The Spring winds this year are proving trying. Any wind over 30kph makes for a difficult ride and when in 40+ kph winds I am just not riding. It’s just not nice. This is, of course, slowing down my approach to completing the 2019 challenge of 6,000 kilometers in the year – but at 94% complete, I am not out of it yet!!!
Instead Sue and I are in the bunker along with 5 Rebus novels. We had just completed “Exit Music” in which John Rebus leaves the police force and then we found a friend with the complete set. The 5 now on loan tell how he fairs in retirement. When we tire of that, Season 8 of Game of Thrones has just been released, purchased and ready for viewing.
I did pop over to Deloraine for a ride up River Road last Friday. For the past week or so we have been under attack from a Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog). It bit my shoe one ride and Carole’s trousers another time. Glen had it slinking away when he stopped and shouted at it last week. So this week I mounted the OSMO on my helmet and prepared for the worst, hoping for footage to take to the Council. I was first bike off the rank leaving 10 minutes early so the others can catch me at the turn-around point. Brief ride history. On the way out – no dog. On the way back – no dog for Carole or myself. One cattle dog for Glen! Much shouting, owner came to discuss the problem.
I was not easy in my mind riding out as we once lived next to a Blue Heeler. This dog punctured our tyre one afternoon when we were leaving the neighbour’s house. It rattled the car about while shaking the tyre before puncturing it. We thought it was an earthquake. I don’t want one of those on my leg thank you.
Here is some video of the ride. If you turn the sound up there should be some Tasmanian bird song for you to listen to – over my breathless performance!
End Result. The cattle dog owner explained he had the dog because some low-life was stealing the diesel out of his tractors. He is concerned that the dog is causing difficulties and is building a fence to keep it in. Until that is finished he will chain it up on Fridays. Thanks and understanding were given to him.
A side issue. I was pleased with how much birdsong the tiny camera’s microphone picks up. I was less pleased with my puffing and wheezing as I climbed the hills. It doesn’t sound so bad at the time !
A “Cycle Cruise” around Ross
When I was in Ross last Sunday I saw a poster advertising a Cycle Cruise around Ross on the 1st December. Two and Three wheel bikes would be welcome. I decided to go.
The day dawned sunny but windy and the wind gathered strength during the day!
I met with another Tony, the ride leader, on the banks of the Macquarie River opposite the Motel. He was riding a very special 2-wheeled bike looking like a renovated 50’s touring machine. It is, in fact, a replica. White tyres, semi-drop handlebars, Sturmey Archer hub gears, leather seat, tool roll – it looks the business.
Two other guys turned up on bikes that were not so “state-of-the-art” nor replicas. No lycra in sight. No carbon fibre or aluminium (except for my trike). We were just a bunch of people out for a morning cruise down the road. We cycled out of Ross past the Female Factory (site of old female convict prison) and wandered along down to a property called “Beaufront”. One of Tasmania’s historic properties, Beaufront has settled into producing super-fine wool which it exported to Italy and used in making high-quality suits.
At this point three of the group turned back but I decided to go on a bit as 3 kilometers is not very far! I would easily catch them up on the way back. After a couple more ks I thought about the wind blowing me down the hill and reckoned that I had gone far enough as sometimes it takes a lot longer to reclaim the distance that you think. Turned round. Into a really strong blow probably around the 45 kph mark. I started off back in Pedal Assist 1, soon upped it to 2, then 3, 4 and finally 5 (max). Just before returning past the Female Factory I caught them up! (Now, if you look at the elevation graph above – where is the hill?)
We returned to the river bank for farewells. They went home after agreeing to a repeat ride in March 2020. I carried on with a short tour of the Ross backroad (singular) but the wind was really annoying and pretty cold considering it’s the first day of summer. I passed the Cafe but decided against a coffee, sitting outside getting cold just to keep an eye on the trike. Packed up and returned home wondering, just a little, was it worth the drive?
It looks like the wind will drop over the coming weekend. Colin and I will be having a second go at our S24O ride/camp to Deloraine if it does. I hope we manage it because I really want to test my shoulder on another overnighter. I am doing a set of exercises chosen by my Physiotherapist and designed to assist with the shoulder “impingement”. It has been feeling slightly better this week so maybe they are working. I have my fingers crossed – when doing so doesn’t hurt the shoulder.
When will the wind drop??
Tony's Tasmanian Cycling Blog 