Saturday 21st August 2004
The Annual Phillip Island Bicycle Grand Prix

I think all participants would agree that last year's Phillip Island ride was one of the stand out rides of 2003. When planning our monthly ride calendar for 2004 it was a difficult decision where to slot this year's ride. Due to the planning for the Round the Bay Ride I ended up deciding to run the ride almost three months earlier than previously.

Although this was another brave decision it turned out to be yet another stroke of incredibly astute leadership. Not only did the weather bureau forecast a mostly fine day, but much more importantly, the prospect of a strong northerly wind, was one to quicken the pulse of any prospective Island bound cyclist.

It was a little unfortunate that we had a last minute bout of withdrawals from the ride. Even old Crasher Lewis decided that he could not make it, apparently worried that his darker secrets might be revealed if a surprise drug test was held at the end of the ride. By the time the peloton was tallied we faced the prospect of having only four riders ready to take the challenge.

On a more encouraging note, I had several e-mails from a guy called "Brian", who seemed eager to ride with us and join in some of our cycling fellowship. On the preceding day he announced that he would also be bringing a friend along. In addition we almost scored a group of cyclists from the Smith Family who were also training for the RTBIAD ride.

Faced with the unusual prospect of a tail wind I decided to lengthen the ride by starting at Cranbourne instead of Tooradin. At 8.45 am Mal, Duncan and I headed off down the South Gippsland Highway. Before we knew it we were sailing along at an unbelievable 45 kph. This was too good to be true. In fact it did turn out to be too good to last because by the time we reached Tooradin (about 20 mins later) I realised that I had probably started off a little too quickly for my own comfort. Big engines like mine need time to warm up and need to be started slowly.

At Tooradin we met up with Lex and waited by the river for the arrival of the mysterious Brian. At about 9.30 we spied a likely looking cyclist coming down the highway. "You must be Brian", I cheerily announced to him. "Never heard of him", was the reply. Apparently the "wouldbe Brian" was just another rider training for the RTBIAD ride. "You are welcome to join us anyway" I added.

By 9.35 we gave up waiting for Brian and headed off towards the Island. We had not gone more than a km or so before I was approached from behind by a couple of guys on bikes. As they wizzed by I asked "Are you Brian?", I didn't hear the answer because by the time I looked up they were already about 50m in front. That was the last time I saw Brian all day! Obviously a very social type of rider.....

Since the main point of this ride was to harden us up with hours in the saddle I did not try to set any speed records, but rather concentrated on riding to a set pulse rate of about 145 bpm. Although this meant that the smaller (and lighter) members of the peloton opened up a lead, it was truly nice to be able to enjoy the good surface and favourable conditions.

We all met up again at San Remo and braced ourselves for the final few km to Rhyll. As we changed direction, the wind, which had previously been such an asset, now turned full in our faces. With the double handicap of an empty tummy and a head wind, the ride into Rhyll seemed to go on for an interminable amount of time. It was a blessed relief to be able to finally get off the bike and settle down at the cafe to do some serious lunching.

Mal enjoying his caffeine at Rhyll. (Is it my imagination or is Mal really getting smaller?)

Cecilia and Maggie were already waiting and we were soon joined by Linda. On the other hand, Stacey was nowhere to be seen. Further investigation revealed that she had decided to rewrite the guidebooks by pioneering a new route to Cowes. None of us had ever thought to try driving to Phillip Island via Drouin, but Stacey assured us that it just came naturally to her! (She is a blonde after all).

While enjoying our lunches we were joined by my son Nyall and his girlfriend Maryanne who had driven down for the day. With the warm sunshine on the water we could almost be forgiven for thinking that Spring had come early. In spite of the fact that we had already ridden about 90km, we still had the ride down to the Nobbies to complete before the afternoon was over. What a pity that the wind was howling towards us directly FROM that direction.

Finally at the Nobbies (Lex at the car fighting with his supercleats)

Reluctantly saddling up again, the four of us began the final hard slog into the gale. But where did all those hills come from? I thought the Island was meant to be flat!

Fortunately with a bit of team work we managed to reach the tip of the island by about 2.30 pm. At this point Lex shared with us the real reason why he had forsaken his cleats and gone back to sand shoes - he owns the tightest cleats on the planet. No wonder he has made crashing an art form.

Lex and Cecilia bade us farewell as they began the drive back to Melbourne, leaving only Duncan, Mal and me to complete the downwind leg back to Cowes. By the time we rejoined the ladies back at Cowes my computer told me that I had ridden about 124 km for the day (probably my longest day's ride). I was pleased that we had booked a motel for the night and I was therefore able to enjoy a nice hot shower and a change of clothes before heading out for dinner.

At the RSL for dinner, Linda tries hard to pick a winner!

After a long walk around the shops the remaining 6 members of our group went to the local RSL where we enjoyed a massive dinner while reliving scandals from our pasts. Maybe it's time we started another website - "The Warby Riders Uncovered".

Duncan found the conversation a little too embarrassing and retreated to the toilet. As usual with such dinners, our eating was regularly punctuated by loud laughter.

After dinner Maggie and I walked back to the motel while the others faced the long drive home. It had proven to be another very successful ride and the wisdom of my brilliant planning was further emphasized by the fact that it rained for almost the whole of the following day.

Quite a good picture of Duncan, trying hard to look like Lance Armstrong