Here's hoping we have more days like the 28th Nov just passed , sure I lost but there was a lot to like about the whole deal .
Firstly the interest generated was great and has gone some way to rekindling the bike riding culture at Manildra after the recent upheavals .
So for starters we have a new Yellow Jersey . He was that good !
Ben Allcorn has stepped up and the previous holder of the Jersey is looking over his shoulder .
Here he is as cool as a cucumber just after the finish line . It's kind of bittersweet , I hate him for beating me but I'm rapt we have a gun rider for the MMRT .
As for the rest of the team , I am privileged to ride with Chris Gue , he is a very selfless person who gave of himself to both the participants . He trained with both of us and was a great sounding board for same .
Roland Gruneis from Austria brought his bike with him to Australia . His bike is a Bianchi which means white in Italian . He is already a true Man In White , he really helped bring me up to speed (nearly) for the race . He actually came out to Manildra twice to ride the route with me as well as several training rides round Orange .
Here is Roland with Paul Potter who sacrificed some of his Saturday to drive behind us and protect us from the traffic . He did a great job but he wouldn't have been happy watching me go down . He is my Lead Miller and Man In White . Thanks for the effort Paul and I promise I'll work extra hard Monday morning .
The heavy dudes ponder the result . Look guys I did my best .........!
You'll be back on the Packers next week Paddy !
Joe Raso was there . He came out at 9am rode the route in I hour 20 and then watched us race . He had beers with us afterwards . He is a true member of the MMRT .
About the race itself , I was confident I felt I was a real chance . I had done the work .
I knew Ben would kill me over the first ten kays so I set out to limit my losses . It looked dire but I caught him at Cudal and I was now hopeful everything was on track . We turned the monument together and I made my move , I whizzed past him and went for it .
Ben changed up and stuck with me , I think from that point on I was gone .
The vanquished has one request . Please Ben make an AllCost trophy , make it a good one .
One might say,that on a hot November's day. Pat, too old to be told, the man in white, cruise you thought lost to party HQ's Big Bike, Chris take a bow you must be very proud because heads turn around, as a river finds the sea. With confidence you have already one before starting.
Two different shades collide when on the road Paul???? ha,ha,ha
Posted by: Ghostrider | December 26, 2009 at 09:28 PM