Don’t ever forget the Bandido Principles:
(If you don’t like our principles, we have others!)
INDEX
| EL SCRIBORINO SPEAKS | CLICK HERE |
| AL PRESIDENTE’S PRATTLE | CLICK HERE |
| THE AGM./ANNUAL DINNER | CLICK HERE |
| TRAINING SESSIONS | CLICK HERE |
| DIARY OF A BANDIDO NOVICE (THE FIRST 3 MONTHS) | CLICK HERE |
| THE THREE PASSES RIDE, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA | CLICK HERE |
| FROM WIND TRAINER TO BANDIDO | CLICK HERE |
| BANDIDO VIDEOS | CLICK HERE |
| BANDIDO RULES | CLCK HERE |
| BANDIDO CLOTHING | CLICK HERE |
| PROPOSED VENUES | CLICK HERE |
| SPECIAL DEAL ON HRMS | CLICK HERE |
| ANATOMY OF AN "OFF" | CLICK HERE |
| THE TROPHIES | CLICK HERE |
It’s a frustrating time reading of these great adventures & not able to join in, but I enjoy the enthusiasm coming from you guys. I’ve done newsletters for Car Cubs in the past and it’s like extracting teeth to get fodder to print. Not so here. Our contributors for this issue are:
Al Presidente, PB, Wazza, & PC. PC offers both a story & cartoons, great stuff. Keep it coming.
PB (old fart) offers two stories, the one of Laurie kissing the bitumen (once again) surely allows him to take on the mantle of the "Skiddy" title or at least nic-name of "Autumn Leaves".
Wazza offers an account of his EPIC venture, The Three Passes Ride in South Africa.
Since our last newsletter, we have had two new additional steeds to the peleton.
Laino’s new Trek and Phil I’s gorgeous Fausto Coppi. How many bottles of champagne can be consumed before the Saturday morning ride. It’s short black instead of mugacinos.
Hope you guys enjoy this my second issue of the Bugle and I look forward to being back on the road in full flight by late September. Voom, Voom, Voom, I feel a green jersey coming my way.
Le editor Le Leon
Dear Loyal Subjects,
In the last newsletter I said the AGM would be the night of nights. Was I right or what?!
It was HUGE! More surprises than a show bag and no sign of anybody having a bad time! The highlights for me were:
Anyway, the AGM was what being a Bayside Bandido is all about. Having a great time with a great bunch of people! Hamster and El Vendorino have some great photos and the negatives are for sale!
Elvis is off to a very determined start in this year’s trophies. He is going to be tough to beat!
We’ve got a Movie Night planned for August 11th. PB is organizing it and Cal and Phil will be making a feature presentation, along with a poem from Wazza.
Don’t forget the Mt Tassie ride rescheduled to August 19 2001. The BIG KOM...
Don’t ever forget the
Bandido Principles:
Work like you don’t need the money.Love like
you’ve never been hurt.
Dance like
nobody’s watching.
Ride like a
Bandido.
(If you don’t like our principles, we have others!)
Congratulations to the organizers as well as Ricardo, Alistair, Elvis and Co. for the VERY amusing 'Talks' they gave during the evening. The video was sensational ....WELL DONE! I've never laughed so much in one evening.
The AWARDS were excellent although I didn't think I really deserved the OLD FART PILLS.
The motor-bike BANDIDO is a friend of mine who enjoyed putting on his act…...
it appeared to be well received.
AND TO FINISH OFF....…
A couple of quotes from Robin Williams
See the problem is, that God gives men a brain and a penis, but only enough blood to run one at a time.
....Ah, yes, DIVORCE, from the Latin word meaning to rip out a man's genitals through his wallet.
PB
WORLD MASTERS GAMES –Melbourne
Weekends: 7.30 am from cnr Reserve & Beach Rds.
Weekdays: 6.30 am from cnr Reserve & Beach Rds.
OR from Jai Omara’s bike shop, Charman Rd at 6.30 pm on Mondays & Wednesdays.
