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Muggaccinos Cyclists The Bullsheet Sunday, 3 Nov, Somersby "Bellbirds" Peats Ridge anti-clockwise: Or turnaround at Mt White - 71km round trip from Hornsby - ETR 10:45am
1st Leg: Hornsby to Mt White Bikie Hangout - 35.5km - 87 min
Park in Jersey St Hornsby street-side car-park 80m Nth of Railway Hotel - N/W side of Hornsby station. Rollout by 7.20am, -
2nd Leg: Mt White to Somersby General Store - 24.5km (60km) - 70 min
9:20am -
3rd Leg: Somersby General Store to Peats Ridge - 9.5km (70km) - 30 min
11:05pm -
4th Leg: Peats Ridge to Mt White - 20.6km (90km) - 53 min
11:50pm -
5th Leg: Mt White to Pie in the Sky - 16.1km (106km) - 41 min
12.50pm descend Old Pacific H'way, cross Brooklyn Bridge over Hawkesbury River, pass Brooklyn Rd [103km] and ascend 3.9km for 3rd Nosh Stop at Pie in the Sky [35 min] from 1:30pm.
6th Leg: Pie in the Sky to Hornsby - 19.3km (125.5km) - 58 min
2:05pm Sth down Old Pacific H'way -
Whippet’s
rap-up of Sunday 27 October Having successfully advanced their clocks, 10 Muggs' rolled north from Hornsby on a chilly October morning, smack on 7:30am DST (Daylight Saving Time) eager to warm-up, ‘cause it was the coldest morn’ in a long time. As it happened, ToothFairy & Sputnik rolled-out a tad afterwards. A well-oiled train had Navigator up front towing Whippet, Princess Monaco and Richard V, who was hard to rein-in on the downhills. Publican was on his new “souped-up” machine spinning like a top, with Pocket Rocket, Bazza, Peter Cook, MudGuards and Neon Lights in pursuit. After Cowan Station we picked-up a lone tri-bar cyclist, who jumped on the Peloton, then moved up-front on the fast down hill, around, and over the rail bridge, to challenge the lead. However, Navigator caught him up on the climb to Waterlillies. Whippet, with Richard in tow, flew by on the down hill to Hawkesbury River bridge. Whereupon Princess Caroline, with her royal charm, was left to console this lone warrior. But alas there was more work to be done as we were only half way up the familiar, onerous Mt White climb. Navigator won the Green Jersey entering Mt White first in around 1:08. Whippet was chuffed with 1:09.15. Thence it was on a further 6.6km to the Calga Interchange and back to Mt White (now under new management) for a well-earned first Nosh Stop. Publican, Pocket Rocket, Princess of Monaco were already seated with special treats, with MudGuards, Bazza, 'n Cooko next in, followed by Neon Lights. ToothFairy 'n Sergey then added charm, in showing off their new season’s lycra amongst the familiar leathers at The Harley Hangout, which weren’t out of place on a cold Spring morn’ which notwithstanding a lot of “wishing and willing” by us, just wouldn’t warm-up. After a feed and a chat, and with Pocket Rocket struggling not to solidify, it was full steam ahead back to PitS for real pies, coffee and cakes, and don’t spare the horses. The 17km ride leg evidenced Navigator, Whippet and Richard out-gunned by a few of the tear-away, which spread the field over the 3.9km climb. With low moist clouds moving thru although never breaking into rain, and the winds springing up, after a further fuel intake at the grassy knoll 12 Muggs made a dash back down the OPH, with Princess of Monaco and Publican peeling-off at Berowra Waters Rd. Navigator again proved a tower of strength in the run home into a brisk headwind. Around 11:20am we returned to Hornsby happy for the hit-out, but keen to seek refuge from an unseasonably cold Spring morn’. Scribe's rap-up of Sunday, 27 Oct, Fitz's Challenge Canberra - 150km
It was déjà vu last Sat evening at Figero's Italiano Restaurante at the agreeable Kingston Square. Fitz's stalwarts had again marshalled at seven bells at one of the several fine restaurants in the toffy shopping plaza for the familiar pre-Fitz's nosh - PapaBear and wife Briggetta, Widget, The Flash, Smiling Assassin, Bank Teller were customary faces. Fitz's 'Green Horns' included expats Suicide Blonde and hubby Smurf, together with Kiwi Mike - 'twas a fine evening, filled with expectation.
The grub was grand, and the service from a host of young waitresses welcomed, particularly a young brunette who could wait tables, keep-up the chatter with an exuberant Kiwi, covered the full gambit of waitering obligations, all with her 3rd "bun in the oven".
Some crew had ordered larger servings of an array of pasta/fettuccini dishes. Others opted for the smaller helpings. But when the dishes came out, we couldn't tell which were large and which were small, all seemingly around the same portions. If you said, "Mine was a small." The waitress assured you. "That's a small". If you said, "Mine was a large." You were equally reassured, "That's a large!" But no matter, as they all filled a hole.
Canberra turned on yet another clear blue sky on ride morn'. Suicide Blonde, The Flash and Kiwi Mike excelled over the arduous 150km out/back circuit. Although two stalwarts from Cyclops, Hoss and Whiskers, were ahead somewhere. Everyone made it up the Dreaded Fitz's. But there were several seriously sorry souls, namely Brenda, Siggy, PapaBear 'n Teller, recharging the batteries at Cotter Dam for the final 11km, predominantly uphill leg, with only an hour left to precede the 4 o'clock cut-off. Fortunately, assisted by a slight tail-wind, we all made it back within time.
Congrats to Ride Organiser, Greg Cunningham, and the rest of the Pedal Power team for another sterling effort - a record field of 458 starters. With the Great Dividing Range in eyeshot thorough out the route, Fitz's C. is surely the most picturesque endurance ride in Oz. The Scribe - 20 Aug 2002 |
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