Punched up on Boxing Day

Doc proposed a nice "roll" in the hills ... hmmm ... there's no truth in cycling. Rendevous at Cherry Gardens - Doc decides Kidd needs Chandlers Hill on his own to begin with. Doc, Skip, Gunner and Kidd assemble - all in golden fleece. Roll through Cherry Gardens following Skipper GIANT butt amidst stories of yesterday and grumblings that no one got new bike stuff for Christmas. Peleton turns right into Morgan Rd for some downhill action and speed records tumble. Kidd & Gunner clock 85km/h+, with Skip not far behind. Doc is out in front and breaks 90 ... heavy bones! What goes down must come up and we grind up what is supposed to be the toughest climb of the day before rolling flats and some beautiful bunch riding through Echunga, Mylor and on to Hahndorf. The sight of the golden fleece paceline looks so good, bystanders grab cameras to snap the train as it rolls through Echunga at good speed (no kidding). Gunner missed morning coffee and warns of breakdown if he can't get a hit, so a quick coffee - and carrot cake - break in Hahndorf just so Skip can meet someone else he knows. Back on bikes for the ride home via "a few hills" ... but "nothing as bad as we've done". There's DEFINITELY no truth in cycling. Never trust your Doctor - we should have got a second opinion. Next 15kms is just hill after hill before we reach crafers, cramped and grumpy. Gunner turns right for home and the three muskateers head down Sheoak and through Belair NP for home. Kidd turns for home in Blackwood after some brief off-road action (NEVER trust your Doctor!). All up, a good tough ride - and a realisation that many more are needed before Jan 23. Bunch riding through Echunga/Mylor the highlight of a tough days climbing. (Maybe Skip can add a more colourful comment to this version of events).

The numbers for our time together:

55.82 kms

2 hours 22 mins

average speed 23.5 (max speed 85-90 km/h)

We climbed over 900m

(Kidd clocked up 74km all up and thanks to Docs generosity climbed over 1250m by the time he tasted cold Gatorade)

NEVER TRUST YOUR DOCTOR ;-)

This is CK signing out - in the lunch break before hopefully watching Punter notch the ton this arvo