AUGUST
Regular Bandido Rides Sat & Sun
19th. KOM Mt Tassie Ride
26th. KOM Arthur’s Seat—Sorrento ride BBQ
SEPTEMBER
Regular Bandido Rides Sat & Sun
5th. Bandido Big Bad Ride (mid week)
OCTOBER
Regular Bandido Rides Sat & Sun
13th-21st. Melbourne to Sydney Ride
21st. Round the Bay Ride
5-13 Oct 2002 World Masters
NOVEMBER
Regular Bandido Rides Sat & Sun
5th. Cup Day Family Ride
14th. Ride to Work
24th to Dec 2 Great Vic Bike Ride
DECEMBER
16th. Bandido Christmas Brunch TBA
JANUARY 2002
Regular Bandido Rides Sat & Sun
Australia Day Weekend
Audax Alpine Classic in 2002
FEBRUARY
Regular Bandido rides Sat & Sun
24th. Pool Party
MARCH
Regular Bandido Rides Sat & Sun
APRIL
Regular Bandido Rides Sat & Sun
MAY
Regular Bandido Ridess Sat & Sun
JUNE
22nd. Bandido AGM
JULY 2003
Bandido Tour de France
Diary of a Bandido Novice (The First 3 Months)
By PB
"Join-up" is the term used by Monty Roberts (The Horse Whisperer) when he "eye-balls" the horse he's working with and makes "contact". From then on he knows that the horse is" his "and he will very quickly have it bending to his will and under his control! In my case it was last September at a Boating Industry Board Meeting when our smooth-talking AL PRESIDENTE "eye-balled" me and got me hooked. We discussed my interest in bike-riding ........I rode on my own to keep fit and had done so for about 15 years, sometimes doing 20 km. and up to 80km. per week. I also mentioned that Kerith and I had done a bike-riding tour through China in the mid 80's covering about 1100 km. in about 2 weeks, which was absolutely fantastic The next day he had his "old" bike at the meeting which he assured me I really needed if I was a keen bikie. I already had three bikes of various vintages and ages, so didn't feel another bike was such a smart move! Being a collector of cars, the last thing I needed was to increase my bike collection.....I could just picture the reception as I walked in the door with "HI darling, I've just bought another bike"....it didn't bear thinking about! The wheels grind slowly, and as fate would have it I met up with AL PRESIDENTE again when a mutual friend from the U.S. came to stay with us in March. Alistair joined us at home for dinner. We live on a few acres, so Al asked for the Cook's Tour. On checking out some of the car collection in the garage he honed in on my bikes -- and had trouble keeping a straight face when he looked at my road bike.......a mid 70's English Raleigh "competition" model with BMX style skid-style handle-bars and metal toe-clips. "What sort of speed do you average on this?" he asked with a smirk. "Oh! I try to average around 30+ kph", I responded. "Well you should come for a ride with us". I declined because I felt at the tender age of 56 that I'd probably get left behind in a shower of s---! AND a 50/60 km. ride is such a LOOOONG way! My morning rides consisted of 12/15 km. three days a week and a really long ride was around 35km. After dinner and a few reds later, I'd weakened and decided to give it ago.
Sunday morning at 7.40am I headed off from Pearcedale on my Raleigh hybrid and rode into Frankston and waited at the lights on the Highway ........"Here they come : THE BANDIDOS"......I yell out "Good Morning" and tack on the back. I don't see Alistair but he's obviously there somewhere. It's awfully hard to recognise anyone as they all look the same with a helmet on. I chat with the last two riders and start to feel a little anxious when the rest of the group are now 100 metres ahead after only half a km. " Where's Alistair?" I ask. "Alistair? We're not with that group." replies one of the riders........I'm now about 200 metres behind the group! I pedal like a man possessed and finally catch the group at the bottom of Oliver's Hill....gasping for air. All of a sudden three or four riders are going hell for leather up the hill and disappearing over Hope's Rise-- it's obviously Hill-climb time.Well , there's not much point sitting back and watching all the action...better pull my finger out and get into it! After some pretty serious riding I manage to pass about half the field and come in fifth. At the Breather stop at the top of Humphries Rd., everyone asks who the hell I am. I explain about Al's invitation to come for a ride. Fortunately, at this point, Leon arrives, we recognise each other and introductions are made. We had a pleasant ride to Mt. Eliza and then DOWN Oliver's Hill---- it was then that I realized that a 12 speed bike was no match for an 18 speed....my top gear seems like mid-range to all the other bikes. At Frankston I peel off and ride back home to Pearcedale.
