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Eddie the Eagle returns to the Peloton
Published July 11, 2010 | 
After an extended break in the warmer regions of our country, Eddie returned to fall victim to a nasty illness. This week, he finally made a welcome return to the peloton. Of course, we are wondering if the incident earlier in the week had anything to do with luring him out into the morning cold. In a virtual repeat of the infamous "pump throw" ride, Bad Dave suffered a severe case of equipment failure – his light shining about as brightly as an extinguished candle in the pre-dawn darkness, was dispatched into the roadside paddock with the same choice words as the earlier situation with the pump! Immediately, the peloton thought that the lure of adding to his equipment collection, might draw Eddie back to the peloton.
And so it was! On a cold and frosty morning, with most of us rugged up in 3 or more layers, scarves, balaclavas, booties and full finger gloves, our Eddie turned up in shorts and just a few layers of oil! For the rest of the peloton, it was like a -10 deg wind chill, to see Eddie in his shorts. But great to have you back! Hopefully, the rest of the peloton members will fully recover and rejoin the regular ranks again soon!
Pump Recovery Ride
Published January 25, 2010 | On Saturday 23 January, some of the regular Lara Latte Cycle peloton ventured into the “wilds” of Little River – they went searching for the famous pump (see A Puncture and a “dud” Pump post). Recovery of this rare and historical item was of such importance, that an elderly member of the peloton risked injury to very sensitive parts, scaling several barbed wire barriers, then, also the odd tiger snake in the long grass. On this day, the archeological gods were smiling on the peloton – the pump was found! Further, the ravages of time had left few scars – it was in pristine condition. Careful restoration by the said elderly member has restored this beauty to it’s original glory. Rather than using the pump just to pump up bicycle tyres, though, it will now be donated to the fledgling Lara Latte Cycle Museum (soon to be opened at a site to be determined)!
A Puncture and a "dud" Pump
Published January 10, 2010 | On Sunday 3 January, a “peloton” of 14 riders left Six Ways in Lara at 7am and rode to Little River via the You Yangs and Kirk’s Bridge Road. A pleasant ride was added to by a rather entertaining tube change (changes) by one of the riders.
After puncturing along Edgar’s Rd our intrepid rider (we’ll call him “bad Dave” just to protect his identity!) stopped, and rather gently, carefully and slowly, proceeded to swap the punctured tube for the spare he was carrying. That spare tube sported a rather large patch, with the covering cellophane still attached. After eventually replacing the tyre and putting the wheel back in the bike, he set to pumping the tyre up, only to find that the patch blew off.
At this point, there were a few comments, to the effect of “I should have brought a deck chair!” Meanwhile, another of the team who needed to be back for an appointment had headed off on his own, and, determined the peloton should not catch him, rode like a “cut cat”, arriving back in Lara totally exhausted. In reality, he probably arrived in Lara, just about the time “bad Dave” was removing his wheel from the bike for the second time.
With a borrowed tube installed (a new one this time), thanks to the help of some patient “good samaritans” in the peloton, he proceeded to pump up the tyre. But alas, no luck – the pump was not cooperating, so it had to go! With an energy and enthusiasm he rarely displayed on the bike, together with a few (well, ok, a lot) of choice 4 letter words, the pump was catapulted across the neighbouring property into the field, never to be seen again. Overheard in the peloton – “I wonder if he’ll throw the bike next – I need to upgrade a few parts!”
Again, the good samaritans stepped in and pumped up the tyre, and eventually, the peloton resumed the ride. To his credit, “bad Dave” did subsequently do a long turn at the front into the wind.
And thus the popular term “Dummy spit” will be replaced by “Pump throw”!
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