Cross Fondo

[wonger]

Who is participating in this event (as a registered rider)? I'm looking for company for the long route - can we have a show of hands?

The way I see it we can choose from a number of approaches...

- The SSCXWC approach, complete with shots of Fireball and beer stops along the way. You do run the risk of getting sick, as almost everyone I spoke to after last year's event in Victoria did. You would also be limited to one gear. Okay, maybe not. We could just take some Fireball.

- The hell-bent-for-leather approach. Line up, pin it and it's every man for himself until you are bleeding from the eyeballs. Otherwise known as chasing Claire.

- The day out. I will be without kids for at least four hours, maybe longer if I play my cards right. Whatever happens happens.

Who's in?

[Rolf]

I appreciated following your lines last Friday, Geoff. And I'd be grateful for them on Sunday.

I'd also be happy with a combo of all three approaches: keep all my gears, bomb anything that's fun, and only hit the Fireball in the final hours so any ethanol high is less likely to give way to an endurance (or other!) crash.

[John D]

Being a fund-raiser for our TSC youth program, I'm not sure that beer and/or Fireball stops during the ride are the way to go. As for AFTER the ride, well that's different...

I've even heard a rumour that Alan Cassels may be looking for volunteers to help "process" any leftover beer after the event.

J.

[mfarnham]

I'm participating as a registered rider. Happy to try to keep up with you as long as I can, Geoff, though you'll probably pull away on the more technical stuff. I was imagining going pretty hard, but depending on the crowd I could be convinced to slow down and take in the fall colours.

Martin

[LouiseF]

In a rare stroke of awesome babysitter luck Greg and I are both going to do it (please weather don't mess this up).

I am planning on trying to keep up with my husband since riding with him doesn't happen very often. And likely he'll want to keep up with you guys, so you might see me straggling out there at some point on the long course.

[Greg F]

Looking forward to this!

I propose:

- singletrack at best "Woo Hoo!!" speed (which is a razor-line slower than "Oh $*#((@!!" speed)

- hills at best "Froome" speed, regroup at the top

- roads/gravel bits at "Sunday stroll" speed

- food stops at "Free buffet???" speed (ie, finish the ride heavier than we started)

[Andrew]

So sad to be missing this one (managed to break so ribs at Bear X) Gonna be epic, don't miss it!

[Fozzy]

Ouch!! Speedy recovery Andrew!!

[Andrew]

Thanks! It only hurts when I breath or can't ride my bike!

[Claire]

Hey, this weather situation isn't doing anything to boost the motivation of fence-sitters, you know. Anyone have first-hand reports from the fondo course? I imagine participants will meet all sorts of new run-ups, bike-eating puddles and wheel-sucking mudpits. Tell me again about the free coffee and muffins... They'll be warm, right? And free?

[mfarnham]

Has someone hijacked Claire's account? This person is sounding awfully soft. I think we should cut her off.

Martin

[Claire]

A direct quote from race officialdom: "Better puddles than in your wildest childhood dreams!"

[Robgrant]

Direct quote from the barn, second time around:
(me) "At least I don't have to jump over those logs again."
(farmer) "Ya, but you have to ride through sheep shit."

[Claire]

Yes, it was important to keep one's mouth closed in certain spots. I did discriminate based on wetness of the shitpile. I breathed more freely when rolling over the dry turds.

Rather unfortunate that the highest poop concentration was colocated with the best food stop.