Sunday 18 May 2014

2014 MIDI SMIDDY DAY 3 - OVER 100 LOVE ONES GREET THE MIDI RIDERS AT ADAM SMIDDY PARK


2014 Midi Smiddy - Day 3 report

Warwick To Brisbane

Distance:217 km's
Average: 27.2 km/h
Climbing: 1791 metres
Descending: 2220 metres
Riding time: 7hr 57min
Temp Min: 13 degrees, our warmest start ever out of Warwick.
Temp Max: 28 degrees
Wind: Headwinds that started out light but increased in strength throughout the day.

Our warmest ever roll out of Warwick/Beautiful sunrise
Last year the riders faced a crippling cold of minus 3 degrees out of Warwick. What a stark contrast today when the temperature read a balmy 13 degrees. Finally global warming has caught up with Warwick and we were grateful for the warm start to the day. Our roll out was right on time at six-am and the sunrise that greeted the peloton was worth the early rise out of that nice comfortable Horse and Jockey Motel bed. My old mate Simon Plumber informed me that the beauty of the sunrise was due to the formation of the Cirrocumulus Undulatus clouds, which he said always guarantee a sensational sunrise, and of course no one in the peloton knew any better so I took that he actually knew what he was talking about. To me they were big white fluffy clouds?

Thank you Horse and Jockey
I would just like to extend a warm thank you to the crew at the Horse and Jockey, who have looked after Smiddy riders for over eight years now. Each year they open their restaurant four hours early for the riders and road crew and feed them a great smorgasbord breakfast to fuel us for the big 220 kilometre trip back to Brisbane.

Our fastest ever run into Hirstglen
The first 20 kilometres out of Warwick is super fast and a perfect time to put some money, so to speak, in the bank. Meaning a little effort now saves us time and gets us in on schedule hopefully at 4:30pm. With a a ten-hour riding day ahead of us we were sitting on 25km/h and I asked Chappy, who is wired up with a radio to the support cars and a few other riders, if he could ask them to pick up the pace a little. His request was met with silence for a minute and then Matty Marshall radioed back that he would go to the front and let the lead riders know. Well I don't know what the big man said to them but next thing I know we were rocketing along at 42km/h! The Smiddy freight train express was in full speed motion and if you weren't in the slip stream then see ya later alligator! Amazingly the group kept this up for the next 20 kilometres into our first morning bathroom stop at Allora, as once again the Smiddy team of helpers were out in force and helping anyone who looked like slipping off the back. The final run into morning tea saw us drop back to a more sensible pace, but thanks to that effort into Allora and a steady pace into morning tea, the desired result was achieved with the group arriving a full 33 minutes ahead of schedule! It was an amazing section and the riders devoured all food in sight as if they hadn't eaten for months. From memory I do believe that was our fastest arrival time into morning tea in five years.

Tough times ahead
Now the great thing about this first stop at Hirstglen is that the ten-kilometre drop down the Great Dividing Range begins immediately. The riders get to go at their own pace for 14 kilometres, before a regrouping and the final push into Rosewood for lunch. Unfortunately it was a wet descent due to one of those clouds, although a different black mean looking one, dropping its load and forcing the fast descenders from taking the corners too fast. From Hirstglen to Rosewood is a 77 kilometre stage and besides that one big drop the rest of the route is nothing but rolling, roller coaster type hills, not to mention the two-kilometre climb up the Laidley range. The headwind had increased in strength and for this time of the year it was very humid. The riders were doing it tough once again and hydration and nutrition became such an important factor in finishing today's stage.

The Back Seat Crew
My plan today was to ride until the bottom of the descent and then sit out until afternoon tea. Which is what I have done and I am now sitting in the back of Kevvy and Skip's rear vehicle and getting a head start for today's blog. But I am not alone in the backseat as Sarah Collins and Melissa Crossman join me for a little R&R. Sarah has a sore back from an old bulged disc injury and Melissa was paying the price for her efforts yesterday, were due to feeling so good, decided to help out and was pushing other riders up hills the entire day. We have just gotten to the climb up the Laidley range and there has been a fall at the rear of the peloton. I would now like to welcome Jessica Geeves to the 'Backseat Crew', for it was Jess that fell. News coming in direct from the horses mouth, or in this case Jess, is that she did not touch another riders wheel, she said she just simply fell over, which she stated she did often! Well she is fine and no damage to the bike but if you fall then you get mandatory van time until the next break.

