Boxing day ride

-- Does this riding suit make my arse look fat?

LABC HQ 0600 grand depart for moderately paced ride through Hunua Gorge and home via Clevedon/Twilight and Sandstone.

For your own good.

According to Diet and Fitness Today we each should expect to burn about 3,600 Kcals - the energy hit delivered by 27 Heinekens (12 calories per fluid ounce/11 ounces per stubby).

Well, that's Christmas afternoon in the calorie burn bag.

The chicken adds a meagre 3,214 calories.

All that chocolate and pav and stuff doesn't really register.

See you there.

The Great Coromandel Dream Ride 2011

-- Saturday 12 February 2011

Same as last year.

Though there's talk of a pub stop on our merry way home (in case you don't drink a sufficiency on the return ferry trip).

Blimey.

0600 LABC HQ Grand Depart.

We'll weather check two-to-three days prior, to be sure.

All things fine you should pre-book a return ferry ticket here.

Hot tip: Last year I packed (in my bike shirt back pockets) jandals and board shorts. Makes the afternoon so much more comfortable. In any case, there's no panache in beer and lycra.

Ride organisers will forewarn the Peppertree of our lunch plans.

Proposed earlier stops include Miranda (coffee) and the Thames garden centre place (morning tea/first lunch).

Mark your diary now!

Round Lake Taupo Cycling Classic match report

(Dramatic and taut)

-- LABC's McGechie reports

In a dramatic and taut finish, Gnarls pipped McGechie on the line at last weekend’s Round Lake Taupo Cycling Classic.

Overall victory on the day however went to Trade Tools team member Simon “Calves” Mcleay who saw off the challenge of both Ricochet and Missingham.

Mad Dog Muzza rode gamely on to snatch (is that like a mirkin?) a gallant third place, closely followed by Whizzer Wilson, Wily Webster, and then the Flying Finch, with the Cable Bay kid close on his heels.

Fighting through a haze of cramp induced pain came Mikey Pee, lamenting his lack of performance enhancing substances carried on the day.

As the two teams gathered together in the afternoon to discuss the race and partake of suitable post race refreshments every pedal stroke was relived and considered.

Later in the evening, as the Pinot flowed like the Ganges, a truce was declared and the conversation then turned to plans for next year’s assault on the Taupo ride.

Photo gallery

(Not mine. I'll stake my ball on that)

(When he's not cycling McKelvie is a concert pianist)

(Look, Vino, this steak is fine. I know the butcher)

(Mmmm, burnt sausage head)