Richmond Bakery Wednesday Ride

[master6]

Sunny Richmond, wet and cold Colebrook, nasty climb on the road out toward Tunnack, wind varying between north, south, east, and west, and most points in between. Fifteen riders, and the only placing that I can confirm is last placing earned by PMM Man.

Looking forward to the annual arrival of Gerry from Scotland

[BenevolantDictatorD]

For those making riding plans for the holiday break.
"Normal" ride scheduled for next week the 18th.
On the 25th, a short ride for those of us that have been naughty this year and Santa has lost our address.
The Orford Ride will be on Wednesday New Year's Day leaving at 9:00:00.00 as usual with coffee stops in Orford and back at the Richmond Bakery.

[BenevolantDictatorD]

Another Richmond perfect day greeted about 16 riders for the off at 9:00:00.000

RodH returns from his WA jaunt and back to his normal pattern of turning up at one minute to nine. He caught up!

The course for today was a double loop of Back Tea Tree and Middle Tea Tree Roads. This is usually a fast and furious course but the holiday spirit must have taken over and it was a generally pleasant group ride at talking pace with regroups as necessary. PMM Man was full of plans and puffed with confidence as sprinter Rossie had turned up in one of his tops. He was so confident that he decided he didn't need any more than the basic plan and pulled out at half way for an early coffee. Hmm. Leadership style garnered from the Andy Schleck school team leader tactics.

Brian the younger added a bit of excitement on the first lap as he headed off the road to try some interesting passing manouvre. He somehow managed to stay upright and slowed the bunch down even more. Nice work if you can get away with it.

Did i mention Rossie was in the bunch. Rossie won the sprint. Not too sure who he was riding for as his shirt had turned inside out in some sort of protest at his softy team leader. Coffee was good as always and the chats were varied.

Next week is Xmas day. The Bakery is shut. There may be someone there to ride with - there may not.

The week after is the Orford ride - leaving at the usual time.

[master6]

For those who need a ride the day after RBWR, the DFBTR is your chance.

Got Boxing day (Thursday ) free?

Dodges Ferry Bakery 9.00.00am is where you will find us.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=67985&p=1066351#p1066351

[Paul B]

It was a tale of two dictators. Yep, just the Benevolent Dictator and Paul B were there for the Christmas day RBWR. And, who would have guessed that the Benevolent Dictator would ask for preferences on the course of choice So since it is an offer that will only come once it was gladly taken. So it was over Brinktop, Penna Rd through to Midway Point, over the causeway to Sharkpoint Rd, through to Penna Rd, Brinktop, down to the highway, up to Fingerpost and finishing at the (closed) bakery. Great ride and it was a photo finish

[BenevolantDictatorD]

The weather gods must have known that we were leaving Richmond on our annual Orford ride as the weather deserted us. Seven riders toed the line at kick off time as the overcast conditions gave us what is best described as patchy light rain that lasted for most of the ride - just enough to keep the roads damp but not enough to get us cold. Black Charlies came and went. Bust-Me-Gall was conquered reasonably easily and the regroup saw the bunch get to Orford all together and in reasonable condition.

Refreshments were had. Clive jumped in the car and the bunch left at different times. PMM Man wasn't feeling well and trundled up the road early - with friends. We waited for Marty's breakfast to arrive and headed off in pursuit. We picked up PMM Man at Buckland and Marty took the challenge and started off after the rest. I stayed with PMM Man while he lost his breakfast and he sent me off ahead to get the car to pick him up. I thought I was going a reasonable pace only to see the irrepressible one fly past me on the Bust-Me-Gall descent. We tapped along together and came across Marty and two others repairing the second puncture to Marty's borrowed wheels! We did the obligatory stop and showed immense amounts of sympathy and then left.

We found PaulB waiting at Fingerpost and signed him up to our group and headed for Richmond. Honours went to Paul by a close margin of around 800m. The rest trundled in together. All in all a good bunch ride and not the race of years past.