The Green Machine
Watching the peloton from the safety of the rear vehicle is a sight to behold. The green kits and 53 riders two abreast resemble the body of a snake the way it moves so fluently down the road. The name 'The Green Machine' has been thrown around since day one and it is an apt description of our beloved Smiddy peloton. While I miss being out there with my mates I find that watching from behind I am filled with a greater sense of pride. These boys and girls rock! Their sacrifice, their fundraising, the support they enjoy from their love ones, the generosity of their donors, all of it just fills me with immense pride. Yes 'The Green Machine' rock!

Lunch at Rosewood/Birthdays/Hidden Day Bag
Well the conditions are not holding the peloton back in any way. These guys and girls have gotten a sniff of home and are still on record pace. Rolling into Rosewood a full 35 minutes ahead of schedule. So far ahead that Matt had enough time to get everyone together to sing happy birthday to the four riders celebrating their day of birth either today or tomorrow. Happy birthday to Rob Kropp, Robyn Lever, Anthony Mole and myself. Now practical jokes are a part of every Smiddy event and Matt Marshall copped it at the Noosa Smiddy when he kept discovering his front wheel going missing at the breaks. This time around it was to be his black drawstring day bag that kept getting hung up in the branches of trees. Each time a little higher, until today's effort at lunch, which saw it hung so high that Matt pretended not to notice in the hope that by the time he finished eating it would come down by its own accord. Which of course wasn't going to happen, so road crew, slash, rider member, Garath, took pity on him and climbed the tree to retrieve it and all was good.

More good times with Skippy and Kev
Well here I am back in the car and it is good to watch Kevvy and Skip in action. Skip is now at the wheel and Kevvy is manning the two way radio. They interact so well with all the trucks and vehicles that have two ways. The ones that don't they manage to get them around the peloton via hand signals and by moving their car completely to the left of the road to allow them to pass. Meanwhile Smiddy riders Liam Kavanagh and Tom Hagenson are behind us as the sweeper/mechanical vehicle and help to collect broken down riders and bikes as they pull to the side of the road. At the moment every rider is out on the road except for myself and Jess. We will both rejoin the group for the last section into Smiddy Park after afternoon tea.

Final stage to the finish/Worlds biggest Smiddy huddle
There is nothing like that last 30 kilometres into the finish at Brisbane. Because it is our one and only event that finishes at Adam Smiddy Park it always attracts a very generous amount of the riders supporters and love ones. Emotions, as always, were at an all time high, as families were reunited and the riders and road crew express their appreciation towards one another in the form of handshakes, back slaps but mostly a lot of hugging! In my eyes you can't hug your love ones enough and I definitely made up for lost time when I was reunited with my darling Alyssa. Did I mention that we are engaged now and deeply in love? Just checking...! A special mention to my awesome best friends in Michael and Cathy Jennings, who made the trip up from Murwillumbah to be there for the finish.
Anyway back to our largest ever Smiddy huddle. A huddle so large that it circumnavigated the entire park. As it was impossible to link up the approximately 200 people in attendance I turned to plan B and implemented the Chuddle. My version of a huddle and cuddle combined. Smiddy lady riders were invited into the middle of Smiddy Park, followed by the road crew, followed by all the supporters and finally all the male Smiddy riders completed this amazingly tight packed sardine of humans in a radius no bigger than six-metres wide. Three cheers and three Smiddy, Smiddy, Smiddy chants were shared amongst the group. We then broke off and the road crew were thanked individually by Matt and presented with thank you gifts.

Closing words by Sharky
The riders did an amazing job out there on the road over the last three wonderful fulfilling days. Between them they raised a staggering amount that is closing in on $100,000. How lucky are we at Smiddy and the Mater Foundation? Let me assure you, bloody lucky! These fine individuals believe in us enough to raise these funds that the scientists at Mater Research rely on to continue their much needed research into melanoma, prostrate, ovarian and breast cancer treatment. A huge thank you to riders, road crew, family and donors and supporters of their chosen rider. On behalf of Smiling for Smiddy and the Mater Foundation we can never thank you enough but that won't stop us from trying!

