic and quiet back country Ma Ma Creek Road, saw a slog of a further 70km's and the gentle mess-up-your- hair type wind, was replaced by an angry wind that was determined to let us know that it hated cyclists.
PUSH-UP BOB
Rolling into lunch a good hour behind schedule it was a welcome sight to see our beloved road crew all standing there waiting for us to cheer us in to a delicious array of bush tucker. I asked road crew Bob what they did while waiting for us when we got behind schedule and he said 10 X 15 sets of push ups... Each to their own hey? Anyway we not only have the best looking road crew for this weekend but now the fittest after their push-up challenge. Nice work push-up Bob!
GETTING NOWHERE FAST
The little bit of protection from the wind offered during the climb up over the Great Dividing Range was soon over, and once again the peloton was struggling to average faster than 18 km/h for the next 20 kilometres. Thankfully we eventually had a course change from heading West, thanks to a sharp left turn East towards Warwick and for the last 30km's we were treated to a much nicer cross tailwind. After a quick afternoon tea break by the side of the road -literally by the side of the road- the Smiddy peloton were on a mission to make up time and get our butts to Warwick before the sun set. While we didn't beat the sunset, we did mange to finish while a whisper of pinkish light left a mesmerizing glow over Warwick as if acting as a beacon and our mission was completed right on 5:42pm.
CAPTAIN HAPPY KEV
We finished with a huddle of course and six riders raised their hands to completing their longest ride ever. Each and ever rider did an amazing job today under incredibly hard conditions. Their were no complaints, just a sturdy resolve to get the job done. Sure, a number of riders needed some time in the van, but that was more because they are good people and wanted to keep captain Kev happy. A happy Kev means a happy peloton, so my hat goes off to you guys who did van time today and took one for the team.
DON'T EVER BE SCARED TO ROOM WITH ME
We are staying at the infamous Horse and Jockey Hotel Motel tonight and we have been staying here for these Smiddy training weekends and events for 11 years now. The showers are awesome, so hot and refreshing after a day like that in the saddle. The owners super supportive and as always they delivered a great meal tonight plus will be getting breakfast for us all that will be ready by 5am. I'm rooming tonight with old mate John Martin and the irrepressible Brocky Yates. They are trying to get to sleep prior to my finishing typing this blog and I know they are scared of rooming with me due to my ability to snore, fart and talk in my sleep, sometimes all three at the same time. Some Smiddy riders have all the luck sharing with me hey?
SHARKY MAY BE A LITTLE EXCITED ABOUT A LITTLE PERSON
Goodnight and don't let the bedbugs bite. Will I say that to my new little human being that is about to enter Alyssa and my life in November? Hope so. Oh and it can expect lots of Dad jokes. All the ones my Dad told me I am sharing with whatever pops out in November.
Cheers big ears.
Sharky.
P.S. Hi Mr Smiddy...
That was a test to check if Mr Smiddy is reading my blogs. Speaking of Smiddy we are gifted to have David's Brother Allan Smiddy as part of the road crew for this weekend. I have to say Allan is way better looking! Do you think David will be reading this?
No comments:
Post a Comment