NotFlyingScot wrote:The power of one! First it was Sandman off to commune with computers in the desert, then bmxbandito lashed to the workbench by the boss on Thursday mornings and finally Todd aka Badblood spirited off to Gosford by the scent of a woman! So the HTFU Thursdays are now a solo event.
In honour of Sandman and to provide the full HTFU experience the small chain ring was left in the pocket today for a run up to Wentworth Falls. Lapo involved a bit more standing on the pedals in the 53/21 than usual and the final pitch up Boddington Hill was ground out in the 53/24. Was not as bad as I expected but not sure I'd do it again. Since someone kindly invented double chain rings I think I'll continue to use them. Made a mistake of diverting across to Agnes Banks from Springwood on the way home. Had forgotten how rough and "dead" that stretch of road along the bottom is the whole way. And as for Castlereagh Rd mid week. Every second vehicle a tipper truck with dog trailer bouncing all over the road at 100 kph and no hard shoulder. Never again!
Survived back to Penrith for some counselling from the bandito and Doug about riding on busy narrow roads mid week, a cup of coffee then back across to the F4 and home. Terrific fine weather, not too hot, not too windy. Home and feet up with another 176 kms under the tyres.
Don, you should have turned around this morning and joined me.
NFS
Sandy
That is way awesome, how cool is that ride to mash it out in the big ring. Lappo in the 21 is nice, the legs are a little more tired by Boddington but its definitely a big ring "hill". I'm sure I shared the story of the School Teacher riding with Don and I one day up there, he attacks 1/2 way up Boddo so I'm left to accelerate and attack him and get onto the back of a truck and sail past him

Then there was the ride up lappo and got onto the back of a truck, boy its a weird feeling accelerating so hard up a hill

Watched a few Youtube videos of Lance and Marco scaling Alpe du Huez and Vonteaux this afternoon, sheesh how motivating was that.
I'd have to agree Castlereagh road is no place for a cyclist mid week, too many trucks trying to squeeze past, its just darn nasty.
I suspect your "motivational post" here is going to make some other guys think twice when going up a hill.....I need to stay in the big ring for that little bit more...oh shite, I'm at the top, that wasnt so hard

Onya Sandy !
Sandman
P.S Mate, your the "last of the bunch" on Thursdays, I tell ya if I was still in Syd I would do anything to do the Thursday ride.....nothing beat the Thu HTFU ride even if I was a big sooky girl getting beaten in pace by Antman up old Bathurst