Take care everyone and if you are keen to follow the Smiddy journey it is as easy as signing up to my blog site for automatic updates of my blogs from each event at www.marksharkysmoothy.blogspot.com or by going to the Smiddy Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/Smiling4Smiddy

My next blog will come from our next Smiddy adventure taking place in the Italian Dolomites July 1 to 8, where ten Smiddy riders will ride for 6 days up and over nearly 14,000 metres and 700 kilometres of terrain in the Italian Alps.

Cheers.

Sharky








Saturday 17 May 2014

2014 MIDI SMIDDY- DAY 2: OUR EASY DAY IS NOT EASY!


2014 Midi Smiddy - Day 2 report

Toowoomba to Warwick

Distance:157km's
Average: 25.7km/h
Climbing: 1017 metres
Desending: 1207 metres
Riding time: 6:07:00
Temp Min: 10 degrees
Temp Max: 24 degrees
Wind: Plenty of it either in our face or on the nose
Windmill Count 139 Game founder JL will be beside himself with excitement at this number.
White horse count 17
Road Kill count: Deleted due to lack of interest from our now sacked road kill counter Jess Geevsey.

Messages from love ones
Well last night I suggested to people reading this blog if they had any messages for their love ones that were riding the Midi to send them through to me to read out at tonight's function in Warwick. (Great short opening sentence hey? Notice lack of commas or full stops. Now go back and read that opening sentence and if you can do it in one breath then I owe you a glass of water.) Anyway the point is that lots of you responded, which excited me greatly for two reasons. 1. Because it actually means there is more people than my brother Terry reading my blogs. And 2. Your messages made a real impact on your love ones and will help get them through their big 220 kilometre day tomorrow. Keep them coming and I promise to read them out at our lunchtime break in Rosewood tomorrow.

The NOT easy day/Yellow room fever/First fall
So on with day two of the Midi Smiddy that saw our so called easy 160 kilometre day turn into a real challenge thanks to the cross or head winds that we experienced for all but the first 30 kilometres out of Toowoomba. Roll out was right on time at 7:00am and how lucky was the peloton to score such a mild start temperature of 12 degrees. The coolest thing about T/Bar is that it is situated atop a big mountain. All that climbing we done yesterday meant that the first 20 kilometres of riding we gradually lost altitude, meaning a downhill start and with a tailwind as an added bonus. The joy of this was soon lost as we came to our first 'yellow room' stop (a toilet intermission by the side of the road). A lapse in concentration and we had a rider down. Richard Wolfe had swerved to avoid another riders sudden braking and went down into a ditch on the side of the road. The end result a slight dislocation of his shoulder and in the van until further notice. Richard of course was bitterly disappointed but in his own quiet and mature manner, just accepted it as part of riding in a peloton and that shit sometimes happen.

Tour de France teams have nothing on Smiddy!
Prior to pushing off for the final 30 kilometres into Pittsworth Matt chatted to the group and reminded us of our responsibility to one another. The guys responded by riding like a well drilled professional cycling team and there was a noticeable uplift in the stronger riders doing their bit to help anyone who was struggling into the cross wind into Pittsworth.

Spoilt at Pittsworth
The stop at Pittsworth at the 60 kilometre mark for morning tea was organised by our local rider in Ian Corry, who's goal in 2014 is to complete both this Midi Smiddy and the full Challenge up to Townsville, and along the way raise in excess of $10,000! Ian has already, thanks to the amazing support from the Pittsworth community, raised $9,000. So as we rolled into Pittsworth Ian had arranged half a dozen school children on their bikes to lead the peloton down the main street of town and into Centenary Park. The kids were incredibly excited and held a fine pace to the park. It was there that the local Rotarians had come out in force to supply the riders with plenty of food and drinks for morning tea. A group photo for the local paper, then our little Smiddy school children ambassadors had a free rein to zinc each and every rider's face, a rousing three cheers for our Rotarian hosts and once again the Smiddy peloton was on the move for its next stop at Clifton for lunch.

