Haven’t been miffed blogging about last Saturday’s ride until now. But there it is anyway:

Went for another big ride. I guess it was a training ride for the ATB. Never ventured past Mt Eliza before (and I’d only done that twice) so it was an adventure. First below is the what I wrote about the ride on the BV forum:

+1 also about our group riding. I said to someone near Sandy that someone should film us and show it to others how to group ride properly!

My biggest ride also at 134km and I feel OK today. Only slight soreness in the quads. I was struggling with pace by myself out of Safety Beach once I was dropped.

Thanks to Stubacca for stopping and calling to see where I was.

Saw two little screaming kids on BMXs get chased by a magpie along Nepean before Mt Eliza. Most amusing Razz

Detoured through Mt Eliza loop so I can do that fast downhill S-Bend. Fun!

I started to struggle out of Mordi back to St Kilda. Thanks everyone who gave food advice before Sat otherwise I proly would not have lasted and to Keely’s food talk between Franga and Mordi.

My shoulders, upper arms and right hand (and to some extent, my legs) were getting really sore towards the end. I started getting dead (right) foot as well. I thought about dropping off and taking it easy but riding in a group made more sense.

Thought of coffee and food at the end kept me going and it was worth it.

Richard, hope you get well soon. Glad it wasn’t a break.

It was another sensational day weather wise which just made for a perfect ride. After setting off on the return leg from Safety Beach I almost had to catch my breath when I looked out to the left over the cliff and saw the view. Stunning!! Coming into Safety Beach I was concentrating and wasn’t looking. I wanted to stop and take it all in and take some photos. But I didn’t want to be dropped so kept going. Of course I ended up being dropped anyway and was I think second last into Frankston regroup point (I think some had been waiting 20min)…

Anyway, its not a race and I enjoyed myself heaps.

Max 62.3km/h (PB!)
Avg 26.6km/h
Distance 134.78km
Riding Time 5hr 04 min

Onto other news…

1. My MBC R1 has finally arrived into the country from wherever. But I don’t trust my shop will have them trucked to them and assembled this week. But hopefully by sometime next week. Kinda sick of waiting and now I really don’t think I’ll have it long enough to break in and serviced/checked in time for the ATB.

2. I’ve been trying some Crank Brothers Eggbeater SL pedals that was generously lent to me by one of the BVers. The first few tries did seem weird because there is no platform on them to speak of, but then you realise that the stiffness of the shoe is what holds you and gives you power. Clipping in and out was no different to the Smarty pedals that I’d been using, although I did feel they were really loose (I’m sure that’s only psychological because the actual clip mechanism is the same across the range). I love the clean look of them but next week I will try the Quottro SL pedals, which have a platform, but again, only a smal part of the shoe actually touches the pedal.

3. I ordered some bike bits from ProBikeKit at least two weeks ago now. I received an email on the 14th saying the order had been shipped but haven’t got the goods yet. Apparently depending on what you are getting the shipping time can be hit or miss. Some get orders within a week, some more than two…grr