Send an email to lancefieldlairs@gmail.com
If you'd like to join one of our rides, add your name in the comments after a ride post, just so we don't show up for a no-ride.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Christams burn off

Merry Christmas all,

Andy has bitten off as much as he can chew and needs to put in a bit to get rid of some Chrissy pud.
Keen to be on the bikes at 8 am "sharp" and head off to do around 70 k's or so, those who have plans can peel off a little earlier.

Cheers,

Steve

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Sunday's Ride

8 am at the usual place
Cheers
Andy

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Sunday's ride

8 am start, usual place. Leigh if you can't get the bra done up in time we can do a lap and pick you up at nine
Let me know  if you can make it. Only did half a ride last week so I am aiming to finish this one!
Cheers Andy

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Ride

Ride is on for an 8 am start.

Cheers,

Steve.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Sunday ride

Hi gang,

Ride starts at 8 am this week.
See you there.

Steve.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Leigh is still taking ages to dress so we are starting at 9 am in the usual place

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Back to our 8 am starts - means at least two hours riding before the clubrooms open!
Andy

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Nine am start, will give you plenty of time to estimate the 2014 cycling kilometers of the aptly named Miles (of the giant chainring variety)

Saturday, October 18, 2014

sunday'ride

Early start tomorrow - 8.30
Cheers Andy

Sunday's Ride

Change of time this week for an 8.30 start
Cheers
Andy

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Ride of the week

Hi all,

Ride is planned for 9 am tomorrow from Lannie.

See you there.

Steve


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Dear all
Ride - tomorrow, 9am usual place usual suspects......
Andy

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Sunday"s Ride

Nine am in the usual place and I will set the alarm this week!
Andy

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Sunday's ride

Anyone interested in a lazy hundred this Sunday? Instead of driving to Seymour for the Spring into Seymour, how about an 8am start in Lancefield for Tallarook and back? Any takers? Give me a ring
cheers
Andy

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Sunday's Ride

All the traveller's are back as far as I know and ready for some cool weather riding. Nine am in the usual place. Let me know if you are coming otherwise I might be tempted to rest on my laurels!
Captain Kangaroo (you'll understand when you see the photos of the Semaine Federale parade)

Thursday, August 7, 2014

A long way from Lancefield



Have had a short note from Andy....

Hiya Steve
Hope the temperature has risen above zero. Here it gets up to mid twenties but is a bit humid. Likely to rain for the next two days. Today the ride is to Vichy for the picnic. Everyone is going well, no signs of homesickness from the Kerries. We did a picnic in the park near here last night, lots of chicken, ham, red wine, beer and Rose'. For other meals we have been to the Semaine Federale restaurants which is good fun. The night before last we had 17 year old Jack writing on the service totes communicating to an 84 year old who had been coming here for years and on the other side was a Frenchman from Chartes who has done PBP 3 times, is on the organising committee for sf2017 and has atrial fibrillation!
Today is the picnic to Vichy - about 70 ks return. Ken and John came through there on the way to Saint Pourcain and haven't stopped raving about it.
My legs and neck are starting to recover after the long touring days. Mate's shoulder and neck is still playing up  - ask her how many Neurofins she is taking!
Got to get ready to ride.
Cheers
Guru.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Post card from Andy


Hi All,
Heard from Kerrie a couple of days ago, she and Jack had just done the 21 switchbacks that make up Alpe d'Huez and were soon to be heading to meet the others.

Got this from Andy today....

