Absolutely fantastic results on a tough course! Very proud of our first timers and their great races. Damian and Gary! Great racing and great results!
Bubbles and Jason – how good were you two? Awesome PB’s for you both – around 1hr for both of you and that is just fantastic.
Adrian, Bones, Daggy, Dannielle and Wazza – well done! So wished I’d been out there with you and well done on great results.
I’m sure you will all join in a huge thank you to the Coach. Times posted are the rewards for both the work done and the coaching and wealth of experience you received to help you along the way.

Scribble me some race reports, please guys. Can’t wait to read them.
Congrats again. Rest and recover well.

The course will start on Monday, 14th May.

Information and the training details are now available on the web page. Please check under the relevant tab.
Welcome to those who have already decided to join us. Really looking forward to training with you. Please click on the link above to see your first weeks training sessions outline.

We have a great little group and we’ll make sure you maximise your experience and have loads of fun along the way.

Drop me an email to southernstarstri@hotmail if you have any questions or need any further information.

Post training – Sunday at Wazza’s place. Hope to see everyone there. ‘

Zipp will be giving away a double padded wheel bag ( worth $250 ) to anyone purchasing wheels on the day.

Please call the shop on 3367 2488 to reserve your time spot.

Make the most of this opportunity as this is a wonderful offer and a fabulous chance to check out some fantastic gear.
Cheers.

Competition is fierce between the boys now that Adrian and Wizza are fighting handicaps to keep the others at bay. Great results.
Sadly a bit of a lack of showing by the girls this month. Andrea fought bravely again but her handicap just kept her off the pace but she will be back stronger and faster next month I’m sure.

OK. Here ’tis! (Subject to Adrian auditing my numbers)
The Champions for February 2012 are…

Roosters Swim Bike Run Time
Brent 33.27 1:06:30 49:03 = 2:29:00 *****Club Champion
Bubbles 38:29 1:06:26 48:18 = 2:33:10
Pete 27:29 1:20:25 47:39 = 2:35:33
Wizza 38:20 1:05:10 41:34 = 2:25:04 + (5%) = 2:36:29
Adrian 33:16 1:04:00 40:04 = 2:17:20 +(10%) = 2:39:32
Tony 41:39 1:14:10 47:49 = 2:43:33
Dicky 41:50 1:11:14 53:36 = 2:46:40
Wazza 36:05 1:18:30 1:07:33 = 3:02:08

Hens
Oliver 33:32 1:10:43 57:32 = 2:41:47 +(10%) = 3:06:01
Andrea 43:40 1:20:30 59:10 = 3:03:20 + (5%) = 3:18:36

So… Sunday
7.00am rollout for a flat and easy windown ride to the beautiful beachside town of Glenelg for breakfast. Kaz didn’t ride with us but joined Princey and Sue K in the bus.
Yummy breakfast was had and a nice relaxing morning in the sun but the day was quickly warming up.
We headed back to Adelaide, through all the race traffic issues and had time to relax before heading to the park – which was conveniently 1 block (3 minutes walk) from our apartments to the crit circuit. We enjoyed a picnic in the shade of a huge tree while the boys raced by. Another 3 minutes walk in either directions through the park took us to a hot corner, full of action or up the park to the King of the Mountain climb. Couldn’t have been better. The park was set up with loud speakers calling the race commentary everywhere so it really was fabulous watching.

Totally happy that Greenedge have taken a win. Love the fact that Simon Gerrans won the Tour and can’t wait to do it again next year.

Home from the park – bikes are packed and loaded in the trailer, washing is happening and packing/tidying is under way. We took some time out for another trip to the pub for a game of pool and a fantastic dinner.
Everyone is off to the airport early in the morning and so we end the 2012 Tour Down Under.
Have absolutely loved it and thank you to everyone for their support, particpation and especially to my husband for his help and support through the week.

It was a 6.30ish roll out from the apartments this morning to the base of the climb at Belair. Belair is in my opinion one of the best climbs out of the city with some wonderful views over the city from fairly early in the ascent. There are two climbs in total before the descent into Clarendon. The first up Belair is 3.8 km long and goes up about 750 ft or 230 metres [7.6% gradient] followed by a steep descent down Murrays Hill before climbing up Chandlers Hill to descend again into the main road to Clarendon.

Gen & Michelle, abandoned the tour this morning in favour of some shopping in the Hyde Park & Unley district. In their absence they were nominated to lead the ride to Glenelg on Sunday morning [and back home again I reckon too!!].

The bunch this morning consisted of Oliver, Jane, Annie, Kaz, Marcelle & Wazza. At the bottom of the hill Marcelle opted for a ride up in the bus with Sue K and Princey and when we stopped at Windy Point for a photo opportunity she was glad of that decision! It was blowing a gale! If we had launched a kite and tied the string to the van & trailer I’m sure they would have lifted off! We were worried about the effects of the wind on Jane, but she soon appeared at the top and was still smiling, although very hungry!

