What’s Next

It seemed spring shone on the roads last weekend.

I zipped off down the road on Saturday morning into a mix of cool and humid air, only three layers on top. Base layer, winter windbreaker and long sleeved jersey. Rain was forecast and I could see showers in the northwest from on the top of Kanagroo Ground near the Memorial Tower. But it didn’t happen and it was so pleasurable to ride in that taste of spring air. It’ll probably revert back to winter again soon but at least I know that its there.

It was a dramatic contrast from the early morning freeze at Christmas Hill last Wednesday when it minus 3 degrees C. I was really looking forward to wrapping my hands around a hot coffee at the Smiths Gully General Store that morning. It took me 15 minutes get my fingers moving again after they froze at Christmas Hills on the Yarra Glen road. Couldn’t use my fingers to change gear!  I don’t know what it is with Yarra Glen Road but another bus near swooped me on that road near Clintons on Wednesday. The driver missed me by about 150mm. The Amy Gillett Foundation is doing an excellent job with promoting the “A Metre Matters” campaign. Please support it in any way you can. Letters, texts and phone calls to pollies and administrators. We need a law that sets a minimum distance between cyclists and other road users because self-regulation doesn’t work.

Anyway on Saturday I got out to Cadels Corner (which used to be called Arthurs Creek) and I’ve never seen so many cyclists there! The place was bopping. If you’ve got a portable coffee cart then that’s the place to drag it to. Sunday on KG road was the same, so many bunches of riders out and about, I refuse to believe it was not something to do with Cadel’s victory. Bikes everywhere I went, from KG to Warrandyte to Templestowe and Eltham.

Whats next ?

I’d like to ride the Amy Gillett Foundation Gran Fondo but I won’t be in Melbourne. I’ll be somewhere in France with Mary Ann. I’m going to ride and complete at least one stage of Le Tour, probably Stage 1: Passage du Gois to Mont des Allouettes. Going to take my summer gear, plus helmet, shoes and pedals. Beg, borrow, buy, hire or steal a velo and hit the french roads.

My brother Peter has qualified for the Paris-Brest-Paris, 1200 km in 90 hours. We’ll be there with him at the beginning and end of that momentous ride which is even older than Le Tour de France and held every four years. Peter has put in an enormous effort into qualifying and training for this. I would find it extremely challenging if not impossible to do. He has to complete the 1200 km ride within 94 consecutive hours in a foreign country, riding on the opposite side of the road with little sleep or food. This is gladiator stuff I reckon.

So that’s my What’s Next.

GoCadel

Le Tour de France winner Cadel Evans

who is the coolest man in cycling!

Hope he can do a ride through Arthurs Creek in the Yellow Jersey down to Ryders Flat !

Big congratulations to his team  mates in BMC racing who he has credited with his win too. And from the Team Leader at TDU Posse –

Nicole Chester

Some great comments via twitter from some of the best :

Simon Gerrans “I’m super geed & proud of Cadel. Years of hard work and commitment are paying off. I’m also pretty happy there’s only one stage to go!”

Fabian Cancellara (in Fabianese of course) “1time being in the car in my live follow the tt from @schleckfrank..I done all i cut to push him by words and being close as a friend.”

Andy Schleck ” Congarts to Cadel to you deserve that! Happy for you and your team BMC!its been a great battle looking forward to next year all ready!!!”

Lance Armstrong ” Congratulations to Cadel Evans. #thatwasademonstration”

Stuart O’Grady ” Congrats to cadel for making history. I’m a proud aussie and a proud leopard! The best man won. Congrats to all @ BMC .”

Chiara Passerini (Cadel’s wife) “Aussies!! No work for u on Monday! And if bosses get angry, I’ll have a word with them!!”

And finally a tweet from Cadel himself:
“Little bit too much drama for me today…..Incredible crowds-ears just stopped ringing! @BMCProTeam boys are my heroes (again)#TdF”

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    Simon Jones You forgot @Ride_Industries – ” the Fat lady has sung ” !

    4 hours ago · Like