I survived coffee in Croydon

Ok so yesterday was my holiday weekend hit out.  After two bouts of tonsillitis and a minor day surgery procedure, all this cost me three weeks off the bike.  So Dan's email for Mt Dandenong loop starting with the 1in20 was too irresistible if not a little ambitious for my first ride back.  Riding with Khoder and the good Dr Stephen (aka Taka) is becoming a bit of a habit and most enjoyable.  However with Ethan riding with us I felt totally out classed with a pair of Zipp 303's on one side and a pair of Lightweights on the other.  Khoder assured me that the Open Pros have a place in history - hopefully not ancient history.

Taka leading up 1in20.

Taka took the lead up 1in20 and I was quite happy to be delivered to the basin on the back of Dan's wheel.  In hindsight I should have just stayed there.  Three weeks ago I did this climb in 17mins 45secs.  Yesterday I would have been happy with 24mins. 

Me recovering and taking a photo as an excuse.

By the first water tank I was at 199 bpm (about 105%) and I was not recovering.  The boys thought I had pulled over to take this photo - really I was stuffed.
I recovered slightly for on the false flat but that was a big mistake as I red lined and that was that. Saun, Ethan, Taka and Khoder did the climb easily in 19mins.  Awesome. Dan considered it gracious that I waited to climb with him.  I assured him there was no grace involved, it was totally selfishih

Thankfully the plan at the top of 1in20 was not really a plan at all.  I was dreading hill repeats of Perrins Creek Road or even The Wall would have tipped me over the edge.  After a farewell to Ethan it was a very leisurely "recovery" back down the Mountain via Silvan Reservoir and then back to Montrose.

The search for a coffee stop proved to be the most difficult part of the ride.  Montrose gave us nothing - expect the offer of a Ice Coffee or Big M from IGA.  We headed to Croydon where we found a Bakery which served coffee in between the Dora The Explorer theme cakes and Tinkerbell pinatas.  Dan was happily convinced that the locals would take the Giant of the S-Works, if only on the grounds of familiarity of the brand!  We all know Giants are easier to flog on EBay or at the pub.

So I was happy to be again humbled by the 1in20 and looking forward to a solid month of commuting and even a weekly wind-trainer session to get the base back.   I must get fit for Dan's "Birthday Ride" and his mum's homemade waffles...hmmm.

D: 97km
E: 12016m