haitch vs the melburn roobaix

tomorrow i am taking part in what's touted as the world's biggest alleycat. 399 official participants, plus more who'll probably tag along!

video of last year, from cycling tips: http://vimeo.com/4225237

the start won't be in the middle of the city as shown on that video because there'll be more people this year and it's obviously an insane idea.

i might try to form an alliance with this dude:

http://www.fyxomatosis.com/images/melburn_roobaix/screen%20shot%202010-05-26%20at%203.59.59%20pm.png

i just put 25s on and went for a test up the 'koppenberg of travancore', one of the cobbled alleyways that feature on the course. i was all over the fucken shop!

liveblog

j-child u should come stand in the alley here and watch, maybe get a beer from the beer bike

RIDE REPORT:

• i took a tumble in front of a car undertaking on a bridge - just totally misjudged the room i had, dropped into the gutter, boom. lucky the car was just inching along due to the traffic. knee's a bit sore but OK otherwise
• lost my bit of paper with the questions on it for prize draw, no free swag for me. goddamn rookie mistake -_-
• bumped into wade from cycling tips at the lights!
• saw the beer tap bike, did not see it dispensing anything tho
• saw some bro have his rear derailleur commit suicide in the back wheel, amazingly he got to the finish after some repairs
• course included cobbled alleys, mud section (which i employed portage skillz on but then got blocked by a couple dog walkers) and horrible dirt 'half-berg' where the return of the cobbles was a relief, plus lap of velodrome to finish.
• hope the pub where everyone went afterwards warned the locals about presence of 400 bike riders + associated odour

eventful day!

were you two really at the east funswick? i checked in there about 4.45 but no dice

i wasn't, dogg might have been tho!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4652412294_291a9f21dd.jpg

valet parking, afterwards

hahaha, looks like a blast. be safe, easy on that knee for a little while ...

this happened again yesterday, rollicking good time.

got felt up at one point! that's the second time in three days.

score

Do you know who by? Congrats for not falling off. What was the free stuff like? Any beer? Any pics?