There were several other small groups of riders climbing Belair this morning and some pleasantries were exchanged with them on the way up. Our group all rode very strongly and it was really great to see how well they were climbing so late in the week. Annie was really flying, evidence of the two days spent resting her legs! Once at the top and reaching Blackwood we made a short stop at the Wild Bean Cafe [BP servo] for some sustenance. Annie then swapped the bike seat for a nice soft seat in the back of the van.

After descending Murrays Hill, and climbing again [#*!k] the highest point of the ride was reached at the junction of cherry garden road and main road. Marcel was then put out again for the descent to Clarendon, and Janey got in for a well earned rest. After a short stop for most welcome coffees at Clarendon Kaz joined the bus with the others leaving Sue and Wazza to have a good hit out after climbing out of Clarendon along the rolling hills to Kangarilla.

At Kangarilla everybody was back on the bikes for a fast ride to McLaren Flat and then on to McLaren Vale.

At McLaren Vale we found a good park for the bus & trailer and watched some of the riders sign on for stage 5 and be interviewed before the start at 11.10 am. There were people everywhere and as usual the lines for coffee were extremely long. One cafe had a sign advertising a 1 hour wait!

During the race a nice lunch was had at Magnums bistro and the staff recommended a nice wine to enjoy whilst watching the race unfold on the big screen TV. The tour riders today did 3 loops through McLaren Vale and Jane & Sue K managed to get some good shots of the riders coming round a tight bend onto the bottom end of the main street [No carnage!].

We even managed to find time to squeeze in a visit to www.robermenz.com.au [a rather large chocolate factory & emporium] for some samples and purchases. Another fantastic day!

I was given the challenge of organising the McLaren Vale Mystery Tour which was planned for today.
With some help from pamphlets from the Info Centre the day was planned.
As this was a rest day there was no cycling this morning so a 9 am start was a change from previous days. All were relaxed and it was like being in a bus full of school kids with lots of chatter and laughter.
1st stop was obviously coffee with some chocolate on the side. All was going well until the café forgot Jane’s order. They felt her wrath. From coffee and chocolate we wandered up the main drag of McLaren Vale to “The Blessed Cheese” hoping for some free tasting, but whilst there was a great variety of cheese, no tasting.
We then headed to the Lavender Farm which was closed – oh well, can’t win them all.
Next stop on the tour was Chapel Hill Winery which was in a lovely setting. This was our 1st opportunity to sample the wines, whilst OK the wines at Rosemount Vineyard our next stop were fantastic. The wallets came out and we were all happy campers.
It was now time to put on the feedbag and a hearty lunch was enjoyed by all. Presentations were made for the winners of the time trial yesterday on Norton Summit with medals going to Gen, Karen and Michelle.
Time to squeeze in 1 more winery before heading home. Princey chose Wirra Wirra where we were taken on a short tour of the facility then it was time to head on home to prepare for the Bupa ride.
As we hit the main road back into Adelaide a couple of the Tour team cars were also heading back into town. The girls managed a wink and a smile from some of the cyclists to finish off another successful day.
As I write my report Wazza and Princey are making sure all of the bikes are ready for tomorrow’s Bupa ride. An early night will be had ready for a big day tomorrow.

Today was time trial day, Norton’s Summit, a 7km, 4.9% gradient ride. As is the norm by now, we rolled out and headed for the hills of Adelaide, a nice “easy on Wednesday morning” pace.
At the base of Norton’s Summit a staggered start was organized and the time trial began. No surprises that Sue, Wazza, and Janey made it to the summit first followed by Gen, Kaz, myself and Annie. A little birdie told me that Janey set out to make Wazza work and Annie had a chat to a jogger on the way up that was running alongside her. Although it was a tough ride it was beautiful with magnificent views of Adelaide and the surrounding countryside, this could be appreciated on my part, as for the majority of the climb my Speedo did not go above 11km/hr.

After a quick stop at the summit and a photo opportunity we set out towards our next destination “Stirling” to watch the finish of day 2 of the TDU. don’t know what made me think that from here on in it would be all downhill. Silly of me really, delusiona! as two ranges later (The Basket and The Forest Range), rolling hills and steep climbs, speeds ranging from 7km/hr to 47km/hr, some of us were calling for Princey and the bus. Don’t get me wrong, the ride was glorious, with orchards of pears, plums and blueberries close enough to reach out and pick, beautiful homes and diverse architecture even a medieval castle called Camelot. It was a however a challenge for Annie ,Gen and myself so Wazza and Sue, being the kind coaches that they are, gave us a reprieve and we were allowed to board the bus and avoid the last climb into Stirling. “We were so happy!!!” The other 4 riders – Sue,Wazza,Janey and Kaz rode strongly into Stirling.
In Stirling we all regrouped and indulged in the fine food of the Organic Café, then onto watch the TDU cyclists as they rode into Stirling. It is hard to describe how it felt to see the Uni of Adelaide cyclist William Clarke lead the peloton by 10mins, we were part of history in the making.
From Stirling down into Hahndorf to shop in the little German village and then finally home on the bus. There was much laughter and the hills were alive with the sound of our singing (the Vontrapps paled into insignificance in comparison to the Southern Stars). Another great day on tour!
Michelle