Super six to the rescue and more food
The run into lunch was again into the cross wind scenario so ride leader, Captain Anna Tate and her lieutenants come up with a cunning plan to combat the elements and get the group safely into enemy territory, or in this case to our lunch stop at Clifton. A six man team continually rotated off the front, while the rest of the riders enjoyed the ride behind. The stronger riders were encouraged to ride on the left of the two abreast peloton, while everyone else on the right got the most protection from the wind. While it was hard going for all involved the plan worked brilliantly and all arrived safely in Clifton. Once again the road crew presented a gourmet of food for the riders, which was devoured in the glorious sunshine of a near perfect day for a picnic in the park. Smiddy rider, Melissa Crossman shared a lovely family moment over lunch in the Clifton Park as they all came out to support here, just as they did last year. The good news on roll out from lunch was that our old mate Richard Wolff was feeling well enough to rejoin the peloton for the final 60 kilometres into our finish at Warwick. Welcome back mate!

For the remainder of the Blog I am going to revert to my tried and trued method of:

Sharky's top ten highlights from today
1. Definitely number one was when Richard rejoined us at lunchtime. It is a big thing jumping back on the bike after a fall and I tip my hat to the big man.

2. Young Jessica Geeves, who really struggled yesterday, seeing her come back today and not only finish the entire 160 kilometre day, but that it was her longest ever ride to date. A mighty fine effort from this young and beautiful hearted 16 year old.

3.While on the Geevsey band wagon it would be remiss of me not to mention twins, Jack and Georgia Geeves, who both completed the full day yesterday, including the Upper, and then again today completed the full stage. The amazing thing is these guys are just 14 years of age. All the Geeves children are a delight to be around and without even knowing it, are an example for other teenagers to follow.

4.Sarah Collins is another 16 year old young lady from Rockhampton who confesses that track cycling and short efforts are more her forte. Well today she showed so much determination to complete her longest day ever and she deserves all the accolades of an Olympic champion.

5.The Young Guns! We are all so proud of our biggest Midi Smiddy field of youngest competitors and Sarah Casey, also from Rockhampton and at 16 years of age, struggled out there today as yesterdays efforts caught up to her, but she bravely fought on and completed her second full day. Sarah has also raised a staggering $6,000 for Smiddy and the Mater Foundation. An amazing achievement from someone so young. Tori Keating is another young lady from Rockhampton and one of the elders at an aging 18 years of age! Never one to give in and at times I saw her pushing her fellow Rocky mates. Yesterday she even cheekily pushed the big fella Michael Brady, who weighs in at 100 kg plus. Tori is that strong!

6.John Casey, our diligent and friendly volunteer photographer, was originally on board this journey to support his daughter Sarah Casey. It was noted by Smiddy staff that he had in his possession a very large camera and shoulder bag full of professional goodies. That was all it took and John was gently nudged into the role that our crazy South African mate Wybrand De-Toit did for the past 4 Midi Smiddy's. John is doing an awesome job and along with his lovely Wife Janelle are enjoying not only helping their daughter achieve her goal of completing this epic journey, but getting caught up in the whole Smiddy Spirit that eventually infects us all.

7.Tania Wolff is the wife of Richard and along with their son Ben, the Midi is definitely another family affair. Originally their other son Sam was meant to ride but two achilles injuries laid low those plans. Sam if you are reading this a huge thank you for organising the two Smiddy signed up cars from Lewellyn Motors in Ipswich. Tania is part of the official road crew and has been so helpful, not just to her husband and son, but to all the other riders and crew as well. She even helped to paint Ray 'Flatlander' Smith and I faces with three coloured zinc sticks at morning tea.

8.Today we were joined by a special guest Smiddy volunteer. This man was born to this world from the same womb that I was delivered from. This man is jolly. This man was trained today by the great Chris Geeves on how to be a lead car driver for the Smiddy peloton. This man learned his role so quickly that Geevsey handed over the reins of lead car driver for the final push into Warwick. This man did such a fine job that talk of sacking the Geeves man has secretly taken place. This man not only knows his stuff but if you were to ask him this question; "Doctor surely you can't be serious, please tell me what is it?" This man would respond with the following answer; "It is a big building with patients in it but that's not important right now, and please don't call me Shirley!" Finally this man would be my big brother Terry, 'Tez Man' Smoothy. In all seriousness Terry will be on board, along with my Sister Kay, as being part of the road crew for the Challenge event up to Townsville in September. Today was part of Tez Man's training.

