XCrazy wrote:

FLATULENTFRIEND wrote:

Ahad wrote:Tried out my new wheels last night. Got these real cheap 30mm pro lites on special. Took 400g weight off my wheels so all good. I'm a light bastard so no flex in the front wheel like some heavier guys experience in some of the reviews.

Come on tell us - what are the wheels?

Ok ok now that you've twisted my arm. Think you better sit down for this one as it might come as a bit of a shock... they're "Pro Lites" and they're their 30mm alloy rim ones which are called Stelvio. Still around 1640grams so no lightweights but much lighter than my 2000+ stock ones so thought I may as well get them

set of about 6am with the new lights blazing and rode the 105km from Feilding to Paraparumu....had/shared/made lunch with NZMatto and his family then drove home with SWMBO..... took me a little over 3 hours riding time, but from Levin onwards was riding into a southerly which got stronger by the KM.

Daughter's 3rd B'Day today, so with a stomach full of sugar, cake, sausage rolls, food colouring etc etc, I set off up Dyers feeling like I was full of lead. Got to Evans via short bays and started feeling good again. Heading up Mt Pleasant I looked accross one of the switchbacks to see a dude absolutely steaming up the hill behind me.

Always keen for a challenge, I flicked the nitros switch and stomped to see if I could keep ahead. I was doing okay sitting on about 22kph but the bugger was still gaining on me. I put in a burst to see if I could shake him, holding 27kph for about 20s only to turn around and see the bastard was still gaining. When he finally did catch me I sheepishly said I was just trying to give him a target (bullshit - I wanted to kick his arse, but I got torn a new one instead ).

Turned out to be Dave Sullivan - a local cycling legend Paid me a wee compliment about my speed which boosted my deflated ego, and we parted ways at the Mt Pleasant Road and I continued my merry way back to SOK and home. All up, a nice ride.

I rode into town with the three other guys tonight.
After agreeing it would be a ‘recovery’ ride (one guy had done the Rotorua/Taupo) one guy chased a truck down Great North Road. I lead at a more reasonable pace all the way to Jervois road and then most of the way to Quay Street.
Truck chaser did the hard work along Tamaki into the headwind
I led back the other way and probably half the way home.

Two vehicles incidents;
A car really close to us – he’ll get a Police letter
When I was riding through GlenEden there were Fire engines and Police cars etc and the road was half blocked off (there was a bush fire at the back of the cemetery).
A Fire Engine started to do a U turn in front of me and then a Police car started to do the same . I yelled at the Policeman who then stopped and apologised.
Fire Engine – I rang up the local branch and got a guy who cycles to work who apologised and will pass on a reprimand to the driver

64kms

Went for my first decent ride after Le Race to the top of Evans Pass and back. Can't remember when I did a time that slow. 17min slower than my PB! Legs are totally smashed, and feel like I've just got back on the bike after a 3month lay off. Oh well shows I gave it everything on the day though which is good. You're only as strong as your training, and no short cuts in this game...

did a 115km loop around the top of the Halcombe/Stanaway Hills then out to Marton, Bulls, Sanason and into Palmerston. Joined the PP bunch for a spin back out to Rongotea, where I peeled off and road back into Feilding. 1st puncture in 3000km-ish, and first ever since I was 13 got clipped by a car. Old dear pulled across the cycle lane on Rangateki Line with out looking first. no damage done, just a graze on the knee and elbow. Then as I came down green road with my new 900 luminere lights ablaze, a truck pulled straight across in front of me to turn into the depot driveway....he saw me, I have no doubt, I was smack bang in front of him. lights on and having to shield my eyes from his headlights on full beam. Phone the company this morning, to be told it was my fault for riding in the dark Oh well I guess he's right

cooper770 wrote:did a 115km loop around the top of the Halcombe/Stanaway Hills then out to Marton, Bulls, Sanason and into Palmerston. Joined the PP bunch for a spin back out to Rongotea, where I peeled off and road back into Feilding. 1st puncture in 3000km-ish, and first ever since I was 13 got clipped by a car. Old dear pulled across the cycle lane on Rangateki Line with out looking first. no damage done, just a graze on the knee and elbow. Then as I came down green road with my new 900 luminere lights ablaze, a truck pulled straight across in front of me to turn into the depot driveway....he saw me, I have no doubt, I was smack bang in front of him. lights on and having to shield my eyes from his headlights on full beam. Phone the company this morning, to be told it was my fault for riding in the dark Oh well I guess he's right

Did you get the woman’s rego? = formal Police complaint and the same with the scum truckies!
Phone someone else in the trucking co. - you might get a better response.

