Hampton Cycles http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com Authorized Specialized dealer 353 Hampton St Hampton Vic Australia. www.hamptoncycles.com.au (03) 9521-8700 posterous.com Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:50:00 -0800 Tour Down Under Flying Fosters Tour 2012 Stage 2 http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/tour-down-under-flying-fosters-tour-2012-stag-15512 http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/tour-down-under-flying-fosters-tour-2012-stag-15512

Stage 2 Started out today with a war of words of the large discrepencies in results between both competing blogs. Scoreboards differed dramatically having Vic leading 2-0 and NSW leading 2-0.

I am not sure who the optometrist is up in Manly but I am pretty sure they could make some money out of these Manly boys.

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Kable applying his Lippy. Mardi Gras is not until March mate.

We rolled out to take on the new famous climb Greenhill Rd/Mt Lofty summit. Some of the crew took off early and didn't partake in the pre ride coffee.The Celtic Decor guys from Melbourne were along to prop up the Superteam from Victoria. It was like adding Hushovd and Gilbert to BMC with Cadel or the merging of Leopard and Radioshack. An unstoppable Force!!!!

The ride up Greenhill started out ok.....for the first 250m until DeLuca attacked up the footpath. Gus followed and it was on. With El Presidente left on his own as Buzz went looking for cracks in the Scott. the Hampton Boys had a bit of fun playing with the much older man. Gotta hand it to him he didnt seem to change his demeanour when I deliberatly surged or slowed him down when he went to the front to chase Gus - the rabbit down. I even put him in the gutter and he just kept on suffering. If I can get the GoPro footage of the Fozz pulling in the deep breath's many a laugh to be had there.

Gussy took the climb out with the Prez dropping back behind Damo. DeLuca had been up with the boys but lost contact. Rob SRAM Eva bridged across to me and some even more fun footage of him taking in some big breaths holding on. Even DeLuca was sucking in the big ones. I gotta get that footage up. The bunch at the back were making a little ground on us, so the Hammer was played and put them out of the equation.

A quick regroup before making the final climb to Mt Lofty saw Damo take the top section of the climb. Not sure which Vicco took out the early departees but not a hope the Sydney guys had anyone to match the climbing efficiency of Gerry Donnelly from the Melbourne Celtic boys.

A super fast descent out of Lofty saw the Vics again leave everyone of the Sydney boys in there wake. The smoking pace through the Basket Range descent left them for dead.They were that slow they almost missed the start of the race in Lobethal. Another point on the board with Jacko (Nick,Ivan,Collins)  taking the glory. This was another bloodbath to replicate the shellacing dished out in 2012.

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Big Jens even said to Shut Up Manly Sea Legs!

 

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The climb out of Lobethal through to the KOM before Stirling was as picturesqe as ever. I really cant work out why the Kits on the Celtic boys are all black with no sponsors displayed on them. Guys Rapha has that down pat.

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Jay about to climb the KOM stage 2

Only 4 of the Hampton Boys chose to descend and climb the KOM, 10-15% for 1.1kms was just not what the legs were after, but oh well more KOM points to Us. I have lost count on how many victories straight that is now?

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Will Clarke taking out the KOM

The ride to Stirling was fun with the usual arrival where everybody gets lost. The fact that the Telecommunications in Stirling wont let more than 5 mobile phones work at once meant there wasn't a way to get in touch and regroup.

Many a great Vantage point was had and witnessing an almost carbon copy of the Vics domination of NSW, saw Tassies (Almost Vic) Will Clarke hold in for a massive victory. He kept his cool and held on. Learn from that Team NSW!

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Victoria's :) Will Clarke smashing the stage today.

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Stuey Trying to get to the line.

The descent out of Stilring has always been one of the highlights of the Flying Fosters Tour and last year Stuey and Leopard showed us the route via Belair, It was on like Donkey Kong again for the 10th time of the day. A little dangerous at times but fun none the less. Even the 3rd less vocal Foster managed to have fun on the way down. In his words Gravity Helps.

The smashfest to follow along Cross Rd was very civilized and mimicked a slow recovery ride for the Melbourne boys. If only the traffic lights had been synched to allow a 60kph average flow smoothly and carefree. Many a cyclist was heard to mutter WTF!!!! as we cruised by.

A last ditch effort from Sledge saw him take the biccies at the turn to Glenelg and then Gus take the Biccies at Glenelg. The Bloodbath continued.

