Last rides of the year

I didn't go for a ride on Friday as I needed the car at work and wanted the rest day.
Saturday morning I headed out before anyone else was awake and before the wind got up too much and did "the block" 33 km from Inverloch to Cape Paterson and Wonthaggi then back to Inverloch. Eagles Nest is on the way and looks good from the road some days. I averaged 29 kph for the ride of 33km even with the headwind on the last 13 km back to Inverloch. The map is at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=383434. I went anti clockwise this time to enjoy a different ride. Saw a few other riders including a couple I know. Breakfast on my return home and drip coffee. Life is good. Plenty of photos of Eagles nest are online alreay Search Google for more, http://images.google.com.au/images?hl=en&q=Eagles+Nest+Inverloch&btnG=Search+Images.

Great day shared

A good day today. The day started with the 9 km ride to work, no rain and overcast. Later in the day I ogt a call from Robert, he and the other 6 people on the "Be Spontaneous" group from the VicHPV came from Meeniyan to Leongatha as part of their 3 day tour of South Gippsland. It was great to have lunch with them and ride with such a happy group. I was only on an extended lunch break but it was intersting the response around town. A couple of the group found other friends from Melbourne as well. Recumbents are recognisable everywhere and people don't forget that you ride one.

The last photo shows John and Ruth riding their combination of store bought and home made recumbents. John's bike story is at the vichpv site at: http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/vichpv/web/members/johnr/johnr.html

I rode a 20 km return trip via the airport for the trip home. This includes 3 km of dirt road but other than that is reasonably flat and nice with very little traffic. I need to get into the habit of photos. Got a few but need to get them off the camera.
About 38km in total.

Back to work

The threat of rain was in the air but other than a few very small drops nothing eventuated. I rode a total of over 48km for the day. 9 to work, 26 home and the rest around town to check out what was happening with the tourist crowd.
I love the way the GT3 corners. I was doing about 40km down toward one corner when a couple of young kids (early teens) were sitting onthe road but decided to move to block off my line around the corner. I was able to brake slightly change course and still get round the corner at 30 kpm. Good fun in all and left them stunned.

Boxing Day Rides

I went for an early ride about town before breakfast and did about 18km, the wind was mild and in my face all the way out to Eagles Nest.
I went for another ride in the afternoon to the same course . The wind was still a pain and the traffic had picked up a bit. All the tourists are in town for the holidays. This will require a rethink of where I ride for safety . The tourists generally don't look where they are going or pull out without warning. Happy Holidays

Christmas Day

Christmas Day and I unwrapped a new set of VP X38 pedals (http://www.vpcomponents.com/pedals.asp?pcat=&pcat2=2&nowPage=4&pagesize=5#) and a set of Scott Boulder shoes to match (http://www.scottusa.com/category.php?UID=677) . I have set them up and gone for a short test ride. I will need to get used to the clip unclip method but on the bent trike that is less of a problem than a wedgie.

No one much around as the day is poor with a fair wind and rain on and off all day. Good weather for the farmers and the water supply. We went to Melbourne for Christmas stuff yesterday and while it rained on and off there was no run off anywhere as all the rain soaked straight into the paddocks. The next few days are expected to be similar.

The weather breaks

No ride on Friday as work BBQs and other things would make it difficult.
Meet a bloke cycleing from Sydney to Melbourne when i was just outside Korumburra. He was riding Velotechnic recumbent which was what made me look twice. We don't see many recumbent tourers around here. Had a talk for a while and parted ways as he had to make melbourne for Christmas day. Hope he was dry inside when the rain came.

Saturday I have done the block. Inverloch, Wonthaggi (shopping), Cape PAterson and back to Inverloch along the coast road. All up i rode 35 km. A headwind for the first 2 legs and a great ride back to Invy. See the map at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=383434. A good ride if you are down this way and the holiday crowds are not on the coast rode.

I need a new horn as the Honka hoota http://www.honkahoota.com/pages/menu.htm failed as the sun has perished the flexible plastic. The thing is less than 3 months old. Not impressed with these horns and looking at the air zound.

Short smokey day

Rode 9km to work and the same back. The smoke is thick again from the fires and my eyes noticed it a few times. The hot afternoon and the need to talk with a friend shortened the time available to ride.