D'day Part 3: Wind, Hills and Cramp

Not as bad as we thought, the prediction of tumultuous winds of 100kmph had not eventuated. It was still hard going with a strong north westerly providing a headwind in sections making that flat road cycling that little bit harder. I thought of trying to pull some Tour de France style moves, ones that Lance told me personally and broke away real early....

Pfft as if, we tried to alternate on front providing the shelter for a buckled relay bike. tried being the operative word but we soon resorted back to an uncoordinated scatter. Getting out Ling's 007 helmet cam, it will be interesting to see how the film took in the quaint outskirts of such places as Wollert, Donnybrook and of course Woodstock. The boys had to get out the guitar and pose in front of that sign, with Hendrix playing on the dashboard 'boom box', a battery ipod dock secured by gaffer tape and the mad max van in the background. The scenery was indeed quaint with green meadows (paddocks) and british style rock walls lining the surrounding properties.

Little did I know this was the beginning of the end of the smooth sailing as the climb over the Great Dividing Range was about to become a reality on our way to Wandong. At this stage the girls went off yonder in search of sponsorship in what someone may subjectively deem major places. We had begun climbing through some hills with it requiring all those nights through Waverly on route to work, or the Dandenongs ride or really the lack of hill-climbing I do. The first hills were managed well with the single speed a deceptively good climbing gear, guess it was designed to be the all rounder. It wasn't until the mighty hill came that I realised I must get some power up it, with limited run up due to such a high gear the bike hit with minimal climb speed. With my gluteas maximus sitting upon cow hide and sheep skin, the suspension in the forms of springs were being utilised.

Halfway up the hill, I had to keep going, climbing out of the saddle I cranked those pedals. Until... something grabbed my leg, despite the water and nutrient water drunk, the big porridge for brekkie cramp had beset in. But I was determined to climb this hill, struggling to stretch out, it was adrenaline that propelled me up. Upon the hill while waiting for the crew, I bushbashed up the embankment to absorb the view, very nice. It was then a scramble where I didn't end up on my backside remarkably and a cruise down the hill.

Upon getting to the car I knew I would be in trouble if I didn't fuel up. Thanks to Bakers Delight we had an assortment of breads, stuff the gluten intolerance as I feasted upon a whole pull apart. The water combined with slamming down the Dragonfruit Nutrient water and some anxious stretching I was already cracking and it was merely 40km out. How come this didn't come up in the training rides, how could I have let myself down and the most important one how was I going to make it?

Ben took a break from piloting the Van and joined us on the relay bike, something the man hadn't done in years and got into the spirit of things. My legs has eased up and I was back into a rhythm with some steady pedalling until crunching. The sickening sound of metal on metal had turned from a mere whine to a screech...

D'day Part 2: Negating the Urban Sprawl

The realisation had hit as we rode off from the museum, three of us in total, unsure of what was to come. We were to take the side streets and bike path of St Georges Road till the bike track ran out and from then well yeah... Tas was our local knowledge though and in good spirits, with jokes aplenty, we made good pace and got through to St Georges with relative ease.

Feeling very good at smashing the first 20km with ease, we were in the flow, lone figures going against the wave of cyclists going into the city. Thoughts came to my head that this was the symboligy the ride was set on to reverse such a trend in Timor. For me it was easy to do I chose to come to the city in the first place, it was not something I had to do to survive in life and for this I feel so privelidged. In raising money to go towards helping people our age not have to use all their energy just to create the slightest of chances of employment and to help them give oppotunity towards reversing this trend of their peers, it is affective at creating determination to make our event work.

We were getting on at this stage before the bike track ran out, we ended up detouring before asking a friendly italian gentleman for the directions and we were now 20 odd km out, on the outskirts. Stopping for pitstop, we eventually were met by the sweet Calais of Tess, the immitating filming Jeep of Ling and the mad max-like van of Ben. I do not deem that dubbing of mad-max like in anyway. After getting supplies from the battle wagon we had unloaded the relay bike which was delayed earlier. Now there were five of us and after passing under the eastern ring road, we were now starting to come onto those wide country roads.

D'day Part 1: the briefing

6:30 Words cannot describe the surreal feeling inside me as I wait amongst the rat race on the dark platform. Actually tired... As I await the train to take me into the city donned out in my tights, cycling shirt, timberland casual shoes and brandishing the Great Timorian Bike Ride Shirt, an iron on emblem on a white short cut shirt (such a stylish picture), I survey the sky for that weather that will potentially wreck havoc on our endevour. So far so good, but its early as soon as it hits day break the wind will spring up and the fun will begin.
Approx 7:30 Rocking up at Melbourne Central, I see my mate Olly at QV beforehand to tie something up before I go, he has always worked as a goodluck charm. It is then off to the Mueseum the vast concrete space before the entrance and dramatically fashioned roofing housing the waiting Vic, Tas, Ling, Yue, Tess and Daniel.
Approx 7:38 The meeting last night meant for something in that these people who had successfully come to the right place. Status report mentioned that Ben and Laurie are en route, as with Veronica, Lizzie was running behind and well Tracey... She was lost not in Bayswater this time but at another Mueseum somewhere StKilda. Tracey is very adventurous to say the least.

8:05 So after another breifing, some coordination and direction we were in the huddle ready to do this. Maybe not ready but you know what we mean... Enough time had been spent in waiting it was indeed the time for action.

This trip we were about to embark on was not for our own development, our own experience, our own growth, these were just positives associated with it. For the main purpose and efforts to make a difference, no matter how big nor small. This is what was going to give substance to the highs and drive us through the lows and it was important not to lose focus of this.