Scoreboard Vics 10 NSW 1 (not even sure what they got 1 for but i'll give them a point to make them happy and shut them up.)

Some big rides in the first 2 stages by.

Nick Jacko Ivan Collins for just going and going after last years apprenticeship.

Dave the koala Foster for actually keeping up on the climbs and then driving it down the other side. I am sure Russ Forbes will hear about his form this year.

Angus The Rabbit for his climbing and endurance on his first FFT.

Damo for having zero training looking like a Rugby player and outclimbing and out cornering anyone in hi way, even if its from the other side of the road.

Jay for not climbing a hill larger than the rise up his driveway.

Big Richie for getting back to the hotel first and making sure all our clothes are washed and dry.

DeLuca for getting some sleep and having oxygen instead of alcohol running through his veins (but can it last?)

Yours Truly for lugging around the massive camera all week and recording everything for prosperities sake.

Dont forget to follow us on twitter and Like us on facebook

And read the viscous lies from that other blog here http://www.mardigras.org.au/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1464102/HCLogoBlack_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4TkiD486XbEZ Leigh Schilling leighschilling Leigh Schilling
Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:08:00 -0800 Tour Down Under Flying Fosters Tour 2012 Stage 1 http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/tour-down-under-flying-fosters-tour-2012-stag http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/tour-down-under-flying-fosters-tour-2012-stag

Well we were greated by a hot 35 degrees at 8:30 in the morning for our leisurely ride down to Glenelg. Joining both the Hampton Cycles group and the Manly Warringah/KMD racing group were a few of SRAM's staff from both the US and Australia. Rob Eva (Mr SRAM - Australia) Jase Phillips (Mr SRAM protour liason) and Tony (Mr Quarq) along with Tiffany Cromwell and Dave "Cyclingnews" Evans came for the roll.

We made our way along Glenelg beach up to Henley Beach and up to the start of Stage 1 of the TDU at Prospect where we spent time chilling out finding some shade, topping up Bidons and checking out some of the Pro team riders & bikes.

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Glenelg Mall for Coffee

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George Hincapie made a special appearance for our ride

After rollout todays race was not very conducive to try and meet to spectate by Bike, so we headed out toward Gawler along One Tree Hill rd. The terrain and temperature showing 46 degrees in the shade on the Garmin made for not such a pleasurable day for many of us. I think everyone spent a little bit of time internalising what on earth they were doing for the day.

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New Astana Venge looks fantastic.
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Free Espresso's in Prospect were popular.

A couple of rest stops to regroup after the climbs had revealed a few turn arounds and abandonments. (Where did you go Tiff and Jase?) Riders feet were sore, Bidon's empty, lunch almost brought up a few times for different reasons. With 20kms to Gawler everyone was out of water and the shakes, shivers, dry lips, pins & needles were being felt through the bunch.

3 of us raided a country water tank and I rode down a driveway desperate for some tap water, greeted by a barking German Sheppard a lovely lady filled my bidons up with Ice & water. Never thought it could taste so good.

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During my rehydration "super-slow" phase I took some time to actually look at the scenery. Most of the boys wouldn't have seen this view.

The first Sprint point into Gawler was taken out by Rob "SRAM" Eva notching up the first of a few wins for the day in Flying Fosters Tour 2012.

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With the Garmin reading 46 degrees in the shade it was time to fill up.

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This is what 3 of us managed to consume in 20 minutes.

We made our way back through Williamstown and Past the famous Checker's Hill. Made most famous by its ability to ruin one's reputation for life if you dare decide to get up and walk your bike up the thing.

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The Manly Bunch sucking wheel again. Major props to Bec for sticking with it all day.

 

The only time Buzz managed to get his nose in the wind - Camera Op specialist

 

Heading towards our favourite descent - Gorge Rd we were greeted with a block headwind.

The Hampton Boys taken the sprint into Cudlee Creek where Fozzy and the Rabbit rode off the front to take the biccies at Athelstone. Dave "Cyclingnews" Evans pipped Leroy DeLuca for third place in the bunch sprint.

Many a sore head, leg, back, foot and ego had been damaged today. The trash talking on twitter and surely to follow based on these Blogs, will keep tomorrows 145kms route through to Lobethal in high spirits.

 

Follow the other mobs blog here http://fostersflyingtours.blogspot.com/

and our Twitter feed here. https://twitter.com/#!/Hampton_Cycles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1464102/HCLogoBlack_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4TkiD486XbEZ Leigh Schilling leighschilling Leigh Schilling