Not had much internet access or time for that matter. Early Monday in Saint Pourcain sur Soule, charging the phone and garmin while someone is using a hair dryer to dry his shoes. There has been a lot of rain last week and daily storms the last few days so the massive camping area we are in is still a bit wet underfoot.
Paris was warm when we arrived and it was nice to have Pete and meg meet us at the bus terminal with a trolley. A typical small apartment but with a terrific courtyard. Our second night saw us on a bike tour through Central Paris, an experience to follow a couple of Irish historians through the French traffic. Still we made it in one piece.
Packed up and headed to Austerlitz station to check times for a train to Orleans and didn't have long to wait after getting through the queue. In Orleans just after 2.
Coffee near the gare to wake us up and then on the road. Couldn't find the bike path that I didn't realise was there so used a combination of roads, wide paths along the Loire river and narrow tow paths beside the canal. Not that easy, it wasn't until finding the path and direction signs the next day that the real joy of touring in the Loire valley was apparent. We had done 32 k to the camping ground at Chateauneuf by the time we stopped. Dinner in town and an early night - we still had a fair way to go to meet the Burridges in Moulins and get to SF.
Up at 6.30 and away by 7.50, ahead of our ordered baguette- breakfast on the road suits me better anyway. Stopped at Sully for bread and jam but couldn't find what passes for coffee over here. Fifty kms done by lunch - a ham and cheeses baguette had while watching Gien across the river. My first ever puncture in France caused by a piece of glass gave Glo a chance to stretch her back. Her shoulder has required some medication so far. Stopped for a pickmeup at the wonderful canal bridge over the river at Briare -Peter had told me about Briare but didn't mention the great macaroons or coffee at the little cafe at the end of the canal. Five o'clock saw us parking our bikes in the camping ground at Cosne with a century under our tyres. Even with the lack go climbing a useful start. Stroll around town and thence to another good meal.
Nobody stirring when we rode out of the camping ground. Made good time until we were led away from the river at Sancerre but did enjoy the small amount of climbing. Turns out flat days coincided with Kerrie riding Mt Ventoux! Averages out they say....
Baguette with jam for petite dejuener along the bike path watching all the cyclotourists go past. Mostly they ere riding downstream, a few like us heading to S Pourcain going the other way. Lots of youngish rides and lots of family groups. Had a coffee in the square in front of the old monastery at La Charite surrounded by book shops. Tempted by a Conrad paper back, less tempted by Joyce's Ulysses -far too heavy. 
Getting hot again and Language Services decided to join Navigation Services in using a soft helmet for the bike path. But don't tell anyone. Ran out of water mid afternoon but I managed to communicate enough with an old French chap out in his garden to fill our water bottles. Found a hotel shortly there after for a cold beer to help with re-hydration. Apremont sur Allier was described as the prettiest town in France so not much point looking at villages now we have seen the best! In to the municipal camping ground in Mornay sur Allier (not the prettiest village in France) about 4 having knocked over nearly 90k. A snooze in the sun before the facilities were unlocked did me a world of good as did the meal which came with a litre of red wine.
A slightly later start because we had plenty of time to get to Moulins to meet the others. Navigation was now getting a bit harder but having the map in view in the handlebar case and mapme on the phone made life much much easier. We hit Moulins for morning tea after the storm hit us unfortunately. Some food, a new data card (travel sim phone cards have not been a universal success!) a couple of churches and we were ready to meet up with Mad Dog and  Pierre. 
They had just come out of the station as we rolled up. Without much ado we headed to Saint Pourcain. Well Lyons actually, but after this small navigational error we did head to Saint Pourcain. Temperature dropped as the clouds came over and opened up. Great road through the forest despite the conditions. We found a small bar further on that produced some coffee and lollies while the sun made a return. Another cyclist in the bar was wearing a SA tour down under jersey - she had no idea about it but just liked the colours. Ah the English!
Lost Pete in the last section into S Porcain but eventually found Ken and him at the Permanance. Another 90 ks, I'm glad we eased into the touring. 
 Ken and John had a handy camping spot near the trees (for afternoon shade) along the edge go the camping area. Camp ground is huge, quite the opposite to lovely Bessines two years ago. First person I talked to about sf 2012 said he remembered an Australian and his daughter. Well there you go.
Kerrie, Craig and Jack arrived late on Saturday after criss crossing France and hitting alpe d'huez and Ventoux from all three sides. Craig was happy to do it in the car!
S'all for now hope you are not suffering too much in the cold


--

Cheers
Andy

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The Lairs do Semaine Federale