9.Today after lunch we had a 15 kilometre 'expression session', or go at your own pace into Allora at 132 kilometres. About 25 riders decided to punish themselves into a strong headwind, while the rest of the group rolled in as per usual via Smiddy peloton style. Of that 25 a small group of six maniacs, that included myself, duked it out in fine style. I of course sat at the back and did absolutely nothing, as the remainder shared the workload out front. Meanwhile Tez Man and Brigit felt sorry for the riders in those nasty headwinds and pulled up two kilometres short of the finish. I could see Terry alighting from the vehicle heading for a bush toilet stop, while Brigit was opening up the back and getting the water ready for the thirsty riders. We proceeded to promptly rode straight past them. A quick look back and Tez Man zipped up his fly midstream, both back in the car and chasing us down. Window down and Brigit yelling out; "where is the finish?" I was trying not to vomit but managed to yell out; "T-Junction two kilometres." I was then ceremoniously dropped as the rest made a charge for the finish with line honours and boasting rights going to Chappy, Brocky Yates and Simon, your friendly plumber man.

10. Last but not least a big welcome to Jacinta Coman; yet another Midi Smiddy family affair with her Husband Mark competing in his second Midi event and Jacinta on board as part of the road crew. Jacinta, along with all the road crew, are just such a delight to behold and all the riders have been spoilt rotten these past two days and I can't see that changing for the final day tomorrow.

Spirit and team awards
Todays Spirit award goes to our one married couple doing the ride together in Sean and Robyn Lever. Sean has been on board every Smiddy Noosa Triathlon since 2010, has come in to this event with an injury that he told me would see him struggle to finish even the first day but has completed both days in their entirety. On top of that Sean and Robyn are fabulous fundraisers and both are just beautiful kind hearted people that would give you the shirts off their own backs. We are fortunate to have them as Smiddy ambassadors.

Sarah Collins, as mentioned above, today completed her longest ever day on a bike. Is a great fundraiser, loves a chat and has the ability to go on and finish the full challenge to Townsville. All this at just 16 years of age. Well she will be 17 if she does Challenge next year.

Steve Richards came to the Midi thanks to the enthusiasm of his Brother Brad, who has done many Smiddy events in the past and loves Smiddy with a passion. Steve is relatively new to cycling and although green he is willing and able to learn. Always the first to offer to help out in any and all situations, super friendly and all round nice guy that we would love to return as many times as Brad has in the past.

Warwick function rocks and rolls!
Warwick is always a big night for the riders and crew as we are given reign over the local Senior Citizens Community Centre. Tracy Vellacott from Warwick Tourism and Events has always been a huge supporter of Smiddy events since 2008 and supplies the hall and her sons front up the music for the night. Tracy a huge thank you once again for your continued support.

The night wrapped up after the Smiddy girls, Jess and Anna, delivered an amazing slide show of photos from the past two days of riding, which included supportive messages and photos from all the riders love ones. Rowan Foster made a surprise visit to act as the auction man and managed to succumb $506,00 out of Nicola Tabram for a framed and signed photo of the Midi riders. The team and spirit jerseys were handed out, all the messages love ones sent me today were read out by Jacinta, I read out my daily blog and our guest speakers tonight, Rob Caughey, Nicola Tabram and Emma Lendon all shared with us their passionate and sometimes tragic cancer related reasons for being part of team Smiddy.

The night wrapped up at 9:30pm and all retreated to their rooms with great haste as sleep beckoned. It will be a huge last day as I have said before with a 220 kilometre day ahead of them tomorrow.

Take care and look out for my day 3 blog hopefully on Sunday evening.

Cheers.

Sharky

Friday 16 May 2014

MIDI SMIDDY CHALLENGE - UPPER CONQUERED! DAY 1


2014 Midi Smiddy - Day 1 report

Brisbane to Toowoomba

Distance:207.3 km's
Average: 25 km/h
Max Speed: 72 km/h
Climbing: 2199 metres
Desending: 1557 metres
Riding time: 8hr 17min
Temp Min: Minus 14degrees
Temp Max: 25 degrees
Wind: Tailwind from Mt Walker, which was 90km into the tour. First ever in Midi history.
Road Kill by Jessy Geeves the Juniper Crusher: Possum:1 Rabbit:1 Roo: 2 Unknown:2
Windmills:18
White horses: 11

Midi Smiddy and adventures to come
Welcome to day one blog of the annual 2014 Midi Smiddy event. An epic 580 kilometre journey over three days that takes in the hilliest toughest route possible, travelling through such iconic and scenic country towns such as Rosewood, Grandchester, Laidley, Gatton and finally up the slug of a road called Upper Flagstone Creek Road to our day one destination in Toowoomba, or 'TBar' as the locals call it. I know after the riders climbed the 22% gradient of 'The Upper', after 190 kilometres in their legs, that they will be calling Toowoomba by a bunch of other names I can't print here!

