BurbleChaz

To those who know me well, it will come as no surprise to learn that I took my new toy out for a play today. Because it still gets dark at about seven, I didn't have very long, so I picked a route we've done before on hire bikes.

I pottered over the river, and bimbled gently down to Port Melbourne. There's a cycle path from Port Melbourne that goes for miles around the bay. Once I was fully established on the flight path, I opened it up a bit as a test of both the machine and myself. Conclusion: it's a lovely, joyous, charming delight, and I suck.

There was a brisk headwind on the way out, and I was working quite hard when two riders started catching me. I opened it up a bit more, which worked for a few hundred metres. As I started to get a bit tired, they started reeling me in. Not pleased. They caught me after about ten minutes. I kept working hard, slightly puzzled that they weren't passing me. Engaging brain a few seconds later, I slowed right down. 'No - please go on' they said. Cheeky sods. I made them pass and sat in their wind shadow for a few minutes. Much easier. I suspect I was a bit stronger than them, because the pace had dropped. We were caught by another couple, who joined. This little peloton of five then screamed past every other path user at ludicrous speeds, taking turns to lead. There were a couple of attacks, but I bridged them back, being a nutter. I got as far as Brighton Marina, which is actually in Sandringham, about 10 or 12Km from home before I wussed out.

The ride back was a little less energetic, with a good tailwind and fewer people to compete with. I did get passed a couple of times, mostly by roadies, but I passed more. I think. Probably.

It was hard work keeping up with quite a few other riders. I did, in fact, get dropped a few times. I Do Not Like Getting Dropped At All. But, this was my first proper ride for over two months, and I'm recovering from a vicious cold and I'm unfamiliar with the paths and it's a brand new bike I'm only just learning and I didn't have the suspension locked out and I'm not a roadie and it was all flat and... and... and...

I will get fitter and faster. I'd have blown them away on a climb. In mud.

We should be able to pick up The Blue Bike tomorrow, then we can go and look for some trails together. That will be fun.