Cycling weekend

It's been a great weekend for cycling. After a dress rehearsal for the Aeolian Ride on Thursday night there was some concern that the wind might as strong as it had been that night but the day turned out to be absolutely glorious. I decided to make my way from Dingley Village to Port Melbourne via the bike path as I had the mountain bike and that proved to be a great experience except for the sections where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic. Such a bunch of muppets.

Suiting up for the ride was funny and I spent much of the ride chuckling at the reactions from the public. I heard us decribed as whoppie cushions, I guess we were whoppping a lot! There were lots of questions about what we were doing. I was having fun.

The ride out onto the pier was interesting. I ended up with a face full of costume and had to stop before I launched myself into the water. The ride ended up at the Belgian Beer Cafe where much beer and tasty treats were enjoyed. Everyone seemed to have a good time on the ride as I reckon the longer people hang around after something like that the better time they have had. Thanks of course must go the creative force behind the rides, Jessica and to cfsmtb for organising the ride from here. I feel priviledged to have been able to participate in something this different and fun.

Today was the car free day and ITT at Yarra Bouvlevard. Euan and I woke up far earlier than expected - I reckon it's the restorative properties of beer - so we got ourselves sorted out and headed to Kew. Luckily we did because I was due to set off for my TT about 20 minutes later. I'm glad about that because it meant I didn't have to stand around and get nervous. The TT was hard but I throughly enjoyed the test. I certainly didn't break any records - something just over 29 minutes I think - will have to wait for the results. Still, it gives me a benchmark and I am really looking forward to the next one. Just the incentive I need to stick to the diet and training.

Saw plenty of a.b'ers there and I reckon we are a very social lot. I think there was someone from a.b standing around drinking coffee and chatting from start to finish today! I think some of us did some riding too! It was a great day once again. It was great to have a few more tents and the women's tent set up with free muffins! I think the road is very ordinary but I really think BV has done a great job organising the events - I can't wait for the next one.

I have posted some photos from the two events - http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlemissmoi/

I think I might have a day off the bike tomorrow!

SuzieB wrote:
> think the road
> is very ordinary but I really think BV has done a great job organising
> the events - I can't wait for the next one.

Oh no Suzie. The road is brilliant but the surface is very ordinary. The
surface is bought to you by vicroads; the people who surfaced the nepean
on the way to Frankston with the very same stuff. Vicroads, insightfull
intelligent usefull friend to cyclists and motorcyclists everywhere. So
long that is as you are in a car and like traffic jams

Dave

Actually the Aeolian suits are R&D proto-types for a new Power Tap measuring system. True, honest!

Seriously one of the best cycling events I've coaxed along from original interest some 12-18 months ago, to actual event. Bloody satisfying & funny to boot. Now one must rest. Thank you to you all & it's been a blast!

More Aeolian Ride pix: http://www.flickr.com/groups/aeolian-melb/