Day two of the Midi Smiddy is a gentler day with a leisurely stroll of just 160 kilometres. Again the magic of these gorgeous country towns and the friendliness of the locals will keep the riders entertained and inspired to keep turning their trusty old pedals. Pittsworth for morning tea courtesy of the local Rotarians, Clifton for lunch courtesy of the road crew, then on to Allora and our finish into Warwick.

Day three is notorious for the single digit or minus temperatures out of Warwick as the 220 kilometre day warrants an early start of 5:30am. But once again the route is gorgeous as we travel back through Allora, on to Hirstglen, down the big ten-kilometre drop of the Great Dividing Range to Laidley, Rosewood, Ipswich, Springfield and finally back to Brisbane to finish in Adam Smiddy Park.

The send off from UQ
Well on day one, this Friday May 16, turned out to be a cracker of a day. The rain had fallen overnight and while the roads were wet there was no further sight of rain throughout the day. Roll out was from UQ Aquatic Centre at 5:50am; UQ have been long time supporters of Smiddy since 2006 when I first rolled out of the Uni with two friends and rode that first epic journey to Townsville. A huge thank you to Jae Marr and all the staff for letting us take over their pool surrounds for two hours this morning. Thank you also to all the family and friends who turned up to lend their support to the 53 slightly nervous riders and 14 amazingly helpful road crew members. Matthew Marshall from Smiddy did a great job in the speech department as I only saw 13 Smiddy riders fall asleep by the time he wrapped it up. Nice work there old son!

Jimmy the time trial specialist
The run into morning tea at 77 kilometres at Harrisville was pretty uneventful for the peloton except for one person. Jimmy Acomb, our trusty mechanic, who also rides but stops whenever there is a mechanical, had to tend to 1 legitimate Smiddy puncture that happened when the call went down the line "HOLE". Ray Smith heard the call and proceeded to head straight for it and BAM! Down went his front tyre, out came his water bottle, which went through half the peloton and miraculously no one hit it and came down. So a quick wheel change and Jimmy had Ray on the road and they timed trialled and were nearly back to the peloton when Kev made another puncture call. By this stage we were not even clear of the University. Jimmy pulls up to the rider and it was not even a Smiddy rider. So off he went on another time trial back to the peloton. Jimmy was nearly back on and call from Kev goes out for another puncture. Jimmy questions Kev; "Are you sure Kev?" Yes says Kev. So jimmy turns around and goes back to the person in need and once again it was a rogue cyclist. By this stage jimmy, had lost the peloton, as had Ray, both proceeding to go in 2 separate directions and get lost and time trials for a further 14 kilometres before they both find us again. Jimmy was just in time to help Jess, who's chain had come off on the first big climb on Centenary highway. Nice work Jimmy, love your dedication to time trialling! And to Kevvy with his kind heart who wanted to help everyone!

Fast forward to what really matters on day one of the Midi
Really no matter what happens on the road during day one of the Midi Smiddy, just does not really matter. The only thing on riders minds is what is at the end of the day. And that thing is called "The Upper." A climb designed by evil road engineers to inflict the most pain possible on unsuspecting cyclists. At a 22% gradient and a narrow road surface made of the roughest granite known to man, it is a climb that last year only 6 riders managed to climb, while the other 44 riders either fell off, walked, crawled or where eaten when the road simply just opened up and swallowed them and rounded off with a good burp! The climb is demonic and I had to combat this evil by coming up with a cunning Sharky-anti-demonic-cleansing poem. I anticipated that the riders would need every bit of help possible, so as part of my look-after-my-aging-and-fatigued-valuable-body plan, I rode the first 145 kilometres to lunch and proceeded to sit out the remaining 55 kilometres to Toowoomba.
It was a strange sight indeed seeing my bike placed on top of one of the cars on the bike rack. A few riders enquired did my legs get cut off accidentally by a chainsaw when I went to the toilets? You see when you have never done van time in 9 years of Smiddy events certain expectations are placed on ones shoulders. Anyway in the lead car I placed my skinny butt, and while enjoying the air-conditioned comfort of Geevseys 4WD I came up with the following poem.

