Another Bandido Triumph!!!!!!!

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This is what legends are made of. Never before have a small band of highly tuned athletes achieved so much in such a short space of time.
I can confirm "Modesty does not become us".
They were resplendent. aggressive, unselfish, brutal, awesome.
And yet to the untrained eye they appear as some of many.

THE STATS
Distance 207km
Average 34.2 ish possibly higher
Time on Bike 6.01
Time to complete 7.35.08

25 minutes shorter than 2001 and 5% faster.

THE RIDE
Following the usual fitful nights sleep it was off to Molly Blooms. 10 Bandidos readied themselves for an assault on the 33 kpm average. Conditions appeared perfect as we rode off to the start in the dawn light. Forget the start line, its off to the Todd road on-ramp for a quick getaway.

Already the assembled cyclist were whispering amongst themselves. "There they are. The Bandidos", "How many this year" " They're everywhere", "Let's try and hang-on until Williamstown". "That guys deformed", "They always stick together". " Is that Elvis?"

And we're away and in full light with a slight northerly breeze at our backs. The usual jostling for position. Bandidos always on the outside, moving at pace, gliding, intuitive, connected, stalking, prowling. Through the worst of the lights and onto the Geelong Freeway. Speed 42kpm and remarkably all together.

Lost Darl once but a quick call "DARL" and an equally quick "HERE" and we push on. Kilometres seem to fly by. Ricardo and the Legend Elvis leading a 100 bike pack towards their destiny. Ricardo pops the left ventricle (only a flesh wound) and Mario moves to replace him at the front. Elvis, with his wide load sign and flashing light on display treats the pursuing peleton to a exhibition of sheer strength.

The smoke stacks of Gellong appear in the distance. We are motoring. Small break gets away containing Mario and Elvis but soon hauled in by a Bandido train (More like a caboose than a train). Then the Gellong-Queenscliff sprint. Probably the most dangerous section of RTB. Best to stay near the front and on the outside. Bonking everywhere as the pack thins down to the hard core athletes. You can imagine where the Bandidos were.

Then before you know it we are at Queenscliff and at the front of the pack. First group in. Elapsed time 3.01 Average 35.8kpm. A 5 minute wait for the ferry and we're on. Ricardo assembles the group for another reminder of the "No STOP" policy in force.

Phone contact is made with the fresh legs at Sorrento (Mavis, Serge, Cecil, Le Marcus) Last morsels of food are consumed and it's on again. At this rate we could go around twice.

And there he is, the machine, the man with thighs the size of Boab trees, Mavis. Fresh from tidying up the coffee shop he lead the group out. We sat on 40kpm from Sorrento to Dromana. Elvis, Mavis and well no one to speak of (Marcus and Lorry did put in) were in a zone on their own. Just to stay with them was a challenge.

Over Jacksons Hill (popping everywhere) and we're on home turf with incredibly, either no breeze or a slight tail wind.

Re-grouped at Frankston for the blast home. And what a blast!!!!

Greeted by wives at Parkdale we soon negotiated St Kilda and rolled into Port Melbourne. Triumphant, Ecstatic, shagged beyond belief

The beers at Molly Blooms were like mothers milk, only amber.

COMMENT OF THE DAY
At least one of them said "Hello" when they flew past
.................Serge
A reply to the Bandido comment of "Elvis is awesome".
"I prefer Slim Dusty".
Surely there is only one Elvis and he is definitely not dead.

Although nowhere near the feats of the 5 gypsies we did achieve the respect of the peleton. Bandidos are one and we crush them all.

Thanks to the Paynters for the after party.
Thanks Sue for giving back the underpants she stole as a momento. Can't get the lip stick off.
Thanks to Phil, Scare face and Stu for gracing us with their presence.
Thanks to all the Bandidos for making work boring as and thanks to all those cyclist who wished they were like us.

yayayayayayaayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayayaayyaayyaya



Ricardo

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