A Sunday Jaunt through Greendale

Seven riders rolled up at Werribee for the Greendale Jaunt 200k. It was pleasing to have two ladies and two riders from north of the Great Divide come along. It turned out a perfect winters day. Topping out at about 20 degrees with sunshine and light winds. Feedback from riders was positive. Fewer rides tend to be run during the winter months and for some a 200k ride close to Melbourne at this time was convenient to keep a year rounder award alive or for others  just enjoying a long ride. This was an unsupported ride with check points in Bacchus Marsh and Meredith. It features a few short sharp climbs and some nice country through the Pentland Hills and Brisbane Ranges.

Fraser and Frank at the Bacchus Marsh stop

Around the dales again

So I spent a cool Saturday on yet another permanent ride. Eureka Dales is a new permanent that I first rode a fortnight ago. The key features of the ride is that it passes or can start at the Eureka Stockade and it passes through Scarsdale and Smythesdale as well as Teesdale where it can also alternatively start.

 I took my No 2 steed  today the Avanti Corsa Pro. Somewhat heavier than Oppy, particularly with the current interim wheelset incorporating a dynamo hub and too many spokes to count (actually36 front & back). Its original wheels with a low spoke count have reached the end of their useful life. I am just waiting on delivery of some new Fulcrum wheels for this bike which should help it move a little quicker. I must also say that the aluminium frame gives a harsher ride than carbon and you start to notice this towards the end of 200k.

Avanti Corsa Pro resting at Lal Lal

The weather was sort of OK for this time of year but I could whinge a little about the frosty start and cool air around Ballarat. Being the organiser of this permanent I am trying to find the optimum route for the 100 odd k from the westerly extremity of the ride to Teesdale. The major decision is whether to head down to Rokewood for a 150k checkpoint (Teesdale start) after leaving Scarsdale or continuing on to Linton for a 114k checkpoint after Scarsdale then heading straight across to Dereel, Mt Mercer etc for a little better scenery but no checkpoint for the last 86k.

Linton Piggoreet Rd - A bit of sun and nice scenery

I am not sure whether it was me or the bike today but things were definitely a little sluggish, the hills hurt and I was about 15 minutes slower for the overall time from a fortnight ago. As I sit here and write this I am sneezing and now have all the symtoms of a head cold. Maybe I should be pleased with completing the ride as well as I did. I think tomorrow will answer that question.

And yes the magpies were circling today but there was little agression - yet!