CycloSportif – Team Challenges
Last weekend was the Bikeforce CycloSportif Yanchep event. This was the first time this event has been run (first time in Yanchep/Two Rocks). For the Joondalup Bikeforce riders and respective teams (Pulse-Onyx, Bikeforce Joondalup, Bikeforce Ladies, and PCS – Peloton Charity Shield), this was gearing up to be an exciting event. Why? Simply because this area is our backyard. It’s where many of us ride and train every week. We know this area, we know these roads, and we know how much of an impact the winds can have. Well that was the theory anyway…
Hospitals, Helmets, and Backpacks
Well it has been a week since my accident, but I’m healing well. All things considered I got extremely lucky.
Lucky? You got hit be a friggin’ car!
Well, yes I did, but the damage is mainly superficial. It could have been much worse. The reason I’m not still in Hospital is due to the equipment I was wearing. Specifically my helmet and backpack. These two (2) items saved me from more serious injuries. Also my choice of clothing reduced even further injuries.
So how did these items help? I mean riding a bike leaves you very exposed, so the risk of injury is quite high. From an outsiders perspective, most cyclists appear almost naked. Compared to a motorcyclist this assessment is fairly apt. So what protection do cyclists actually have?
CycloSpotif: Swan Valley
I don’t know about everyone else, but the weekend just gone in Perth was friggin’ FREEZING cold! Ok, it wasn’t as cold as those place that regularly get snow, but for us here in the west, anything close to 0°C is too damn cold!! Other than being cold, the weather on the weekend was actually very nice; for winter. At least it wasn’t raining like last year! 
So the weekend arrives and we all gather at the shop for a Saturday morning ride. The temp is somewhere south of 0°C. Some ppl quick duck into the shop while Dave (the owner) is getting his bike ready and make some quick purchases (ie, gloves, warmers, etc…), then off we roll. I was so glad I decide to wear my shoe covers; it kept the chilly air out of my shoes and freezing my toes off. This was just a warm up to prepare us for the Swan Valley CycloSportif the next day. I think it warmed up a little by the time we got to the coffee shop at about 8am: 3°C. 
So the next day we head to the Swan Valley. As I virtually live in the Valley, some of my team decide to drop in to my place and ride to the course from there; about 10km’s away. The perfect distance for a little warm up. As we weren’t starting until about 10am, the temp was a barmy 6°C…
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