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When Sunday beckons, we all turn it on, there is Coco, Luke, Peter, Stu, Furniture and Tom. With Southey, Paul the Gardener, Brendan, John, Mark and Phil too, we all know the score with this Freedom coo. |  |
| It's an interesting group, a real mixture of friends, due to the age difference of all of these men. They all have their dramas, some more than the other, but there's only one aim and that's to beat one another. |  |
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The day begins slowly but soon gains some pace, you see there's three sprints to contest, at a frightening pace. They shuffle and scheme seeking out the best position, but usually it gets down to each riders disposition - first or last it really doesn't matter, but its better to be in the first group rather than the latter. |
| Let's now critique the riders and look at each one, as sickening as this sounds it might be great fun. We'll look at Stu first as he's put on this great feast and we'll analyse his arse which looks a bit like a beasts. He's 26, determined and goes like hell, on or off the bike he chases anything well. With his gluts working hard, dishing out a steady pace it's not a pretty sight behind when his arse is in your face. His hairs lately changed colour, reflecting a new mood, I wonder if it extends down all the way to his pubes. |  |
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Next there is the "ole fella", "furniture's" his name, voicing sceptical views is definitely his game. He'll tell you he's ageing quickly, regularly in fact, and he always seems to be injured and just hangs on the back. He yells many an opinion on a wide range of issues, I'm sure as hell glad I ain't his missus. |
| Then there's Mr Southey, this cheeky little man, he's very clean and tidy, with a bike so spic and span. He usually rides so carefully on the beach road drag, but finishes a blazing, always at the chequered flag. His quickness of feet and fast turn of pace, makes for a difficult sprint at the end of every race. |  |
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Then alas there's Mr Cameron, still improving out of sight but he hates the front of the peleton just as day hates night. You'll see him at the local crits, going hell for leather, abusing everybody there, left, right and centre. |
| Now John lately, is a man to behold, looking very tidy on his new hunk of gold. He rides it out so carefully on each Sunday morn, and we wonder what this man and steed relationship will sporn. He's a little unpredicatable 500 from the post, doing a lone wolf and going faster than most. This often causes chaos in the remaining bunch, as no one wants to do a turn until it comes to the crunch. |  |
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Then there's little Scotty, Coco if you dare who's form of late is outstanding, but we all pretend not to care. He's out in front much more now, giving it a shot, yes, we'll have to reassess his ranking in the Freedom lot. |
| A new addition to the team is an Audax man named Peter. Lately he has got so lean and is getting that much quicker. He likes to do a turn of pace regularly in fact, and yes sir, we don't complain nor tell him to come back. |  |
| Watch this space | With Luke on the Cannondale keen to share the pace, he often likes to lead it out, many stages in the race. He didn't do it this year but I know he'll be back to do the Alpine Classic in 2000, what a gas! |
| Now Brendan loves to climb his bike, but there is no bitumen at these sites, you see it's climbing stairs of the lookout tower that uses the strength of his quadricep power. The crew asks why this pair is there, at the top of 100 stairs, but no answer comes forth, and we still don't know why, Brendan and his steed are so keen to fly. |  e |
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Now Hastie's the old fart pretending to be classy, but his legs don't really do much now you know, anything that's lasting. Hopefully he's got them fooled and can ride on reputation, but we know what's round the corner soon, it's called rehabilitation. |
| Then there is a quiet man with an obvious lump, it does provide him liquid like a massive water pump. But this camel like habit does cost Phil some speed due to the extra weight it puts onto his trusted steed. | Watch this space |
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Now Adrian has retired with his new mechanical mate. His steeds laid to rest and his gut's twice the weight. His new mechanical flying friend, does it so much faster, forget turning the pedals now, just bring him lots of pasta. |
| Ah, the Freedom ride, what stories we can tell, we all are addicted under this two wheeler spell. Despite the ever changing world and unpredictable rides, life offers many things upon its ever changing tides. But there's one thing we can count on, which will definitely not change, and that's the shit hung on Joe Arena will always be the same. |
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| Getting ready to go | So when is the first sprint? | Soon . . . |
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| A very rare sight indeed; Tom and Adrian doing a turn |