Thursday, December 20, 2012

Weekend rides and world endings

Add colour and style to apocalypse preparation.















-- Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 December


Two options in case the world end disappoints.

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 LABC HQ depart for Hunuas. Back 1000-ish.

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0730 Mechanics Bay depart for Xmas Poo Ponds special. Nothing over 28 kmh. Hangovers and long absent Poosters especially welcome. 
.
In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Weekend rides and life lessons

















-- Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 December

Weather looks good. .

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 Newmarket depart for Westerly loop. Back 1000-ish.

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0630 Newmarket depart for Westerly loop. Blockhouse Bay meet point for those from the West ~ 0655. Back 1100-ish.

SUNDAY: Check Saturday evening for Sunday riding plans


In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Weekend rides and Christmas tapering


















-- Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 December

Weather looks good. . 

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 LABC HQ depart for easterly loop. Back 1000-ish. 

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0650 Mechanics Bay depart for moderately-paced eastern loop.....Botany, Whitford, Airport, Newmarket. Back 1000-sh.

SATURDAY OPTION 3: 0730 Mechanics Bay depart for gentlemanly-paced Poo Ponds loop.

SUNDAY: Check Saturday evening for Sunday riding plans

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Weekend rides and staying straight



















-- Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 December

Weather looks good. . 

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 LABC HQ depart for easterly loop. Back 1000-ish. 

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0650 Mechanics Bay depart for moderately-paced eastern loop.....Half Moon Bay, Music Point, Whitford, Sandstone, Airport, Newmarket. Back 1000.

SATURDAY OPTION 3: 0730 Mechanics Bay depart for gentlemanly-paced Poo Ponds loop.


SUNDAY: Check Saturday evening for Sunday riding plans

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Weekend rides and every other bastard's in Taupo

How's the risk management plan looking?















-- Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November

Weather looks good. . 

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 LABC HQ depart for easterly loop. Back 1000-ish. 

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0730 Mechanics Bay depart for gentlemanly-paced Poo Ponds loop.

SUNDAY: Check Saturday evening for Sunday riding plans

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Weekend rides and social media

Cipollini uses Twitter for fan updates










-- Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November

Weather looks crap. Fat chance. 

SATURDAY OPTION 1 weather permitting: 0600 LABC HQ depart for easterly loop. Back 1000-ish. Don't hang around if no one shows. 

SATURDAY OPTION 2 weather permitting: 0730 Mechanics Bay depart for gentlemanly-paced Poo Ponds loop.

SUNDAY: Check Saturday evening for Sunday riding plans

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Weekend rides and essential reading

Poor old Wiggo was knocked down riding to his book launch




















-- Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 November

Weather looks good. 

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 LABC HQ depart for easterly loop. Back 1100-ish 

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0730 Mechanics Bay depart for gentlemanly-paced Poo Ponds loop.

SUNDAY: Check Saturday evening for Sunday riding plans

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Weekend rides and father-son racing

Muzza's apprenticeship training isn't age restricted    





















-- Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 November

Weather looks mostly OK. 

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 LABC HQ depart for easterly loop. Back 1030 

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0600 LABC HQ depart for Ramarama-Ararimu-Clevedon loop. Back 11-ish

SATURDAY OPTION 3: 0600 Greenlane Supermarket depart. Join Coro riders. Go all the way, or as far as Kaiaua and ride home via Hunua. Back 12 noon.

SUNDAY: Check Saturday evening for Sunday riding plans

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Weekend rides and new sponsors





















-- Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 October

Saturday weather looks OK.

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 LABC HQ depart for easterly loop. Back 1030

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0630 Newmarket (crn Broadway and Khyber Pass) depart for Helensville, via Albany. Back 1200

SUNDAY: 0600 LABC HQ depart for 2-hr recovery spin. Back 0800

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Weekend rides and butt chugging

TV pundit uncovers disturbing links to disgraced cyclist. Watch and laugh














-- Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October

Saturday weather looks OK. Sunday crappy.  

