Cream of the Crop

Today:
Bike ride:
Distance: 21.8 km
Riding Time: 1hr 27 mins
Rest Time: 18 mins 30 secs
Weather: sunny, temp 12 degrees, humidity 45%, winds light southerly 7 kmph
Running: nil
Week: 54.25 km
August: 364.05 km
Year: 3351.5 km

Another perfect day to go riding with the group from work. After last week's blog story generated much laughter at work, I doubted anyone would show up to get ridiculed in this blog.

Never to worry, I will rubbish those that didn't show, I really should have used the title " Name and Shame". The cream of the crop showed up under adversity, and 7 of us went out for a fun ride. Some really poor excuses today from those that failed to front.

" Jane" from last week, "I have to work day shift this week so I can't make it", poor excuse, swap with someone that's unfit, unhealthy and doesn't care! Jane, almost human, not quite, missing in action.

"Fraaze", workaholic, get your act together sunshine, split shifts are for relaxing in the great outdoors, not covering for those that failed to even get to work. More play, less work, makes grown men slimmer.

"No show Ned", the girl with all the right intentions, until the wind starts blowing. Muttered all week, "I'll be there", the going gets tough and no show. She'll be there when the weather is warmer, wait and see.

Then there's "silly old Keith", must say smart bugger, picks a split shift that's off the road just after the group rides off. If you can't beat them, stay behind.

" Ivan" not the "Great, the Terrible" came with us twice after bragging about how good he was, never to be seen again.

We covered plenty of territory today, nearly all of our 21.8 km off road. Started off at the depot where our " tug-of-war" team member, depot manager was trying, poorly, to lower the flag on the flagpole at the front door. It's a battered and torn version of the ACT flag, and lowering it to half mast before a group of his best and fittest were going out, was not very inspiring. No faith shown in our returning to complete the afternoon session of work, I bet he went in to look up " White Lady Funerals" in the phone book.

We met "B.T" at the Lake Tuggeranong dam wall, and headed down to the river, where the track would take us back to Pine Is and Point Hut. I run this a couple of times a week, but some haven't been along it, it's good fun running a better still on a mountain bike. Interesting on a bike, never mind the wombat holes, or the rocks, or the hills, or the sand. No spills, just a lot of laughter. Bike helmets are to stop hurting your head when you go through a hole in a gate, Paul.

Those that didn't know the track, a few small hills require the right gear to be selected on the bike at the bottom, we all stuffed it once or twice, walked and pushed a bit, and then the leaders waited to regroup.

Point Hut arrived, "Tinkerbell" wanted to go to Gordon playground to play on the swings. Another day maybe when Boot Camp returns in full in warmer weather. So we find a challenge.

Behind Gordon, there is a steep bugger of a hill that leads to magnificent views over the Tuggeranong valley. To get there, a short climb of less that 500 metres, gradient maybe 30%, I have 27 gears on my bike, but I needed only one, the lowest one available. Good rider Terry and I were the only two to make without walking and pushing the bike, not too bad rider Mal walked a little bit and rode a lot, fearless leader KD and Tinkerbell
walked a lot, rode a bit, talked a lot, looked impressive, but gee, more time on the road and less Tarzan work would help. Mt Everest has nothing to fear from KD on his intrepid trip shortly. Some good Sherpas will have to carry him and his gear to get to base camp. The two football experts bought up the rear by far, but then they don't pretend to be able to ride hills.

Top of the range, another work mate was walking his dog, or was the other way round. Stopped to chat while the legs recovered and away we went to the end of the suburb near Banks. The flatter ground allowed the back of the pack to move to the front, and given freedom to open up, blew the pack away on our way to work.

Great day, those that missed out will never know, those that went will talk about it for a next week. Keep up the good work while I'm away in sunny Qld for the next two weeks trying to run 100 miles in 24 hours. The "Cream of the Crop" rode today.




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