All the planning and packing is well and truly done and the last of the Lairs that had intended head to over for Semaine Federale are now in France.
I thought it about time that an update for the rest of you was in order.
Kerrie, Craig and Jack arrived in the South of France about three weeks ago and have spent most of their time in Vinsobres in a house Kerrie describes as one “just like in the photos”. They have had fantastic weather there apart from her second climb up Mont Ventoux where she was caught in a thunder storm and very strong winds.
They have climbed Mont Ventoux twice taking a different route up each time, the medium then hardest of course.
Kerrie has, as many others often remark on how many cyclists are there and the respect that motorists afford them….Maybe one day here!
Young Jack also took the opportunity to test himself against the French in a MTB race so I’m looking forward to see how he went.
After their stint in Vinsobres they headed for Paris for a few days and to watch the the finish of Le Tour where they will meet up with the others for Semaine Federale.
Ken and John and are now also in France but have been in Germany for the last couple of weeks, It seems car museums and beer halls have been the main attraction for them (no surprises here).
I hear some bad weather them couped up in their tent for 14 hrs, I can only imagine what Ken would have been like, not a kick back and read kind of guy. I believe John has survived the ordeal
My last message from Ken had them on a train? Heading to Lyon with 3 days before they met the others.
Andy, Glo, Meaghan (Mad Dog) and Pete all left Melbourne last Sunday and will be spending a few days in Paris before heading to Saint Pourcain Sur Sioule for the week of organised rides.
I checked out the Semaine Federale website to check it out only to find it was all in French, fair enough so I clicked on the “SF is now available in English” tab and found that to be…In French.
Will keep you updated when I hear more from the crew.
BTW, thanks to Nick Burridge for designing the new Lairs Jersey, it looks fantastic.


Steve.

Plucked the photo from the web

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Sunday's ride

Usual time usual place. If you want to risk it come naked and Meaghan may be able to provide a jersey. Interstate visitor coming tomorrow and we can have half the ride Steve less.
See you at nine
Andy

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Ride of the week

All organised for a late night in front of the tele. Tour programme, munchies, beer, wine and later coffee.
Oh, and Mad Dog's number ready for our late night le texting.
There is a ride on tomorrow at 9 am, even if it's sunny, which it won't be.
Cheers,

Steve

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Sunday's Ride

dear all
same time same place, don't look at the weather forecast!!
Andy

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Usual place, 9am. No rain at all in Lancefield for tomorrow
cheers
Andy

Saturday, June 7, 2014

This week's ride



Ride starts at 9 am in Lancefield.

See you there.

Steve.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Post Zoncolan ride

It's been a great  race this year and I hear that a few of us will be staying up to watch the Giro riders race up Monte Zoncolan, soooo we're not heading out till 9 am for tomorrows ride.
Hope to see you there.

Steve

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Sunday Ride

There's a ride planned for tomorrow from Lancefield at 8.30 am.
See you there.

Steve

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Should not be an issue with the weather tomorrow so even the city lairs may be able to get out of bed! Steve is not allowed to kick up his heels so he can have a sleep-in. Usual place 8.30
cheers
Andy

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Well I'm willing to risk the weather... 8.30 in the usual place
Andy

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Easter Bunny

Oh and anyone who has missed the easter bunny this year, this is what she looks like

Easter Sunday's Ride

The forecast is typical Lancefield - chilly and windy. But don't let that put you off. Start at 8.30; subjects include Achilles injuries, sore bottoms and next week's cycle tour to Mansfield and my new tail light which gets brighter when I slow down. Ah the wonders of B&amp, maybe next they will invent a flashing light
See you tomorrow
Andy

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Slaughter the fattened calf

I'm keen to see if I am able to sit on the bike yet, I have not been able to since Tuesday.
Andy and Glo are off sunning themselves so we will be two down.
Planning to head off from Lannie at 8:30 am, hope you can make it.

Steve.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Sunday's ride

Eight am in the usual spot. Don't forget to do something to your clock, points lost if you turn up at 7 or 9! Steve has an exemption this weekend, he has just( 5.30pm) gone through Deniliquin 280 k in 12.5 hours.
cheers
Andy

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Ride

Ride is on for Sunday, 8.30am from Lannie.
Hope to see you.

