Bull

MUGGACCINO Pedlars Sunday Cyclists - The Bullsheet

1. This Sunday, 4 June, “Breakfast at The Bayview Marina”

Short Sortie - 55 kms – Long Haul - 92kms

THE RAINMAN is The Scribe [‘phone 0416 266.519 mob]. Welcome news for all wusses, sleep-a-holics, layabouts and loafers, ‘cause as it is officially Winter, roll-out time has been wound back to 8:15am. Penalties are being re-introduced to ensure that the caravan, the convoy, the Peloton, that juggernaut of speed and unison, is not delayed. A five dollar cash donation to the Cookie Jar is mandatory for arrivals after 8:10am with non-surgical castration for re-offenders ‘cause that might be the cause. Natterers and chatterboxes who arrive on time, but have a penchant for sprouting forth Dingbat Dribble, rather than focusing on saddling up, will be similarly punished.

Arrive St Ives car park in Mona Vale Rd [opposite coffee/cake shop at Stanley St. junction] by 8:10am. We are brunching from 10:30am adjacent to the water’s edge at the Bayview Marina Café [on LHS against the water’s edge about four clicks after Church Point]. Rolling north east from the car-park by 8:15am will evidence us turning left about 5 clicks later at the Mona Vale Fruit Barn [Cnr Mona Vale Rd and Forest Way] and entering the Ku’ring’gai Chase National Park via the back streets. For seasoned riders our 1^st putdown is West Head at 9:30am – rookies can turn around along the way to West Head. McDonaldsThe only thing to eat at West Hd. are a few large lizards, so pack a snack. Upon returning from the headland, we don’t take a right into Akuna Bay, rather we stay straight then descend to McCarrs Creek where we take a left at the bridge into McCarrs Creek Rd and coast on down to the Bayview Marina Café [about 11k ms from the bridge at the creek] scheduled to arrive after approx. 44 kms at 10:40am. [] Around 11:10am we commence our return to St Ives, albeit via Akuna Bay, for our second feed around 12:15pm. Around 1pm take your pick whether you want the easy/low out of the bay back to St Ives, or the high side/longer climb, including the half route into Cottage Point, and the “14kms return” flat stretch to Duffy’s Forest to clear the rust off your big chain wheel. If everything goes according to Hoyle, those in for the long haul, should return to the car park around 1:30pm with 92kms on the clock.

2. Rap-up of last Sunday, 28 May, Bike North’s Pearl Beach Jazz Concert Ride - 86kms

The weather man was right for once, ‘cause alas our run of golden Autumn days came to an abrupt end mid-afternoon last Sat. Our pedal pushing contingent was lean with the wusses all opting to bury their heads under the covers. Sig’s ‘phone call from a chilly Hornsby carpark to Connie a tad after eight bells was met with a feeble Nursey response about “slept-in” and possibly meeting us at Cowan. However, Constance’s heart wasn’t in it. It was going to stay right where the rest of her was - under a doona. Brenda, who has an aversion to high winds, had ‘phoned in a “no-show” to Helmet Hun the previous evening. The others, who shall remain nameless, went AWOL with only Ian/Elfi in Spain had proffered an acceptable excuse.

It took a while for Sig, who had driven from Campbelltown, to chip the ice off his bike. Meanwhile PJ, who had already set up his treadley, remained transfixed in his car with his helmet, gloves and anything else handy on, incl. the heater. It may have looked a bit dorky wearing a bike helmet in a car, however, there wasn’t an audience.

Four hearty souls, John Bele, Peter T, Chrome Dome and The Scribe rolled out about 8:15pm passing Cowan station after 16kms around 9 o’clock. So long as you were rugged up, it was pleasant riding, with a blue sky and a steady breeze - steadily swirling. Tyson and Johnston kept him honest over the last few clicks into the Bikie Hangout, but the Wily Old Fart won by a whisker. Around 9:30am after 36kms, the old wooden benches on familiar grassy knoll outside the Mt White Village Store were bathed in brill sunshine, albeit there wasn’t a lot of heat in the shine. Bikers must have been suffering the same affliction as cyclists, ‘cause the Leather Brigade were few ‘n far between.

After about 75kms around 12:15pm we arrived at Pearl Beach - a hidden paradise - hidden by a very steep hill in and out, which together with the circular headland provided a natural windbreak. We’d done the easy side coming in, but a huge, albeit short, climb awaited us after lunch. There’s not a lot of shops [or lunch price competition], however, we did manage to find Bike Nth’s similarly spares representation and sat down to a most enjoyable lunch in a little sunny alcove which somehow remained out of the breeze. We chatted with Ride Master, Nick Wardrop, a Canadian lass on a year’s work exchange and another guy. An hour later after conquering the decidedly declivitous climb out of Pearl, we jumped the 2:27pm back to Hornsby with 87kms on the dial. There were bugger-all in the way of passengers, so our bikes remained in the carriage’s entrance and we settled back to soak up the ambience of the Hawkesbury.

Mid-afternoon the radio was announcing that it was snowing at the footy at Canberra and also closer to home at Katoomba. No one was surprised.

3. Queens B’Day June long w’end - 9/12 June – 18 paid starter

Pack your shorts, sunnies ‘n thongs, ‘cause the long range weather forecast is for a warm dry snap. All the gumph on our pending visit to Brigadoon Country will be available on the hotlink “Long Weekend Holiday Rides” www.muggaccinos.com by Tues evening, 30 May. However, suffice that –

(a) 18 paid starters - over half are jagging the Friday off work;

(b) short ‘n long ride routes are programmed for each day; and

If you know anyone who wants to join us, get ‘em to call me pronto ‘cause they may have to book the motel if they leave it much longer.

Phil Johnston 29 May 2000

9312.3319 wk – 9498.3684 hm (0416 266.519 only when on the road)