[master6]

Twenty five riders today

I would tell you more, however the need for a snooze has intervened. Perhaps that tells you something?

[BenevolantDictatorD]

Yes - 25 riders today in three bunches of 23, 1 and 1.

The wind was supposed to start from the SE and move across to the NE so by going up Middle Tea Tree and then across to Colebrook road to the top of Cole Hill should have been a tail breeze and coming back should have been a tail breeze. Seemed like head winds all the way to me.

The trundle out along Middle Tea Tree saw everyone sitting together quite nicely and that remained the case until Campania where the bunch split and a mechanical was registered. The bunch waited for the split to rejoin and the mechanical headed back to Richmond - teething problems - new bike - hmmm. I tried my best to catch up to the waiting bunch but they didn't seem to be waiting! As a result - no idea of the placings for the hill sprint.

I just about got to the turn point when the bunch came my way so a turn and join the fun was the call. The strong men were on the front - the rest of us hiding as much as we could. The sprint came down to three. Rossie was pipped for second and Christian took the honours.

There was a distinct lack of chairs at the cafe but we managed. Chat was good as always. Someone mentioned average times around the 32kph mark which sounded about right and is probably a record speed for RBWR - well done to the strong men at the front. Master6 looked like he needed a snooze. Next week ...

[BenevolantDictatorD]

Nothing worse than inaccurate reporting! An amendment to the finish line standings from last week. Rosco has been declared the winner after discussion from Christian revealed that he didn't get past Rossie.

Baskerville this week.

[master6]

Baskerville this week.

VERY clever BDD

[master6]

As threatened, we did the Bastardville circuit today. Significantly more than 20 riders again today, and we bounced accross the back country like yo-yos.
Nothing was heard from PMM Man until the coffee stop, whereapon it was discovered that he was a non riding coffee drinker today due to having some problems with 10 tonne of sandstone. Some bloke called Steve apparently was first home, although no one actually witnessed him arriving back in Richmond. The fact that he had coffee at the greatest bakery in Australia was taken as evidence that he had indeed completed the course.
We straggled home.

[master6]

Why is it, that when you get back to Richmond after a RBWR, you feel.................................

(you tell me )

[Paul B]

... ready for the Dodges Ferry Bakery Thursday Ride

[master6]

... ready for the Dodges Ferry Bakery Thursday Ride

I can understand that; two very enjoyable rides

[BenevolantDictatorD]

19 riders greeted the starter in Richmond today. A bit of international flavor was added by Steve who is visiting from Seattle and brought his bike along this time. The 'traditional' course was set for today - over Water Tower and up to the end of Back Tea Tree and back. The weather was glorious although a bit of a breeze made it interesting for those on the front. The usual surge up to the water tower ensued followed by a regroup and continuation.

A mix-up at the Middle Tea Tree corner saw Daisy trying to turn left and everyone else going straight ahead - mis-communication all around and Daisy hit the gravel heavily. I escorted him back to his car and the bunch rode on. A complete lack of information on all the surges and Duck Pond Hill points ensues as I came across the bunch again at the corner of Back Tea Tree on their way back. A tail wind livened the bunch and the pace went up. PMM Man was strangely quiet - very strangely quiet - and was sitting nicely towards the front of the bunch. He led up the first part of water tower and stayed at the front on the surge to the top.

A regroup after water tower saw most of the bunch back together and off down the hill they went. At the Richmond Road corner PMM Man took his chances and powered through the corner with PaulB while the rest waited for the cars to pass and a few bogans in an old Ford to give us their view of our worth in life. Gotta love the bogan turn of phrase!

The chase was on with Andrew powering away on the front until Motorbike Man Rod came past and lifted the pace to excruciating. Alas PMM Man was reeled in with a click to go but didn't know until we all wizzed past him with 250 to go. No young fast legs in the bunch today so I snagged a rare win with T closely behind.

