coast to coast [retro]

team report. 20308.
it was cold. crafers stood in shadow. but not as cold as anzac ridge. geert twinned jerseys. but as the shadows shortened. the cycles assembled. gunner, dutch and secrets skipper with a surprise up the sleave. not even sure he really wanted to do this. and a risky ocr3 bargain. who pays 2.5c notes for a suspect bike and rides it 100k that weekend. furthermore who decides to change the rear deraileur the night before and not really know how to tune them back up.i really just guessed these new bikes aint like the old uns but the principle is the same isnt it, but risky. or stupid? yep both. after sign in geert stripped in the block and guns and skip chewed over the ks and compared reccumberants. little known the gun fired and dutchie saw moving crowds..start together. meanwhile guns and skip chatted back turned and lost our inspired recruit. we waited for dutchie to emerge. the crowd thinned. the marquees came down a couple of rider left and no dutch. no one was left just us. at 820 skip called rank and rolled. he must have left with the crowd. first corner flick down to low cog. the risk bit and locked chain around the bottom bracket. not even 150 metres. cursing and rough handle couldnt budge the lock up..called for action wheels up...cycleworx pulled up any problems? all sorted. what service...in 5mins tuned what skip attempted in 4 late hours. worth the entry figure alone. gunner standing point calming the situation. no geert. we ride. speed? this thing has speed. low centre top bar. twitching handling. and freaking latent rolling potential. feel like a rider looked like 2 riders cruising. old mount barker road down stirling aldgate aldgate valley road chill shadows and punching sun. what a ride. hot and cold we seemd like the only bikes in the world. guessing for times is he in front 30 ks to the first station. mylor we caught the first stragglers. picked them off. echunga we got swamped in climbers. one two peloton gunner calling action 39 42 kph...hey we got a way to go? geert called in. hes watering down at at meadows. the sun well and truly in. 30k down 70 the ride together. lets go. see how we go. call it in gunner. 35- 38 bunching long road to kuitpo forest. yunti detour food and water. south road north[?] to myponga turn off. skipper sorting traffic gunner an geert making pace. got to get back on the wheel. others picked up skipper we rode negotiating lots of bikes. skip caught the bus and was getting along but no idea how fast. gunner and geert pacing off looking for the team structure. there and past. the bus hadn't stopped. you gotta get on board though. gunner closed and messaged we should slow that bike has changed something in you old boy. geert is back down the road. left onto hindmarsh valley road an climbs. busted riders on the side attended to by team mates. keep your line. test low gear first time since crafers....sweet shift. you gotta love confidence in your gear. water station. 27 to run. uncharted territory for the gunner and skipper. geert collects. ride the last stanza as a bunch...undulations inlcines and downhill no joke.....70kph tops gunner being tailed by the dutch...what a rush. skip lagging no real confidence in new bike downhill handling and or stopping. risky? yep. climb then flat. victor district signs flash. party tricks? keep them. stuff bites. it can happen! then the last climb. continued. at the watershed. ocean views. deep tourquise and inviting. smugglers are in town. ring road greenhills and foreshore. finish. ahead of schedule. the figures. 100.7ks 3 hours 40[tbc] ride time 30+kph average. it was just after midday. we cruised entertainment nad givaways and cafe. a spot in the shade call in the backup...geert is looking in the specialised tent. skip wasnt talking up drug testing just yet. gunner actually looking for a place to sit down but still bantering for ks. fish and chips and becks. wendy and cathy. all in all awesome. i never thought 100k was possible. on the way home it hit me how far we had actually rode. giant for one day. sleep well. we train next sunday. 3pm darlington to sellicks

thanks guys that was nuts.

i am skipper and i am.....stuffed.

ends