3rd Annual Tour de Stupidity

Boxing Day 2008 - the 3rd Annual Tour de Stupidity
In late 2006, the much awaited bicycle lane of the new M7 motorway was opened. With it being so close to BTi, Dave and Mike, they insisted on riding it on Boxing Day. From start to finish, it is a little over 114km when you include the M2 motorway. In 2006, Boxing Day was a sweltering day, 36C, hot northly winds, and unknown to the boys, there were no waterstops along the way, and little shelter. Between the 3 riders they had a bidon each, and a handful of snakes to get them through. I even think one bidon had a leak just to add to the adversity. By the finish of the ride, the Tour de Stupidity had been born.

In 2008, 5 riders made the Tour. BTi, Dave, GK, John (a work colleague of Dave), and myself. We set out at the reasonable hour of 7:30am with overcast skies but quite warm and humid. No real cracking pace was set, knowing what lay ahead. As we went over the top of the Elizabeth Drive "peak" Dave and I setup a mini paceline, dropping the others. In an effort to get more speed into my legs, Dave and I kept swapping turns on the front, much to my demise in the final sprint at the turn-around. I was on the front with 200m to go, and knew full well Dave would blast on past at the end, I had a little in reserve for the prime, but not enough to kick when needed.


On the return run, I felt really good on the climb over Elizabeth Drive, and then kept it going on the downhill glide to the M4 interchange where I waited for the boys to catchup. From there, some were starting to feel the pinch. The sun was now shining brightly and the temperature started to top the 30C mark, added to the slight headwind on the return run. From the start of the M2, I was starting to feel the heat, and rather than ride at the slower tempo of the others, I rode on at my own pace. After 4 hours exactly (for me anyway), the 114km was covered. No break-neck speed, but a good outing for all.
At the finish, the cold drinks flowed all round. Dave the drain put away 2x 750mL (apologies Dr Langles - ed) milk bottles quicker than I've seen done before, and the shade of the service station was most welcome. And so ends another Tour de Stupidity. What weather will the 2009 Edition bring??

So, 2008 is rapidly coming to a close. And with that, the time for racing is almost upon me. The last 3½ months have been really productive trainingwise. Since September I've ridden 1650km on the road, 1000km on the indoor trainer (weather hasn't been great), and shed just over 5kg. While modest for most riders, it has been a hard slog at times both mentally and physically, but consistency has been the key. The weather wasn't great, but I'm thankful my neighbours put up with the indoor trainer. I'm really looking forward to getting back into racing.


The new toys before their inaugural ride on 23 Dec 08. Had plenty of problems getting the tyres on - broke 3 tyre levers in the process. Left them for a week stretching before I even dared hit the road. But they are quick!

Guess who's back??
Have a guess who snuck back home and competed in the Randwick Botany Bike Bug 500??

Yep, our favourite Cycling Journo, Jonesy! He did it pretty easy, even admitting as much after the race.

New Toys

Well, after a really busy year, and deciding 2009 is going to be my year of racing (note, only about 10% chance at best I'll get to Italy with the boys in 2009), I went out and bought myself a set of racing wheels. It wasn't that hard a decision with all the saved money from working plenty of long hours and therefore very little time for spending anything. After the world "financial crisis", the price of everything took off in Australia as the Aussie dollar took a major dive, so I bought these from the UK as they were the cheapest by far. Cunning plan I thought. After buying them on the 19th November, they arrived in Oz on the 25th November, and sat there. Oops, caught in Customs. Waited until the 28th to receive my Customs notice, filled out the forms to register myself as an importer, and paid the GST, they were released on the 3rd December. Friday 5th of December, they were finally delivered, still $300 under the best price I could buy them here after all the fees, GST, shipping and purchase. Enough said.

Anyway, Saturday was supposed to be a 3 Valleys ride with Dave, BTi and Knappster starting at about 7:30am. I wasn't going to have time to get these new wheels built up overnight (I needed rim tape and tyres etc), so was looking forward to giving them a test ride either late Saturday or on Sunday. So what happened next?

I missed Saturday purely due to fatigue, sleeping in and a migraine. All of which had been building for a few days/weeks. Late in the afternoon I forced myself out and got the gear for the new wheels, and did a lazy 40km in the Park hoping to clear my head, and to back up my 50km ride to work on Friday while my car was still being serviced. I felt guilty missing the ride with the guys. Then BTi called me Saturday night saying he wasn't riding Sunday because he has a fractured eye socket, and bruised shoulder - caused on Cervelo corner (see http://langles.blogspot.com/2008/12/grazed-anatomy.html for details). But not to be outdone, Knappster had earlier come-a-cropper courtesy of another misfortune after only 300m! Gerard smashed a brand new helmet and ended his ride there a little worse for wear, and BTi crashed his new month old Titanium bike - luckily without and serious damage to it, but an ambulance ride to hospital for himself! Anyway, seems both BTi and Knappster are in good spirits and should be back in action shortly.

I am so thankful that I slept through my alarm and had a migraine, otherwise this comedy of crashes could have been far worse. And more so if we had decided to ride Sunday as per normal when these new toys could have been out on the maiden journey! We could have had the trifecta! But 2 out of 3 aint bad....