Coffee chat and laughter abounded. The appearance of one of the "originals" of RBWR - Alan - brought about a few memories of the formative days of the ride. We started in or around 2000 and originally met in Sorell and rode to Fingerpost, Briggs Road, East Derwent Highway, Grass Tree and then Brinktop. That lasted about three weeks and the start was moved to Richmond. The format has remained pretty much the same ever since.

A few thoughts on today's crash which was, in my opinion, in the "unfortunate" category. The RBWR currently clocks up around forty thousand collective kilometres a year. A fair bit more now than in the past but still a lot in any terms. In its 14th year year we have had a handful of crashes with three riders ending up in hospital as a result of one of them. In any relative terms that is a pretty good record and hopefully one that gets better and not worse.

[BenevolantDictatorD]

We had at least 22 riders out this week in two groups with the main bunch doing the "big loop" of Richmond Road, Malcolm's Hut Road, Back Tea Tree, Tea Tree, Fingerpost - and then it stopped when reports of roadworks on Brinktop filtered back. A turn at the highway saw us back along Fingerpost and back into Richmond.

I think a nice ride was had by all with the peleton quite prepared to split up and let the rabbits run. PMM Man's amazing new tactic of attacking at the train lines was slightly short of 30kms too early and failed. His second (highly unpredictable) tactic of attacking at Fingerpost corner ran into a block head wind and disintegrated. Next week?

The sprint was fiercely contested and contested fiercely but no-one was letting anyone else know who won so I don't know. The course was a bit shorter than usual getting us back a bit early so coffee chat was extended even more than usual. Nice.

[Paul B]

Hi all; after consultation with the "Benevolant Dictator", I have set up the RBWR Strava club. So if you are interested in joining, you can click on this link. http://www.strava.com/clubs/51771/members

Cheers,
Paul

[Paul B]

7 members already !!!

[nailsaslegs]

HI all, you may or may not be aware we have a time trial coming up in honour of Eric, Sunday 16 March. I will be asking Jenny to give the trophy to the winner, we would like if ride groups that Eric was involved with Dome, and Wednesday Morning Bakery ride if they would like to ride out to the TT and be part of the celebration. There will be a coffee van and looking at having a BBQ to raise funds for motor neurone disease. Can you pass this onto anyone who knew Eric that would be great. Any questions let me know. Rob.

[nailsaslegs]

Should also mention we are looking at putting on a BBQ and a coffee van for the time trial.

[master6]

What a day! Perfect sunny 20C , and a light breeze. Clive, of Taroona Bakery Ride fame was the standin man for absent leader Benevolent dictator D, and he opted for simplicity: “Ride toward Oatlands, do a U turn at the rail crossing, ride back to Richmond“.
Twenty five riders left the Richmond Bakery car park, and three more were discovered en route. Total participation twenty eight happy chappies .
Clive set a gentlemanly pace, and the example was followed by the faithful.. Only incident was a puncture for Rob T at the 9km mark, and he elected to carry out repairs solo, and sent us on our way.
A regrouping took place at the top of Cole Hill, Colebrook was passed, and re passed, and on we pushed toward the famed Bakery.
At 15km to home, the pace picked up, and up, and it seemed that the race was on in earnest.
Earnest put up a superb ride, and won the day with a withering ride into Richmond.

Coffee was excellent as usual, and Brians formal announcement of the coming nuptials this Saturday for Julia and Ian brought enthusiastic applause.
As is usual when Brian makes any announcement, he saw fit to illustrate some points with a story. Fortunately, in the interests of decorum, Brian was thrown out of the Richmond Bakery grounds, but not before he let us know that his honeymoon was centred around Forcett……………we did not (luckily) get the rest of the story, however some guessed that Brian and his bride were traveling by bicycle, thus the short journey.

