Dark Horse's new bicycle ...

... not quite what we were expecting, but very tasty! Just what the doctor ordered after quick spins around Centennial Park. We fairly set it ablaze, covering just over 22km in what must have been a terrific time ... if only I'd been timing it. Anyway, very balmy weather, compared to the mountains; and we managed a couple of climbs for good measure.

In a very small way, it was our salute to the Tour de France 2010. (I did say small.) Although, we managed to swerve the cobble-stones, injuries, Pyrenees, tyre throwing, head-butting and overwhelming fatigue. Well, maybe not the fatigue.

Huge effort from Lightning Horse, having spent the past 3 weeks soaking up a veritable gastronomic degustation of Southern European savouries and then fighting off a lurgy on return to our wintry shores.

We were joined by 'Horse with no name', seen here murdering ginger bicycles by the thousand.

 

I, for one, was startled--and hungry! 

A handicap system may find its way into team management, as 'Horse with no name' is practically a professional cyclist, managing a daily Bondi--City commute. (Hyperbole? Moi?)

Haematite Horse was travelling well. The indoor trainer is clearly paying big dividends. Looks like Haematite and 'Horse with no name' didn't pick up on the Caisse d'Epargne reference in recent transmissions. Looks like red may feature heavily in team colours once contracts are finalised with a spectacular array of team sponsors. (What, more hyperbole? ... perhaps.)

Thanks to Dark Horse's better half for this pic!

Just on that topic - team colours - here's a site that, were we not sane fellows, might prompt the purchase of a batch of team-coloured bicycles: MojoBike.

And, finally, ever get that feeling you're being followed?

Until next time, Pedal On!

Thunder Horse.

The race is long ...

Ok, so I finally set up the indoor cycle trainer and eventually realised that a small step is needed to leap comfortably, and at no risk to the family jewels, into the saddle. I've opted for the garage instead of the lounge in deference to Hugo's curiosity. It's hard to remove grease from his face, hair and clothing--funny, but hard.

Beanie atop my head, jumper zipped up, legs pumping and a TED talking, it's a great way to stay in touch with the tour, if only in the most marginal, peripheral, distant and fleeting way. After 30 minutes at most I'm off the trainer, out of the garage and back in front of SBS's TDF 2010 highlights.

Even as an avid viewer of Le Tour for a few years now, it's still hard not to marvel at what is a truly remarkable feat of human endurance and teamwork. The cobblestones and crashes in the first 10 stages have left a significant impact on the field, not least Lance Armstrong and Cadel Evans.

There were a lot of criticisms of the field for their finish-line strike in the 2nd stage from Bruxelles to Spa. I think that, whatever your stance on the cobble-stoned stages and at times spectacular (no doubt very painful) crashes, the one thing we all need to keep in mind is that 'the race is long'.

Fighting on, with his team in support, it'll be interesting to see how Cadel finishes in the final placings and how his health holds up.

Cycling with a hairline fracture of the elbow--legendary! 

(Not recommended, but legendary nonetheless.)

Good luck to all and enjoy the ride, whether you're viewing from near or afar.

Sensational television.

Thank you SBS!

And ... part of me can't help but wonder if Cadel has a surprise stage win looming ... Vive le Tour!

Pedal on.

Thunder Horse