The next Sunday Alistair was in attendance and I was better prepared for the Hill-climb action. BUT again, some riders took off like 'Cut Cats' up Hope's Rise and started to disappear from view. About 1 km. up Humphries Rd. I caught up with the leaders and found I was out front. However, two riders stayed right on my rear wheel. Three quarters of the way up the hill they were still there.......... until the last 200 metres, and then WHOOOSH....away they went. Oh well, third was pretty good! Alistair was not happy....."Listen Pete, you can't ride with the BANDIDOS on that horrible heap of crap, with those ancient toe-clips and old sneakers with your feet hanging out the splits...it makes us look bad. You really need a proper bike." By the time we'd got into Frankston I was fairly convinced that a new bike was a good idea AND it just so happened that Jai had the exact model I needed in his shop...a nearly new DE ROSA.
Kerith and I were heading down to Tasmania the next day to compete in the Targa Tasmania car rally so we called by Jai's shop on the
way. He had the MAGNIFICENT PURPLE AND YELLOW DE ROSA parked by the counter...It was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT! Jai promised I'd go 20% faster with 20% less effort. Even Kerith was impressed with that statement. Naturally she knew that Jai wouldn't lie(????}, so approval was given.
On arrival back from Tassie 3 weeks later, I was again convinced by Al (what a salesman!) to join the Saturday ride because it was the final shooting of the video. A 7.30 start at Beaumaris requires a 5.45 wake-up call at Pearcedale to get to the start on time.!!!! Later as we're cruising up Beach Rd, through Port Melbourne I commented to Al that it was a pretty comfortable ride.
"Yes but wait till we get to the sprints later." "SPRINTS? What Sprints" "You'll see" was the response.....I soon found out!
As we left Sandringham the pace moved up a notch and then a bit more, and THEN....WHOOOOSH! Now you see them now you don't. At the Black Rock clock tower I had to be half a km. behind, and there was absolutely no way my legs were going to move those pedals quickly enough to ever catch them up. Fortunately someone else had "missed the boat", so we were a lonely twosome all the way to Mordialloc. Things were about to change though, as I was due to pick up the new toy on Monday from Jae's shop and get measured up...I hoped Jae wasn't exaggerating when he said how good this bike was.
Sunday's ride was similar to previous weeks and I was starting to get the hang of it.....stay with them up Oliver’s Hill and move to the front up Humphries Rd., BUT as usual, someone was sitting on my rear wheel with the inevitable result....WHOOOSH over the last 200 metres.....second this time. Maybe next week???? (ON THE DE ROSA)
Saturday's ride marked the transformation from a Novice to an Apprentice BANDIDO. The unveiling of the new weapon AND the new BANDIDO uniform!!!!!!!! What a sight to behold. At least this time I didn't get left behind.
Sunday's Hill-climb proved Jae didn't tell Porkies. I got to the front and STAYED there. (this new bike was every-thing Jae said it was).
WHAT A GREAT FEELING! I couldn't get home quick enough to tell everyone AND anyone else who would listen.
Since then, I've had some great rides and won the spotted jersey several times which is a great feeling, particularly when it's often considered that over 50's are 'past it'.
The Traralgon ride and King of the Mountain was a fantastic ride .....scenic, competitive, hilly and long. It was the longest single day ride I've ever done and convinced me that I could handle the Melbourne/ Sydney ride AND marked my transition from Apprentice to fully fledged BANDIDO.
Thanks guys for the great rides, terrific company ,competitive riding and most of all the FUN. It never ceases to amaze me that when we ride, NO-ONE passes us.....we're always passing the other riders. We must be the fittest SOCIAL riding group out there!
Incidently, there are BANDIDOS and REAL BANDIDOS.......The REAL BANDIDOS rode in the rain on the Saturday before the AGM/DINNER...ALL 4 OF THEM!!!.......AND on the following Saturday, again in the rain ONLY 2 REAL BANDIDOS RODE THE FULL DISTANCE TO MORDIALLOC....... JUST JOSHING! DI
By PC
After many years of living in the Eastern suburbs Mary and I decided to bite the bullet and make the seachange. After a little hesitation and much looking here we are in Mentone, six doors from Beach Road. Mary reckoned half the attraction for me was the cyclist mecca, Beach Road, cos up to now most of my training was done on a windtrainer in the back bedroom. The kids had all left home so I set up camp complete with fan, heart rate monitor and video to watch re-runs of the Tour de France. I had been racing with Southern Vets for several years and had to keep the training up to be competitive, somewhere between 5-7 hours per week. The old diehards said "how in the hell can you stand it, it's so boring". True, but once you get into a routine it's OK. All I had to do was get into my gear and hop aboard and train for an hour. I didn't get hit by a truck once. The secret is the heart rate monitor. It got to the stage where even if there was an opportunity to train on the road with a mate I chose the back room. I trained occasionally at windy AFL Park and sometimes rode through the Dandenongs but that was for the heroes.
