If you're reading this Bodhi - Alcohol is only good in moderation.

 

I’m a happy man today. As they say in the movies: “I’m back baby!”.

 

The shock, exhaustion and personal humiliation of my recent DNF at the Fitz challenge had been lingering like a bad smell ever since. Any and all rides since left me completely exhausted and I would be comprehensively outridden by young cubs taking advantage of the once great lion who’s mane seemed to be on the wane. It had me questioning my resolve. Put simply, I was in a funk and needed the shot of confidence that only a good solid ride can deliver to get me back on that pedestal of success. Plus, I wanted  to show those upstarts what a true hard man of the road can do.  Enter The Randonnee.

 

I was a late call up to a friend’s team entry for the 2014 Bikebug Randonnee and had an absolute blast. Even through miserable rain at the start, up and down off-road trails, into nasty 40km head winds and 30 degree heat towards the end and nursing home an injured team mate who required stitches after a yukky fall.

I’d learned my lesson from Fitz’s – rotating through hydration, energy and salts for the entire 135km. We may not have got line honours but the team worked damn well together and gave me the confidence that I’d been previously mourning the loss of. I guess that means I can stop wearing black cycling kit now (get it? Mourning - black kit?).

 

On Friday arvo we had our EOFY knees up with work. What started at 1pm with work colleagues at The Beresford finished at 8pm in a slurry mess at some other bar in Surrey hills with The Lovely Samantha. Thankfully she managed to get home to bed before things headed South. Saturday was a slow start, but better than expected. A bit of landscaping in the back yard and messing around with the boy wonder (who I hope never googles these diary entries in his teenage years as I’m trying to lecture him on the ills of excessive alcohol).

 

Hope you’re all tickety boo.

 

See ya,

Minas.