CLC 2018 Ride #2.

Not too much cycling this week – so little that I have no chance of making the 100k weekly target.  I read the CLC reports from those who crank out 100k almost before breakfast and think “Wow!” – but I can live with cycling in the slow lane.

Some happenings from this week.

Brompton sent me a reminder e-mail regarding their recall to replace a bothersome batch of bottom brackets.  I checked my serial number again and I am still OK.  Good – and I feel thankful that the company is taking the time to fix a problem that occurred on a couple of bikes.  I don’t think the exercise will cost as much as the car air bag recall!  Oh yes, checked our X-Trail VIN and we are OK there too.

I received some comments re using a phone as a video camera while going downhill on the B.  Basically the advice could be summed up as “Don’t be so bloody stupid”.  So I have ordered a Fly12 headlamp / camera combo after being introduced to one last weekend.

BTW – here’s the video

And now to this week’s CLC ride.

I add to the Deloraine town economy this Friday.  I arrived for the weekly Friday ride to find the weather looking a bit crappy.  It was 12°C – which is not really cold but felt cold ‘cos we have been experiencing somewhat warmer weather for quite a few months now. It was also looking a bit grey and rainy.

The sky on arrival – not the nice blue colour we have gotten used to.

I “warmed up” as I waited for the others by cycling onto the footbridge then up and down the road a couple of times.  Then it was back to the car to rug up with more layers.  How do we handle winter?

For those who haven’t been here before, this is the start of the ride along River Road.  I couldn’t find the original so had to make do with this mirror image picture I took and produced last year.   To view the original, just cover the right hand half and you will get the feel of the “tunnel” we ride through to begin.

Friends arrived and off we went to the junction with Porters Bridge Road.  Today the air was still and there was very little bird song.  On sunny days the air is full of bird chatter – this grey, silent day felt like we were all just waiting for the storm to arrive. BUT it didn’t.  I was riding at a pace I felt comfortable at and rode with the group for the first 4-5 kilometers through the flatter paddock area.  When we reached the first of the hills I was immediately dropped!  No worries – just pedal and enjoy the ride.  One member turned at about half way to the junction and headed back to the ‘Cycle Pub’.  The others politely waited for me at the junction before starting the return leg.

The blue bike is always in the lead.  The next bike back is electric and travels second spot and the ones hiding are a new Vivente and the B.  At the junction the bush all around was quiet and the only sounds were us talking and blowing our noses clearing them for the ride back.

After some chatter and the picture someone said “OK – coffee shop?” and we started back.  I stopped to clear a dead wallaby off the road and by the time I remounted I was already well back.  So, like the ride out, I pedalled along at my own speed and enjoying my own company and a comfortable trip back.

My purchases in Deloraine.  1 latte and a round of raisin roast but these were not photographed.  Then I went up to “Wholesome House” in Emu Bay Road.  It is, as it’s name suggests, a health food shop.  There I purchased two packages as shown below.

The large bag is a couple of scoops of my favourite muesli mix which does not include all the extra sugar found in supermarket boxes.  The second bag, that looks like it contains picked up Oscar droppings, is a bag of Jumbo Licorice Bullets.  Yes, they are from the health food shop so they must be healthy!

The storm still hasn’t hit as I write this up but it is coming.  The weekend is flagged as wet and windy so how many more ks will be done this week is an unknown.  I think I will  just accept this week as being a bad one and start again with determination next Monday.