Steve.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

A bit of a ride?

Hi All,

Seems a shame to put a post over Andy's Oppy report but it's for a good reason. A ride is planned for Sunday morning starting at 8.30 in Lancefield.
Hopefully Mad Dog will be there to give her account of the Oppy.

Cheers,

Steve.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Another March, another Oppy


 

Steve as usual had all the preparations under control for yet another 24 hour odyssey with his closest mates, or at least the ones that couldn’t find anything better to do. The route had finally been decided – Sherwood court start, Highlands and Ruffy by early afternoon to get the climbing out of the way early then on to Euroa where we would be waited on hand and foot by Phillip and Sue Don, Benalla for more of the same, Oxley at midnight then on to Myrtleford for some sleep (didn’t have everything ready maybe) before heading into Wangaratta to pat ourselves on the back for doing it yet again.

I  didn’t have everything ready after a long week at work. I had forgotten about the main course at the first supported stop being quiche which I only remembered at 9 on Friday night. Ah well I had to wait for Miles anyway so I had plenty of time as it turned out. Miles was joining the Lairs for the first time and neither of us quite knew what we were getting into. Miles is true to his name and looks at long bike rides rather than being happy with a mere 360 in a weekend. So he was a bit late riding up to Sherwood Court on Friday night, something about starting late and getting lost (only twice which is not too bad in his case). Anyhow the quiches were nearly cooled by the time he found us. After a bite to eat we all got as much sleep as we could.

First to arrive next morning was Dave (he was the closest) then Ken, George with Carole and then Steve with the towing vehicle. We piled all the food and our gear into the back of the trailer resplendent with its new decorations, took a few photos, said good bye to Carole and Glo who could go on the Oppy because she didn’t want to miss a spin class.

As I rode down the gravel I was thinking of all the riders I have shared the Oppy with – over 20 – especially Sue Taylor who was never keen to tackle the gravel on Sherwood Court much to my amusement. Right on cue I watched my front wheel wander into the loose stuff and bring me down with a thump. Ouch. Bike was ok so I had to keep going!

We made good time through Pyalong against a bit of a headwind, not too bad at this stage. Ken and I were thinking of the next stage and all the climbing. A quick stop at Seymour and we started the slog up to Highlands. Plenty of banter at this stage, saving the dad jokes till we really needed them during the night. The wind had picked up and so had the clouds in the distance. There were a few slow spots up to Highlands but we all seemed to manage ok, Miles didn’t even have the courtesy to get into his “small” chainring as he disappeared into the distance on his 83 tooth monster which he apparently forced a bike shop in Richmond to fit for him. The weather was looking a bit doubtful but Ken did the right thing and put his raincoat on to make it stop. It worked sometimes I would have to say, must be something about his technique. A quick stop at Highlands and we pushed on to Ruffy. Ken let slip that our high point should be over 600m so at less than 500m we still had some work in front of us. Sometimes it does not help to have a Garmin to tell you what is ahead. Between Highlands and Ruffy there is a lot of up and down much more than I remembered after my last ride along that road. However all good things come to an end and we finally had the privilege to pay over the odds for a couple of bottles of very nice soft drink and eat our rolls at their table. The leftover food from the last customers did look good – we shall return and relax under the trees over a long lunch sometime, I’m sure.
 

Still more climbing after Ruffy before eventually we dropped down to Euroa and Sue and Phil and the last minute quiches. We had hoped to get to Euroa a bit earlier and the Don’s being the Don’s they had listened to Steve’s suggested arrival time and made sure they were there well before that so they had a long time to feed the giant flock of ducks that called the river their home. How many times have I stopped at Euroa or Violet Town on an Oppy? Lots is all I’ll say.

Headed into the wind toward Violet Town as the sky darkened (it surely was not that late!) Even Ken’s raincoat was not holding the rain at bay so we reinforcements were in order so we all kitted up but to no avail. Therein ensued one of the most fantastic lighting storms I could hope to witness (if only my neck was not too sore to turn to watch). The gap between lightning and thunder became less and unless until they coincided with one almighty clap which nearly knocked us off our bikes. The storm moved away somewhat leaving some very heavy rain at times. We told Ken to take his jacket off to see if that would help but for some reason he was not that keen on the idea. I think his captain should have been more forceful really! By halfway we had a bit over an hour up our sleeves so would have to push along to get any time for.

