The fickle finger of fate had decided I would not go on the ride today – as my alarm had been conveniently left off.

It goes without saying that I was grateful in joining the great masses in a state of slumber on our literally God-given-public-long-weekend-holiday.

I woke again at about 8am (an unGodly hour by our standards) to face a dillema. How do I face everyone having not ridden this morning? Scarborough Beach Rd is usually a fast ride, and as it includes a longish hill, and a stretch of exposed highway, normally not one I enjoy particularly. If we had the statistical record keeping that the boys on the cricket channel have, I’m sure it rains 67.3% of the time, and I get dropped 98% of the time (both of which happened on the way to the last SPR breakfast not held at home base A.K.A. the clubhouse, A.K.A. Pete’s home. In fact I was happy not to go as I had a 58% chance of being caught at the  lights on ScrBchRd (could be shortened to SBR) where you are going at 75kph after climbing the hill, and 87% chance of being yelled at by a cashed (not so under these strained financial times) up Bogan from Trigg in a Malloo ute.

Anyway I had decided to try out my new toy, and to surprise the group with some action shots. As fortune would have it I live just a stone’s throw from the route of the ride. I know how those lucky devils must feel in France come July. A short stroll would put me in perfect vantage to catch everyone as they rode past. As we live in Australia, this precludes the shirts off, spraypaint the road and running with antlers on a gridiron helmet antics. Shame, as I had just got the devil costume back from the drycleaners – they ask no questions…

A few peaceful minutes passed as I waited at the park on Victoria Ave for the SPR peloton to ride past. I took the oportunity to take a few test shots at some birds’ backsides as the flew / jogged past. I didn’t know that enjoying nature could be so revitalising!

About 10 other cycle groups had ridden past and I had almost given up hope when I saw the SPR formation crest the hill. Resplendent in team colours it was surely an impressive sight. I barely had time to click off a few frames when it was all over. My aspiration to become a sporting photographer was looking like by hopes of becoming a half decent cyclist. Alas it in actuality is much harder than it seems. Those shots you see in magazines or on the web must either:

1) Be staged

2) Be the result of extraordinary luck

3) Represent 0.0000001% of all usable shots – the rest being boring / out of focus / got the wrong cyclist / blurry etc..

4) Be the result of imense talent (which obviously must take some work to get)

Anyway:

As I reviewed my pictures I contemplated – what other extravagant equipment could help redress my lack of talent (see the parallells with cycling?), and if my wife would go for getting a motorbike license so I could perch on the pillion in front of the group (so much easier than actually riding on the front of the group). My musings were cut short by a phonecall from Christophe which started with the usual “Bonjour Melvyn, how are you today?”. The next “What are you doing this morning? There has been a bad crash”. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight – that was not really what I wanted to hear. Needless to say I drove over as soon as I could to find thankfully only superficial scratches on the bikes………………. and more importantly seemingly minor injuries on the riders. The events around the crash will be discussed again and again I’m sure. They include a gumnut, about 5 bikes, and a small quantity of blood. Luckily the do not involve anything like plaster / slings – or worse – an emergency call to PBK on Easter weekend. It must be said that it sounds like the events were unavoidable misfortune.

I will make a plea (to be serious, at the peril of sounding like a nanna), to all cyclists, as the most vulnerable of road users, that as we enjoy the privilege and cameraderie of competing in our sport, that we don’t lose sight of what is really important especially during these holiday times – staying safe.

Oh, and looking stylish whilst doing that.

Le Kuan