So, here I was at sunny Mentone. The windtrainer was relegated to the garage and Beach Road was beckoning. Who was I going to ride with, as I didn't fancy doing it on my own. Ah, there was an opportunity as I read through the latest Bicycle Victoria mag. Some mob of middle aged bikeriders had placed an ad and were welcoming new members, so to speak. Even better, they met just up the road. Sounded OK to me so on the phone I got. Alister answered and said "come on down, ride with the Bandidos". It was Late October 2000. The only Bandidos I knew were a motor cycle gang, so not knowing what to expect I fronted up the next day. I was somewhat taken aback by this bunch of dudes all decked out in club gear, even down to the socks. Sprint, KOM jersey and coffee after. Got to be joking I thought. Anyway, off I toddled with the group, the only one out of club uniform. I pretty quickly summed them up and figured they were a serious bunch, especially around Black Rock, into Mordialloc and back at Rickets Point. The bastards will kill themselves I thought. All I wanted is some training for my Sunday racing, not to be rung out like a rag and spend the rest of the day rooted (so to speak). Having now been on the scene (on and off) for nearly a year I am now an old hand at this Beach Road caper. People give me a hoy when I ride on my own and the Hell Ride and North Road bunch still give me the shivers.
In the vets I drift between C and D grade and am better known for my sprint. Endurance was always a problem with me and "Bandido" riding was pretty new to me. Racing is generally a game of tactics with the endurance boys generally trying to take the edge off the sprinters before the finish. I rarely works. The middle grades are full of shifties and there can be big dough to be won in some events so you never know what is going to happen. The Bandidos on the other hand seem to ride along to Port Melbourne and back and the fun starts at Sandy and all hell breaks loose. That's when the going gets tough. After the first sprint, the urge to nick home as I pass Mentone is often overwhelming, so if any of you wondered where I get to, there's the answer.
A couple of times I have been left at the lights (good to stop rather than get killed) and commented that the Bandidos will only wait for those in club colours (joking of course). "Could be right" commented Al, so I relented and ordered a set of club gear. Only then will I be a real Bandido.
Racing on Sundays in the road season no longer has the same appeal as events can be up to 100 k's away. The lure of a quick spin on Beach Road is overwhelming. I think I've been converted.
Friendly lot you Bandidos, thanks.
Denis & Marcus are offering repeat
Bandido videos at only $10.00 each.
Don’t miss the chance for this
never to be repeated offer.
Put your order in now.
Denis & Marcus contact details listed
in the membership pages
Saturday Sprints
King of the Mountain (Sundays)
Great quality, "Giramondo" brand, Trevsy Design Department design. Great prices! Payment to
El Vendorino
cash or cheque.
Bandido socks $15.00
Bandido knicks $75.00
Bandido bib & brace knicks $80.00
Bandido short sleeve top $75.00
Bandido long sleeve top $80.00
Arm warmers $35.00
Thermal tights $75.00
All receipts issued for $35.00!
October 5-13, 2002
TRACK
Vodafone Arena (New velodrome): Sprint, Scratch, Pursuit and Track Time Trial
ROAD
Ballan Road,Wyndham (Werribee): Road Time Trial
Docklands (Melbourne): Criterium
Domain Gardens (Melbourne): Road Race
MOUNTAIN BIKE
Officer: Cross Country
(Officer is 45 minutes south east of Melbourne)
PROPOSED PROGRAM
Saturday 5 October
Criterium
Sunday 6 October
Mountain Bike Cross Country
Monday 7 October
Track Day 1
Tuesday 8 October
Track Day 2
Wednesday 9 October
Track Day 3
Friday 11 October
Road Time Trial
Saturday 12 October
Road Race
AGE CATEGORIES*
Men:
30-34, 35-49, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90+
Women:
30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90+
*Age determined as at 31 December 2002.
For Details contact Leon or check the Web
Nuggetty Phil now has the latest price list for the polar heart rate monitors. They range from the basic hrm costing approx $100 thru to $300+ if you want to download data to your computer, calorie counter, ownzone which is your user target training zones, watch, alarm, VO2 max, time in/above/below target zone, lap times, stop watch, etc. The monitors come in water proof, heavy duty plastic or titanium if you so desire.
See Phil for more details.
The prices are 20% off wholesale.