By Benalla we had dried out somewhat but we were still getting squalls every 15 minutes. As we rode into the Rose Gardens in Benalla we met Sue and her aunt heading over to the pizza shop to pick up dinner. While shovelling pizza into our mouths and getting ready for the night ahead we had another heavy fall of rain pass by. We were quickly on our bikes with ex-local Dave leading the way (after sharing stories with another local, Uncle Keith Don). Steve didn’t seem to trust either Dave or the Garmin but after a bit of dithering we cast our lot in with Dave who couldn’t get where he used to live wrong, could he? Heading towards Kilferra he happily waved to the left and said he used to live down that road. ‘Err Dave, no road there’ ‘Whoops I meant over there, I think.’ Blamed the now constant rain for his confusion! Not much climbing now to break the monotony so the boys trotted out as many jokes as they could remember. We were now riding in a close group making it much easier for me to keep up and I had to stay in front of Miles to avoid premature blindness from his very bright flashing lights.

Oxley was our last stop for the night 270 kilometres done by 20 past midnight. Leftover pizza at Cafe Sueandphil with some rice rolls donated by the cafe across the road filled the stomach. Miles finished off his quota of milk and we were on our way. Not much rain around now but still some lightning in the distance. Only one small climb on the snow road but by the top I was behind the others again, feeling ok on the flat but feeling the distance on the slight climb. We made good time into Myrtleford for our ‘overnight’ stop. We had slightly improved our average speed since Ruffy at 120k’s so we had given ourselves enough time for me to fall off my bike again (must remember to lean to the same side as the foot I have taken out of the cleat – would have stuck to the leather shoes and cages if it wasn’t so wet) and get about an hour’s sleep after the obligatory boys’ fart and sore bottom jokes.

Up at 4.20 then away at 4.50 for the last 50 kilometres into Wangaratta (had to leave enough time for Steve’s puncture and to watch Tim Taylor from the steel bike team change his tyre for the third time in 24 hours!) The 5 km markers seemed to take ages to come up until we noticed a brightly lit car approaching slowly. The car turned out to be our petite Oppy team, consisting of the Burridges and one Moore who had all come out to share the last few kilometres with us. The Burridges were very chirpy, obviously Barry had kept his truck talk to a minimum. Best of all Steve had a new audience for his jokes although Mad Dog Meaghan may rue the day!

After another lapse of faith in the Garmin and some confusion we all turned up at the finish to do a lap of the velodrome and finish another Oppy for most of us and the first for Miles, Alex and Nick.

My stats were 366 kilmetres, average 19.9, climb 2500m 18 and a half hours moving time.

Big thank you to Steve for organising, Ken for coping with the accounts and the rest of the team  (George, Miles and Dave)  for turning up and turning the pedals enough to get from the start to the finish and drag me along when I would rather have been anywhere else. The biggest thank goes to Sue and Phillip Don who gave up a weekend to support us.

Andy

 

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Usual place at 8 am for an early finish (lunch in Melbourne for me).
cheers
Andy

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Success again. You will have to talk amongst yourselves about a Lancefield ride tomorrow, Steve's off doing a 200 Audax today and Glo and I will be down at Cumberland River for a couple of days. Catch you next weekend
Andy
I'll leave you with some photos from Semaine Federale du Cyclotouriste 2012


Friday, February 14, 2014

Sunday's Ride

Solved my blog issues I think. Maybe!
It has been busy lately on and off the bike. January means the Audax Alpine and a large roll up of Lairs volunteering or riding from 130 up to the ridiculous 250k. A few firsts and some reprises of old efforts. A highlight for me was to see three generations of Moore/Moscattini girls on the same ride.



This coming Sunday we are back to the 8.30 start - hopefully we can lure the city lairs out to ride with us.