As I had no work yesterday I thought I’d take my SingeSpeed out for a decent ride.
After the hills near home I rode a 20kms loop x 3 and a few other roads, stopping at my mechanic’s to make up drink no. 3 and headed home - into the wind.
I rode with another guy for a few kms but he couldn’t stay with me.

One car pulled out in front of me – not too close but they’ll get a letter.
Annoyingly with all this riding I’ve been wearing away a line of skin on each of my upper thighs. Rides like yesterdays really leave it raw
I’ve put large Band-Aids on them but it’s hard when I want it to heal and to ride as well.

101kms

I had a nice (apart from my sore undercarriage) short ride this afternoon.
Hsn valley, Coulter, Pooks, Christian and return the same way.

A van (rang them) did a U turn in front of a car (slammed on brakes and missed it) – so it doesn’t just happen to us cyclists.
25kms.

Had yesterday off and rode from Sandringham (AK) out to Huia and back via blockhouse bay/green bay/Titirangi. LOTS OF HILLS out there dam I was pushing it with my fitness but the Tarmac pro made the climbs a little less painful. Certainly a great hilly training route though

Not sure I will ride out that way again, extreemly rough roads (dam Waitak Council) and just don't feel safe on the narrow Waitak ranges roads and all those blind corners

SaturnReturn wrote:Had yesterday off and rode from Sandringham (AK) out to Huia and back via blockhouse bay/green bay/Titirangi. LOTS OF HILLS out there dam I was pushing it with my fitness but the Tarmac pro made the climbs a little less painful. Certainly a great hilly training route though

Not sure I will ride out that way again, extreemly rough roads (dam Waitak Council) and just don't feel safe on the narrow Waitak ranges roads and all those blind corners

Sounds like you had a good ride . Certainly the hills are the worst in Auckland and some of the road surface (esp. for the fast downhills) is rough

Re the danger – I’ve found that during the day, in the middle of the week there is very little traffic on the Huia road – but I wouldn’t go there on the weekends or on a wet day.

FLATULENTFRIEND wrote:but I wouldn’t go there on the weekends or on a wet day.

Seeing as how Orkland is so humid that wouldn't leave too many days would it? (I have lived there ).

FLATULENTFRIEND wrote:

cooper770 wrote:did a 115km loop around the top of the Halcombe/Stanaway Hills then out to Marton, Bulls, Sanason and into Palmerston. Joined the PP bunch for a spin back out to Rongotea, where I peeled off and road back into Feilding. 1st puncture in 3000km-ish, and first ever since I was 13 got clipped by a car. Old dear pulled across the cycle lane on Rangateki Line with out looking first. no damage done, just a graze on the knee and elbow. Then as I came down green road with my new 900 luminere lights ablaze, a truck pulled straight across in front of me to turn into the depot driveway....he saw me, I have no doubt, I was smack bang in front of him. lights on and having to shield my eyes from his headlights on full beam. Phone the company this morning, to be told it was my fault for riding in the dark Oh well I guess he's right

Did you get the woman’s rego? = formal Police complaint and the same with the scum truckies!
Phone someone else in the trucking co. - you might get a better response.

A woman, who happened to be a nurse, stopped to see if I was OK, I was more surprised than hurt , the old dear was in gargar land, had no idea what had happened, and when in finally sank in was so upset I felt like the guilty one ! I don't think she will drive again, let alone knock someone off. It was a low speed clip coming up to a red light. Sometimes you just have to let it go.
As for the truckie, I posted it on the drive right website seeing has how I didn't get an adequate response from Cam Arrnot Transport

Gavatron wrote:

FLATULENTFRIEND wrote:but I wouldn’t go there on the weekends or on a wet day.

Seeing as how Orkland is so humid that wouldn't leave too many days would it? (I have lived there ).

You haven't heard about the drought here then?

Long Bays Today - Awesome day for it and felt really strong.