Very notable presences were old RBWR member Murray Davies (father of the Bride), Michael Nunn, (father of true vets cycling in the south) and, at great expense, a guest ride by renowned annual visiting UK rider Gerry. A big welcome to them.

This weekend will feature the famed annual Regatta weekend event, this year dubbed the “Sheffield Shimmey “.

There will be no shortage of story telling next Wednesday.

[BenevolantDictatorD]

The weather forecast for old Hobart Town wasn't the best but 20 plus regulars turned up at Richmond for the weekly ritual. An easy course today out over water tower to the end of Back Tea Tree and return. The rain in Hobart was intermittent light showers in Richmond which gained in strength as we headed west. By the time the turn onto Back Tea Tree came around the road was wet and everyone was getting that way. A set of surges on the front and another from the back and what was a bunch ride turned into a race!

By the time we got to the end of Back Tea Tree the smell of coffee and a dry seat to enjoy it dragged the majority away from the return journey. That left only nine on the return journey as the rain eased and then stopped by the time we were back at Richmond Road. Showing his improving form Paul B took the sprint for his first win. We arrived as the rest left and coffee was good. Chat continued for some time interspersed with the usual chuckles. Next week ....

[bazsand]

The weather report for Hobart wasn't the best again!!! Luckily we were at Richmond, where the weather was sublime for the 7 gentleman that turned up for the ride, plus PMM Man.
PMM Man picked the route, up Fingerpost then to the top of Cole Hill. The ride out was set at a steady pace with a slight tailwind all the way. Then we turned at the top of Cole Hill. The slight tailwind on the way out turned into a soul sapping head wind on the way back. Being only 8 riders the group stayed pretty much together until Campania. Where Scott B picked up the pace, spitting 3 riders out the back & causing a few choice curse words from the other riders. There was a fair bit of courteous riding from there with each rider left taking their turn.......until 2kms out....then we left Rod H on the front to destroy himself.
The plan was for PMM Man to lead me out for the win.......but I got a little board with that plan & being a team player I decided to block Scott B in behind Rod H,then sent PMM Man for a sprint 600metres out for the expected win by him. But that was foiled by Rod H slowing & letting Scott B out, & also PMM Man blowing himself up with 200metres to go. So Scott B went through for the win with Ray second, nobody cared who was third......fourth or fifth for that matter.
Chat around coffee was the usual dribble......
But a good ride was had by all that turned up.......for the rest..........Soft.........

[BenevolantDictatorD]

It was drizzly and raining in old Hobart Town but, as usual, a glorious day in Richmond.

All added up there were 24 riders out there in various bunches on various routes - not a bad number at all.

A special day today as the instigator of the RBWR - Rex - joined us for a ride as part of his visit back to Tassie.

The course for the main group was a complicated one - head out on Colebrook Road for 30kms, turn around and head back. Always a wit in the bunch somewhere who noted Daisy's return and that might have had something to do with the lack of turns. A slight headwind on the way out kept the turns on the front shorter than usual. Two down by Lowdinna with a "sore back" and a "better look after him". The climb up Cole Hill brought the usual splintering of the bunch with ScotB taking the KOM points. He has established himself as the one with a target on his back when the road tilts up.

Over the other side and out to the turn where everyone kept an eye on Daisy as we negotiated the turning manoeuvre without anyone falling off. Ho, ho, ho. The pace was strangely quiet on the return as the bunch hummed along at 40-45kph. It didn't seem to slow down heading up to the top of Cole Hill and that's the last I saw of anyone other than glimpses of a fast moving bunch from a long way behind.

By all accounts the pace stayed high all the way home. Rossie was in the bunch so Rossie won the sprint.

Talk of the need for an extension to the shelter at the Richmond Bakery was again raised as we now only just fit around the tables. A nice problem to have. Coffee chat went on for at least an hour. Ah the serenity.

[nailsaslegs]

I suggest we go to Broadmarsh tomorrow to check out Erics TT course