Saturday night, and the migraine really kicked in. So much so I couldn't even look at the wheels to get them setup. And Sunday was no better, when I missed my planned long ride for the week and didn't see daylight at all. All-in-all, a very eventful weekend for some, and not so for others.

So here we are, Tuesday evening and the wheels have just been taken out of the boxes. Really looking forward to giving them a spin this weekend - weather and mates permitting.

Lisa's Farewell

Well the day is rapidly approaching where Lisa will go and join the cheeky Hamster in the USofA. Tonight we had (another) farewell catchup, this time at an Italian restuarant in the Rocks. A very pleasant evening was had by all. In the absence of Hamster who is already located in downtown Harrisburg, someone had to handle the photography, and hence documentation of the evening. It was my dubious honour to fulfil this role. I hope I did it admirably and justice. Hope you enjoy the photos.


A good night was had by all.

Cheers to absent friends!

"Beer. My one and only true friend. My love for you will never die!"

Michelle and Lisa try to settle the "Who is taller?" argument. The answer is neither - the bollard in the background is just pips them both.

Finally an Outdoor Ride

Saturday, 22 November 2008.
Finally the weather cleared enough to get out for a ride. BT, with his new Ti steed, joined me for an outdoor ride. The weather wasn't great, and there were a lot of storms around, so we intended to stay in Centennial Park close to home in case the weather turned bad. Well indeed it did. After a few intemittent showers dampened our enthusiasm slightly, the wind really kicked in. At one stage it felled a couple of the big fig trees in the park and the gusts were so bad I thought BT was going to come off. Suffice to say we exited the Park after only notching up 64km. Disappointing, but at least we got out for a change.

BT and the new BTi steed. Here he is saying he only needs 2 hands to lift this one.
My trusty steed.

Come Sunday, the weather had really taken a turn for the worse. Gale force winds meant no outdoor riding once again, so it was back into the House of Pain. This time I stuck it out for a 90 minute session.

Friday, 28 November 2008.
The last of the Movember shots. Come Monday, this will be going, going, GONE!

Saturday, 29 November 2008.
Weather wasn't great with a lot of rain about, so I spent the best part of the day at work. By the time I got home, I prepared to go for a ride in the Park, but storms started rolling in again. Another 90 minute trainer session insued. Funny, thing actually. A lot of people driving or walking past had a laugh at me on the trainer (including one very, very cute lady - I'll have to find out who she is). They weren't laughing so much when the storm hit 30 minutes into the session and dropped close to 10mm rain in less than 10 minutes. Very heavy.

Sunday, 30 November 2008.
Another day helping my brother with his plumbing at the new house. Finished earlier this week, and got a 65km ride in the Park in the late afternoon. Felt good being out on the "road" even if it was car free day in Centennial. Still very windy in Sydney, and the weather forecast is for rain again next weekend. It could just be one of those summers....

Movember - Week 3

3 weeks and just over 1 week to go for Movember 2008. With 21 days now passed, and just over a week to go, I think I can hold out from here. Where is Merv Hughes when you need him for comparison??
Surprisingly, I'm becoming quite attached to it now - but it will go on 01 Dec 08.



Up close and personal.... Look at that undergrowth!

PS. If you are interested in making a donation and sponsoring my cause, click on this link.... 'Sponsor Smarty'
Thanks in advance, Smarty

Smartys' House of Pain

It's been an unfortunate weekend both weather wise and other commitments. So, to keep up with the training programme has meant a lot of time on the trainer in the garage. Not the most spectacular, or pleasant, way to keep on top of things, but nonetheless very effective.

Saturday saw me helping my brother do plumbing in his new house again (hopefully the last weekend I need to carry baths and vanity units up stairs). By the time we finished, it was after 5pm and the weather had set in. Meaning either getting rained on or time on the trainer. I opted for the latter, with an 80 minute session.

Sunday morning was feeling the effects of carrying all day Saturday, plus 2 partially deflated car tyres from running over nails sometime the Saturday. Bugger - 3 Valleys ride with BTi and Mike is now not an option - or a risky one given no second spare car tyre. After a few hours of stretching and procrastinating, wind and some rain, back on the trainer for another 80 minute session.

All up a good weekend. Two 80 minute sessions and some 90km covered. Not what I would have preferred at the start of the weekend, but definitely better than nothing.

The scene.

The view.

The form.

The result....

Movember - Week 2

Ah, 2 weeks in, 2 weeks to go for Movember 2008. Well and truly on our way now. Had a visit from National Parks and Wildlife today - want to declare my top lip a State Forest. This could get ugly (well, uglier...).

Blogmeister Smarty

After much procrastination, and deciding to ditch the website format for now, I have finally created a Blogspot (I was feeling left out). Anyway, without much ado, here we go into Blogland. Hope to keep it updated as best as possible.
With Hamsterelli now left the country, this is probably the best way to keep him and everyone else updated with the latest in the world of Smarty.

At Hamsters recent farewell, the Movember addition was unveiled. As I have since found out, these facial additions play havoc while riding, but not more than a backpack on some of those French Alps (or those wing-nuts for that matter). And, just for the record, that is NOT ananas!
(Image courtesy of http://www.langles.blogspot.com/)