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0600 Newmarket (crn Broadway and Khyber Pass) depart for Westerly loop. Back 1030  

SATURDAY OPTION 2: 0630 Newmarket (crn Broadway and Khyber Pass) depart for Titirangi and western beaches. Back 1100

SUNDAY: Check Saturday evening for Sunday riding options.

MONDAY: Usual 0550 LABC HQ depart. Waterfront closed for triathlon. We'll head east: Whitford, Sandstone, Airport?

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Weekend rides and essential reading

Cycling's new 'must read'






















-- Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 October

Saturday weather looks crappy. Sunday not much better. Plans sketchy. Changes likely. Post plans in comments section below 

SATURDAY: 0600 Newmarket (crn Broadway and Khyber Pass) depart for Titirangi. Back 0800 just before rain arrives. Yeah right. 

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Weekend rides and export potential

Local bike manufacturer channels NZ's natural advantages





















-- Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October
Saturday weather looks crappy. Sunday better. Slim pickings. Check in later
SATURDAY: 0730 Mechanics Bay depart for gentlemanly-paced Poo Ponds loop.
SUNDAY: 0630 LABC HQ depart for cruisy Poo-ponds

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Weekend rides and daylight savings

Lose one hour (Saturday sleep)















-- Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September

SATURDAY OPTION 1: 0615 Newmarket (Crn Broadway and Khyber Pass) for Waitaks. Pockets of pace. Return approx 1030.

SATURDAY OPTION 2: Thomo writes: Meet at Newmarket 0630 for Blockhouse Bay Rd, Titirangi, part of butter chicken (unsure of roads), Piha (for a change), Bethels, coffee at Swanson and then home. The more we get to come along the better.


SATURDAY OPTION 3: 0730 Mechanics Bay depart for gentlemanly-paced Poo Ponds 
loop.

SUNDAY: 0700 LABC HQ depart for gentle 2-hr spin. Might even stop for coffee

In the event of bad weather or disputes regarding the Rules, conduct, results and all other matters relating to weekend rides, the decision of the judge(s) shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

GCSEDR ride report

Peppertree does an awesome lunch





















-- Great Coromandel Spring Equinox Dream Ride (GCSEDR), Sunday 24 September 2012

The ride went well. Mostly.

Twelve riders.

Shaky start - snapped chain riding out the gate.

Thankfully, a spare chain and chain link in garage stock (and thankfully Andrew, unlike me, appreciated the difference between outside and inside links).

The bunch was kind enough to wait and we departed 10-or-so minutes behind schedule.

No matter.

Wet Auckland roads, but no rain till the final hilly leg before Coromandel town.

Persistent headwind all the way to Coro.

But not too bad.

Two punctures (one rider) before Clevedon.

Business as usual to Kaiaua.

Good coffee.

Shop newspaper stand promotes disturbing headline - eel enters mans arse, or something.

Onward, to that quaint semi-rural hamlet where the goldfish-eyed P-addled samurai sword enthusiast Andrew Dixon severed his girlfriend's hands.

At that point someone said Chris Taylor's wheel wobbled, but testing showed no wobble.

An illusion?

No, it was a broken frame (chainstay) wobble.

Day over for Chris.

Did his wife respond to the SOS call?

Mark kindly offered moral support.

The garden centre lunch is always good.

Toilets groaned - Not you guys again. All of you, sick.

A moderately windy slog up the coast to our favourite set of hills.

Body and soul shook hands and went to their respective corners.

Peppertree kindly organised a private lunch room...with heater.

"Strippers, too?" someone enquired.

Lamb burgers and fish popular choices.

Beer was as tasty as last time.

Post ride thoughts:

- Good idea? Hell yeah. Good timing, especially for people eyeing up K1/2 and Taupo

- Consider scheduling ride for first daylight saving weekend (this weekend) for more end-of-day sunlight (better for wobble home). Though that means darker start

- Chains and frames the weakest links. I always pack a chain link, but not sure what can be done about frame breaks

- Packing a change of clothes was a good idea

- Personally, I prefer the Hunua route: less traffic (especially boat traffic between Clevedon and Kawakawa) and a superior bucolic setting. But both options are lovely

Roll on February.....