Christmas in August at the Oaks ride

Matt suggested 24th of August and people generally agreed, I even said I would be there as I really should spend moe time visiting my sister, although admittedly this weekend I spent a large amount of time riding the mtb with people in Sydney and not hanging around with my sister anyway, oh well, it worked out alright. The riding was fun.

Wanting to do a bit more riding than a simple downhill blat from Woodford to Glenbrook I asked for a guide to come along and ride up from Glenbrook before the start of the ride, Dave@ was keen so we rolled up to Glenbrook at 9:40am and rode up. Twas a fun ride.

Running a few minutes late we thought we may be greeted by grinning idiots barreling down a hill as we rode up it just before Woodford, however fortunately sMarti was arriving on sMarti time and we had plenty of time to get to the station and meet up with everyone in Woodford.

The photos below are taken by two of the Canberrans there Morgs took the photos in the right hand column, I took those in the left hand column.

I do not know everyone who was on the ride, so I apologise if I get your name wrong or dont know it.

Lots of fun was had, I definitely had fun and want to do it again, and do St Helenas and other stuff there too. Thanks especially to Dave@ for coming out early and riding up there with me.

1600x1200 Waiting around at woodford station, left to right, Rob, uknown (obscured), Glennnn (obscured), Unknown, Matt, Morgs (helmet), Luke, Ray, Tyno (part obscured), Lel (helmet), JohnJohn (part obscured), Pauly, Dave@, Jen, RichB, RichB's friend. 1600x1200 After we got moving, this is before the first fun kind of downhill bit, a few of us played on a roll down thing here for a bit while waiting. Left to right, RichB (squatting), Pauly, Rosie (obscured), Matt, sMarti (with no front brake due to using borrowed wheel), JohnJohn (obscured), Joo, Tyno, TTfH, Rob (obscured) 1600x1200 After another little up bit we all stopped and waited some more, there were fantastic views out both sides fromjust around here, behind us is looking out over to northen sydney areas I think, Left to right, Grant, Dave@, Jen (obscured), Morgs (obscured), TTFH, RichB's friend, RichB (bending, obscured), Joo (standing behind TTfH), sMarti (obscured), Rosie, Rob, unknown (obscured), Tyno 1600x1200 Pauly and Matt catch up on their bouncy bikes. 1600x1200 Near the end of the fun single track at the end of the ride, left to right, Morgs, Rob, Jen (obscured), unknown, sMarti, RichB's friend, Matt, RichB, Rosie, TTfH, Tyno, Glennnnnnn 1600x1200 Ray, covered in oil that had been spurting out of his forks, he just got back from an 8 month cycle tour through south america, making us all Jealous bastards and giving him an incredible fitness base. RichB's friend and a obscured Luke are also in the photo. 1600x1200 Early in the ride the top cap came off one of the legs of Ray's forks, maybe 8000KM of rough cycle touring between services is more than they should have between services. 1600x1200 Hanging around at the bakery post ride, Matt, Morgs, JohnJohn's back, Joo, Lel, Tyno, Glenn, sMarti, Dave@ and others further back. 1600x1200 sMarti, Ray making an escape, Lel, JohnJohn and Matt

1600x1200 Morgs obviously got there a bit earlier than Dave@ and I, from left to right, unknown, Ray, Glennnnnnn, Matt, Joo 1600x1200 Same place I took a photo, from a slightly higher vantage point, left to right, Pauly, Rosie, sMarti, Grant, Matt, Tyno, JohnJohn, Joo, Luke, Rob, TTfH, Jen, unknown, Lel, Steve (yeah me, in pink), Dave@ 1600x1200 Before descending to the river and climbing back out, at the end of the ride milling around looking ford to the coming climb, left to right, RichB's frioend, Joo, Luke (obscured by car), unknown, Rob, Pauly, Steve, Tyno, Dave@, Matt (obscured), Jen, Glennnnnnnnn, Rosie 1600x1200 Settling in for a good cafe session, Joo, RichB, Grant (obscured), Jen (obscured), Steve 1600x1200 Tyno, Rob, Glennnn getting into the food, TTfH, Grant, unknown, Ray, Jen, Luke 1600x1200 Glennnn dealing with the side effects on his heart after getting stuck into the huge creamy lamington.