Gooooaaaalllll!

Uno hundredo kilometres dunski

With a few days to spare I tipped over my goal for the month.

On a beautiful Saturday morning with the first real bit of sun we have had in what seems like an eternity, Lycrovski Manovski tore the rail trail a new one as he dodged kangaroos and rabbits in his quest to wrestle his goal to the ground. 107.6 km has been recorded for the month of October. At one point I wasn't sure I would make it. With the demands of life these days, it can be hard to find time for bike riding. But we did it folks and I thank you for your support.

This year's adventures have not been as exciting as previous years. No crashes or altercations as such. Just a bunch of passive encounters with this countries wildlife.

Having riden the rail trail several times this month I made friends with a little rabbit who coincidently happens to be sitting on the path at the same spot whenever I approach.

He seems to be standing there waiting for my arrival only to scurry off to tell his friends that he has spotted me. Lycra Man. Famous in the animal kingdom too.

Two giant kangas crossed my path today too. Heading to a kanga party I expect.

Nature's airforce was out. I saw a flock of black cockatoos looking majestic as they playfully silhouetted the bright blue sky. An ibis sat upon a post giving a nonchalant glance as I passed. Ravens were out, along with other breeds vying for airspace.

Spring has definitely sprung. Colour is popping all over the place. Renewal is in the air and this little part of the world is showing off.

The rail trail offers a lot of scenery that is easily missed when you are riding head down, eyes on the road but today I took the time to take more notice.

Perhaps because the pressure is off now that my goal has been attained. I'd like to do more and may do so as the month winds down. You'll have to stay tuned to see if I do. For now though, I'm going to enjoy a hot cup of tea while I post this update.

I have a wedding to go to this afternoon so need to get ready for that.

Peace out.

Imposters Abound

Spotted out on the road today was this guy with a big Lycra Man logo on the back of his truck. (see photo)

I don't know what his game is. No permission was sought via the Lycra Legal Department for authorised use of the logo. I guess maybe he is craving some of the kudos only your Lycra Man can attain. I mean who can really blame him if that's the case? As far as superhero fame goes. I'm pretty up there.

Unlike that Bat guy who has people wearing his symbol on their T shirts. My fans wear my logo on their cars and motorcycles!

Rare is the day that you won't pass one on the road. Ever notice how they are driving slower than everyone else? That's because they want to make sure everyone sees the black and yellow Lycra Man logo. They want everyone to know they are a fan.

So many times I hear people tooting their horn in approval as they pass as I'm cycling. It's so nice to be appreciated.

But this guy here. He must be a superfan. Letting the world know where his devotion lay as big and bold as he can.

I'll try not to let it go to my head.

Soz

Crazy weather we're having. The sun is splitting the trees as I type this but this morning... This morning was different.

A constant drizzle accompanied me as I rode to Loch Village and back. That quaint little town just off the Sth Gippy Hwy in regional Victoria.

Home to a number of good cafes in old restored buildings.

I would have loved a coffee as I arrived in but I hadn't bought any money with me.

I guess I could have signed a few autographs for cash. Such is the fame of Lycra Man around these parts, but I decided instead to gulp down my bottle of supersauce.

I have no idea what's in this formula but if Red Bull gives you wings, this stuff gives you rockets.

You drink this stuff and you can hear colours. It sends you into hyper drive.

I needed it after slogging through the soggy rail trail against the wind and rain if I was going to make it back.

Speaking of heading back. Those of you who have followed the Lycra Log for a while may remember my encounter with the Lycra Ladies a few years ago when I was riding this very trail. Just to recap. I was riding along, deep in thought when I was startled out of my skin as a woman cyclist sped past me on her ebike. Her friend shouting from behind "Don't be scared" as I wobbled around like a jellyfish from the fright I was given. Fun times.

Well this morning the same thing happened but in reverse.

As I'm pushing myself home, glasses all fogged up and splattered with the drizzle, my sight was somewhat impaired. I did see two woman ahead of me. One jogging along, the other on a cycle perhaps as a support rider.

As is the custom, I was ringing my bell 'tink tink tink'. It's not very loud and often inefective, especially against headphones or earbuds which people on paths often wear. So with the lady cyclist not hearing my bell, I hollered "Coming up behind".

Well. She nearly lept clean off her bike. "Sorry!" I say as I pass. "You scared me" she says. "sorry, sorry, sorry" says I as I approach the jogger thinking she MUST have heard all that commotion behind her, but no. She did not.

So me with my glasses fogged up and still righting myself after turning my head to make my appologies to the cyclist, I nearly run into a branch that had fallen onto the track at the exact point where I was passing the jogger.

She ran into the ditch. This time it was her saying "sorry".

"Sorry!" I yell as I wave, this time not looking back. Just getting the heck out of there.

