2018 ; via 2 wheels

Post #480

So another year rolls by, one of big challenges and new frontiers for me, retirements then regrettable returns for others!  3 Peaks was jumping in the deep end for this flat-lander, each of the mounts tackled separately in training, but stringing 4,684 meters of climbs together for 235 km in under 13 hours doesn't bear repeating. I'll put that one down as a box ticked.  It was the year of the 'roo that ruined Bo's collarbone and put several horizontal (22/3), Tina, Coggo and KillkennyPaul all joined the walking wounded too, the torture of time to repair.  Cate's 40 km/h crash ((18/1) was the freaky one that remarkably only took bark off.   The 'Ride the Ranges' (22/4) with Team Tat got flatter distance done and holidays took me to foreign fields; Castlemaine, Creswick and Anglesea (12-21/2) cycled scenery sublime and Yackandandah (7-9/5) was awesome for Autumn though 3 degrees was an early taste of Winter.

Like previous years, it's worth battling through the cold months rather than suffer the cruel comeback from a Winter retirement, and  there were plenty who cowered from the cold and paid the price on their return. If they returned at all!  23 days of 3 or below was a little easier than 2017 (32), though Spring gave us 5 more to imprint on our memory.  Minus 3 (29/8) was murder and a 48 km/h WSW'er (30/12) wouldn't be forgotten, rain halted play on 13 days and I even took a few days off (31)    Goat numbers were reduced to a trickle of the tough mid year, and the usual Couldabeens casualties cringed in the cold.  HBK and Hollywood vanished from the ride radar but we did welcome back Temple and Jase from injury incursions. Disc brakes became de rigueur, PistolPete purchased a Pinarello and Bruce turned to titanium.   Sean did a 'superman' (& BamBam followed suit) , Hommie's hijinks haven't halted, Sandy soldiered on but  HG went into hiding (Amy's the admirable alternative).  

Revisits to Beach Rd (4) are always entertaining and the Fruitloop (my 13th) signalled Spring, soon enough k's were being covered to prepare for the Tat 200 (17/11) as those who wagged Winter were still making their sluggish and suffering return.
A Couldabeens Castlemaine weekend (13-14/10)combined cycling, cider and comradery successfully, another one planned on different turf for next year. We said "Vaarwel" to Spin Doctor doing a Dutch departe (but welcomed newcomers Lance and Laura amongst others to the clan).  2018 saw the rise and rise of the Hares but the 5:45's were on-again-off-again, FDC's still cant spell commitment and the pain train can't cope Coggo-less.  A pedestrian peloton was born to aid the walking wounded and Saturday's split sometimes.   Determined Dan drives on, PistolPete's panache has no equal (though his kit class is catching on), a more aero Rocket staggers us with speed and none can top Tina's colossal k's.

A few October weeks in NSW explored Mt Canobolas, Orange and Cowra, ticking Mount Panorama off my bucket list.  The birth of the (sprintless) 40k lap on Monday's and the popularity of the early edition (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) gets more Couldabeens k's covered.   The Baum turned 3 and 3 chains and 6 tyres got me through 14,133 km of a 447 hour past-time / obsession. (1279 vanilla slices worth of calories)   A fabulously festive Christmas ride wound down another year of fast laps, faux pas, fellowship, floggings and fun.  And I'm probably possessed enough to do it again next year!  Thanks  fellow cyclusts for your support, many of you motivate more than you're aware.  I'm still staggered by the followers of this blog (Italy, Russia and USA have more hits than the locals some weeks) so I'll take that as a cue to continue.  Have a fit, fast and fabulous 2019 folks, Ponder Rule #5, give that other rider a wave and stay upright.  See you on a circuit somewhere...…….