By PB
We've all had an "off" at some point of time in our bike-riding career. Not often do we get to see a full-blown one up close and see the rider walk away virtually unscathed.....UNTIL last Sunday!
We'd just finished our Sunday morning Hill-climb and decided to take an alternative route into Mt. ELiza via Alison Rd. This took us on to the most southern part of Canadian Bay Rd. and heading North to the intersection with Nepean Highway. Coincidently, I was riding alongside Laurie Collard and we were discussing whether bike-riders ever ended up suffering from long-term injuries in the same way as say, Netballers suffer from knee problems, or footballers with Hamstring problems. "No," says Laurie, only gravel rash from falls. I also asked why is it that bikers don't fit treaded tyres (in car terminology, "Wets") during winter to get a little more grip and control on the wet and slippery roads......"Not needed " says Laurie..........BUT, he was going to have to re-think that statement about 10 minutes later!!!!!
We barreled down the first hill on Canadian Bay Rd. with great gusto hitting around 60kph. About another half a km. we started down the next hill. I felt a little tentative as the road was very wet and had that "oily" look about it. Obviously Laurie felt a little that way too as he was also "under brakes" as we slowed from around 55kph to about 45. I noticed the Yellow Diamond sign coming up indicating an "S" bend at the bottom of the hill, and slowed a little more, to around 40. Laurie didn't seem to slow as much as I did and moved a few metres further ahead.
As he reached the bottom of the hill he decided as there were no cars coming, to take the best "line" through the "S" and crossed over to the right side of the road to maintain as straight a line as possible. THIS IS WHERE THE WHOLE MANOUVRE TOOK AN UGLY TWIST. From 10 metres back I got a perfect view of the next few seconds as though it was in slow motion. His front wheel glanced off a "Cat's Eye" Reflector set in the road, and it was all over for Laurie......the front wheel leapt into the air, landed, twisted slightly and KABOOM...THE BIKE SKIDDED ALONG THE ROAD EMITTING A TRAIL OF SPARKS AND LAURIE WAS SKIDDING NICELY WITH IT, ON HIS THIGH. I have to say that my first reaction was one of "Oh shit!" as there was absolutely NO WAY I was going to be able to avoid hitting him and becoming part of the catastrophe. My split second later, second reaction was to brake harder only to find the rear wheel started to lock up and start a side-ways skid. The third reaction was to stop braking and try to take evasive action (a little difficult on a wet and greasy road when you are now only metres off a disaster) A gentle twitch to the left took me millimetres around the still-sliding Laurie. I was still doing the best part of 40 and heading off the bitumen onto a VERY narrow grass verge which was bordered with a railing of 6" diameter treated pine posts......at this point I am saying to myself "P.B., this does not look good, and you are about to do yourself a MAJOR injury" The only option is to hope to wash off a little speed in the grass and try to steer parallell to the railing and ride through that rather large Wattle branch lying on the grass.........WELL, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE MIRACUROUSLY BECAME MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!........... I'd survived. Off the bike and over to see how Laurie had fared. Hard to believe that he wasn't an ambulance case....a little gravel rash on his thigh, ANOTHER rip in his nicks (to match the various OTHER holes and tears from prior "offs") and he surfaced O.K. AND his bike was undamaged ,but obviously a little lighter from the metal that had been ground off in the shower of sparks. Cossie was behind me but obviously at sufficient distance to avoid trouble and take in both manouvres. He later related how spectacular it was. All I can say to Laurie is that he lives a charmed life, and some-one "up there" is looking after him.
Interesting later, how the speed down the Old Mornington Rd. hill was somewhat subdued! ANATOMY OF AN "OFF"
KING OF THE MOUNTAIN
Well done to Ricardo, who dominated!
A big well done, too to Laurie and Elvis for 2nd and 3rd. Total scores were –
Ricardo 18 Wins
Laurie 7 Wins
Elvis 5 Wins
Cossie 2 Wins
Peter B 2 Wins
Wazza 1 Win
Trevor A 1 Win
SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP
Hotly contested. At the halfway point, Ricardo and Al Pres were locked together on 10 wins each, then Elvis came on strong in the second half. Scores were –
Al Presidente 15 Wins
Ricardo 12 Wins
Elvis 9 Wins
El Scriborino 5 Wins
Laurie 3 Wins
Phil L 3 Wins
Wazza 1 Win
Callum 1 Win
Touchy 1 Winno Speaks
Diary of a bandido novice