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...
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