Midi Smiddy riders and crew
You lot are a bloody select few.

Some old faces while many are new.
All of you though tough as nails, through and through!

Your journey to Toowoomba an arduous one.
One last bloody climb and it wont be fun!

The upper, I promise all of you, it will affect
Treat this sucker with a great deal of respect.

Now off you go you motley crew
Climb that bastard until you spew

It does not matter how you get to the top
Ride, walk, crawl, until you flop

Show that mongrel you are the boss
And that a 22% gradient you couldn't give a toss.

I am proud of you all that's for sure
Show that upper you can come back for more!

I'll see you all for the first huddle of the trip
But for now give that bloody mongrel bastard of a bitch, The Upper, some full hearted lip.

An afternoon tea we'll never forget
At afternoon tea, 175 kilometres into the ride, Matt officially introduced the road crew to all the riders. He then handed over to me and I invited the entire group to come in close and everyone had to hug; you all I know I love a good hug, especially with my sweetheart Alyssa Coe not by my side on this Smiddy adventure. Anyway I then proceeded to read out the poem with much gusto and even a few showers of sprayed saliva as my passion rose. The intention was to get all the riders revved up, inspired and scared shitless! It appeared to work as five minutes later when they rolled out it resembled a Grand Prix start and the entire peloton shattered within the first kilometre! And it was still 20 kilometres to the base of the climb! Even the support crew in their cars were gunning their engines and 'all revved up with no place to go' as they pushed off after the riders and couldn't get around them on the narrow roads.

Sharky reflects and why I am doing van time these days
So here I am now sitting in my hotel room tap, tap, tapping away. Wondering how my comrades on bikes are faring on The Upper. I feel a little guilty but at the same time I am proud of myself for doing the right thing by my sacred withering and aging body. I have smashed it for 9 years now completing each and every Smiddy event we have ever held and it is now my time to pay more respect to it. Hence my reason to not ride each and every stage of any Smiddy event I have done before. I suspect you, the riders, will understand. You know how hard just one Smiddy event a year is on the body and mind. I am super proud of this amazing Smiddy journey and I don't wish to stay so tired and fatigued that I can't continue to enjoy this incredible phenomena that is Smiddy.

Upper conquered and first time huddle guest speaker does us proud
So now the riders are back and the Upper has been conquered. The great Shepherd, Chappy, left his flock for the first time all day and was crowned the King of The Upper, while the great white Queen Anna Tate crested the top amongst the top ten mountain climbers. Now as I am sharing a room tonight with Chappy and Ray Smith I will never hear the end of it if I don't tell you that Ray 'Flatlander' Smith, who tells anyone that will listen that he can't climb, was second over the Upper. So now the stories are filtering through and the first huddle has taken place. Michael Brady from Rockhampton was given the honour of taking the first huddle due to not only being a top bloke but for his enthusiasum, Smiddy spirit and for encouraging so many from Rockhampton to join him on this tour. Spirits were incredibly high. The road crew were sensational in their organisation, friendliness and professionalism. The riders are amazing individuals, all pulling together as if a team that has been together for years. I could not be prouder of this motley lot. I am indeed one of the luckiest human beings alive, getting to not only spend time with my new mates but to form friendships that no length of time can ever diminish.

Spirit and team Jersey awards:
The team jersey went to David Lynch for not only 4 years of loyal Smiddy service but for his leadership all day today out on the road. Also his ability to inspire people to cook homemade stuff for the riders. The Spirit Jersey was awarded to Jason Andrews-Reid, the gentle giant who only took up cycling 8 months ago and today managed to complete his very first 200km ride.

Sharky's Mini Upper Conquered poem

The smiddy crew they climbed the upper
Got it done in time for supper

Over half the field tamed the beast
Tonight they celebrated with a feast
The tales are coming quick and fast
Legs smashed, breath aghast

Confidence now sky high
On wings our Smiddy riders fly

For they crested that bugger of a climb
Just so Sharky could do another poem that rhymes!

Hope you enjoyed my first blog of the Midi, tune in for more fun from the Smiddy peloton tomorrow.

Cheers,

Sharky

PS: If anyone reading this that has someone doing the Midi and would like to send them a special massage, I will read it to them in Warwick tomorrow. Send it to me at marksharkysmoothy@gmail.com