Richie in his old team strip.... soon to be changed to Amore Vita

Sunday saw me tackle a decent ride of 100km to test the legs. Haven't done a ride of this length for many many months. I had the offer to cruise down the beach via the Glenvale Crits with young Ritchie England a US based rider soon to be based in Europe.
We arrived at Glenvale in time to check out the end of the A grade race where a break had lapped the field and in so doing so removed the main field. It came down to a sprint in which Sean Finning smashed it home for a win.


the sprint for the A grade win

Post the prize money hand out we hooked up with a bunch for the cruise down to the beach and up to St Kilda. It had turned into a perfect day and the bunch was ticking over nicely the whole way.
Despite it being quite late in the day there were many still out training along Beach Road. Ritchie and I were remembering when we used to do the 6 am ride along the beach in a bunch in the pitch black swapping turns (bloody madness) in a large bunch of 50 - 100 riders. Oh how thing have changed, he now racing as a professional and me who could not be arsed braving some of Melbourne's cold mornings to ride for a solid hour down to the start of such a ride.
Once we hit St Kilda we stopped for a quick coffee and shot the shit with some of the crew from the bunch. Post this Ritchie and I continued on the long ride back out East. Again laughing at the stories of checking out the hookers post the 6 am ride when it would be 6 degrees and we would be rugged up and shattered after the 6 am ride and the hookers would be standing in the back streets of St Kilda in nothing but a micro mini and a boob tube, looking for one last job.
It turned out to be a great ride for me with a decent amount of time in the saddle and at the right pace. I have awoke today feeling fine and will probably get out after breakfast for a spin or a bit of hill work in preparation for Canada.
I cant believe that it is the first of December today and Christmas is around the corner.... where has the year gone!


Rolling along Beach Road

Due to some technical difficulties the 29er frame has not made it onto Ebay as yet, I will post the link when it all comes together!
Happy riding!