Smiddy ride day 7 report

Boy this is going to be tough. Writing day 7 up having just posted posted the day 6 report after having ridden 198kms today!!!

So where are we? Well we are in Charters Towers some 1425kms from our starting point in Brisbane. The week has flown by which is something that still has me scratching my head how can the hours on the bike go so slowly and yet the days are flying by???

We left Belando Crossing at 6.30am heading for Charters Towers. The moring was oure magic. Clear blue skies with little wind and it wasn't long before we we up to cruising speead with an average speed of around 29kph.

One of the things that struck me was just how long and straight the roads are up here they just seem to go on and on into the distance. Fortunately it stayed relatively cool throughout the morning and wasn't until lunch that the thermometer hit 30 degrees. It did sneak up briefly to about 35 but soon dropped back to about 32.

Some riders found the going tough more from a mental perspective than a physical one with a few choosing to some van time but the Cyc'd boys were all doing great although Dammo was a little dehydrated but refused to take any time out.

The ride proved to be realtively uneventful although the crosswinds did cause some problems before they swung around and we had a strong tailwing for the last 30ks of the day. Riders who have down the Smiddy ride before cannot remember a ride with such favourable winds....lucky us!!!

The day finished with another sprint into town but this time it was a handicap event with A, B and C grade. Gav and Dammo would contest the race in A grade based upon their stella performance in yesterday's sprint and kent would line up with the B graders. The race wasa bout 12km with B grade having a 2 minute start on A grade.

While the B graders only had 6 riders they were well organised and dispite the A graders reaching speeds of 60kph they were unable to close the gap to the B graders who had all ready caught and passed C grade. This meant that the race would be decided among the few reamining B graders and kent prevailed with an explosive effort from 200m to take a victory for the Cyc'd boys. there was a little controversy however as one a rider who was a well known cyclist rode C grade and then proceeded to ride away solo to cross the line first but the Cy'c boys dismissed this and slapped him with a 2 year ban on all racing!!

Another long but very satisfying day in the saddle with just 175km to Townsville our amazing journey is coming to an end.

Eack night at dinner Sharky presents two special jerseys and tonight kent was presented with the teamwork jersey for his efforts throughout the year and over the past week. He will get to wear the blue jersey into Townsville tomorrow....a very special privilige for the Cyc'd boys.

Well its late again and time to call it a day before we ride into Townsville to complete the Smiddy challenge.

Kent