I swear. The person who invents earbuds with rear-view mirrors is going to be a squillionaire.

I assure you dear reader. No one was harmed in the making of this episode but I will be investing in a foghorn for future adventures.

School Daze

Greetings Lycra Kids. It's been a while.

I left the house at sunup this morning, knowing that I had fallen behind in my quest to reach the 100km target I set for this year's challenge. Having, for various reasons been unable to saddle up as often as I should if my goal is to be achieved.

In previous years my target has been much higher so 100km for the month of October should be a cakewalk but alas so many obstacles have gotten in the way of me getting out and about and doing my thang.

So with rain clouds overhead and a storm pending I hopped out of bed and mounted the Lycramobile for a quick 10 Kays down the rail trail.

There's been quite a bit of rain the last few days so I found myself weaving around snails as I set off from home.

It reminded me of walking to school all those years ago. I used to love walking in the rain as a kid. Stopping to pick up worms that were floating in puddles. I'd get especially excited when I'd find a long one. I'd pick it up and take it to class for show and tell. Oh how the kids would marvel. The teacher of course would have a polite look of disgust on her face but would allow the spectacle to continue.

Gee we had fun in primary school. That special time of a person's life when you are growing into yourself. The bridge between being a little kid and the person you will become. That wondrous time before real life sets in.

Cycling down the trail this morning I find myself back in those days. My mind often slides into such spaces as I cycle. I'm not sure if thats common.

I'm back in grade five or six building a little village out of mud and twigs and populating it with Gonks. Gonks were these furry blobs with beady eyes glued onto them. They were a bit of a craze for a brief while. Some marketing "genius" at a toy company probably found some left over material from his panelvan modification, stuffed it with old socks, glued two goggly eyes on it and made a small fortune selling them to the same people who would buy Beanie Babies years later.

Our Gonks were tiny. We made them out of bits of wool that we twisted into the shape of raindrops. The things we remember...

We were explorers, scientists, artists and sports stars. All during lunch. You can be anything when you're a kid. Paper airplanes provided endless hours of fun. Who's can go the farthest?

One time, a gust of wind caught one of the planes and carried it way above our heads. It hovered there for an age. As the bell called us back to class it was still in the air. I'm not sure now if that is a memory or imagination but it's one of those quirky things that stick in your memory.

And memories is what we hope to make space for. As we hop out of bed to the beat of the rain, children are fighting big fights in hospital beds. If we cycle, and raise money, they might be given the opportunity to be scientists, explorers, artists and sports stars too.

Zen and the Art of Bicycling

On Monday of this week I had planned a big ride around the city. Booked a day off work and got ready to explore a new trail. One that has been top of my list since I started thinking about entering this year's Great Cycle Challenge.

Unfortunately all my plans came to nought as I had to head into the office unexpectedly.

Every super hero has an alter ego, a secret identity and Lycra Man is no different. We need to pay the bills so we have to sometimes leave the super suits at home. Just as that dude who flies around Metropolis works a day job, so too does Lycra Man. Hence, not so much cycling has been done so far this month as has been done in previous years. So getting out this evening was a must.

If I needed any extra motivation it was there in the shape of my neighbour and their gardener. Her big hedge was being mauled by the ravages of a clapped out pruner that sounded as if it is in much need of repair. The noise of that and their dogs echoed through the Lycra Lair all afternoon.

The gardener had his dogs locked in the back of his truck and they were having a heated and prolonged conversation with my neighbours dogs who don't need much to set them off at the best of times.

It was all too much for Lycra Man so I headed down the rail trail for some respite.

Now I would love to regail you with a wonderous tail of my afternoon adventures but the trip was not all that adventurous. Nice? Yes. Adventurous? No.

I have been down the rail trail so many times now that it can be a bit mundane. However...

A super power I have been working on is something you might call "flipping the script".

Instead of riding along and thinking "this is boring", I looked for the positives.

The sun was splitting the trees in a way you might sometimes see in movies or music videos. As I pedalled past the trees, I was met with streaks of light creating a slight strobing effect. That with the warmth of the October sun are a welcome change to the drawn out winter we've just had.

Lorikeets crossed my path on several occasions and a wee bunny scurried away from my approach. It was very peaceful.

Until I got home. Yap-yap, woof-woof. The dogs were going at it like never before. The neighbour and the gardener were yapping incessantly too. You ever heard it when two people are talking at the same time? It was that. Plus the mutts.

I swear some people enjoy listening to their dogs bark. Yap yap yap. On and on...

The script had flipped back. All the Zen-ness of the ride flittering away.

Eventually the humans ran out of breath and I heard the gardener say "see ya later".

"Thank #&$%" I say to myself, thinking it's over. Then he fires up his clippers again.

So I close the door and start typing this update to you as the daylight fades.

Ohm,

Ohm,

Ohm...