Team Introductions

In order to put faces to names and provide some brief insight into the cycling pedegree of those on the trip, I've put together the following with the assistance of Borzi's creative writing skills. Aside from being a more than competent bike rider and triathlete, Borzi is also an extremely funny guy. Funny in all things, with the exception of his write-up of me it would seem...

So, in no particular order, let me introduce everyone:

John Borzi, 46:  As a bike-rider, John is excellent at purchasing new equipment and arriving between 2-5 minutes late for every ride.  This is mostly  because he has been drinking the night before and still seems surprised that it is hard to wake-up after only three or four hours sleep.    John is more competitive than skilled and has trained possibly more than anyone.  He has done quite a few triathalons  and long format rides and really should be a better than he is.  John will hang-on to the lead pack for only a short while, unless Chris Lynch shows any chink in his armour.  Borzi, who is an unlikely 2 from 2 over Chris (mainly due to massive health and jet-lag issues) could possibly blow himself up trying to beat Chris just the once.  Being the first up any hill is highly unlikely.  John will be only just in front of Tony, who might offer him a lift in the van.      

Darryl Galpin, age unknown:  Almost no-one knows Darryl, apart from Dave, who likewise, only knows a few of the team travelling to Italy.  This of course make writing about Darryl almost impossible.  By the time we hit the Dolomites, we will know if spending 16 hours together for almost two weeks is a good decision.  As I say, any friend of Troy's, who is a friend of Dazz's, who is a friend of Tony's, who is a friend of Dave's, who knows Darryl, is a friend of mine.  We can't sledge Darryl too much for fear he can't take it, so please await further blog announcements.  If we say really nice things about Darryl, you know its going badly. Looking at Darryl's photo below, we can only hope his track racing pedegree (and massive legs) will keep him back with the rest of the pack on the hills.

Dave Walker, age unknown:  Coach to biking's elite and famous.  He has a strict and disciplined approach to preparation and we suspect will be in a league of is own.  As he is Tasmanian, we don't know if that league is in any way connected to our league – or time zone for that matter.   Dave could turn up and embarrass us all.  Then again, he might look, ride and drink like his name sake and fellow Tasmanian, David Boon.  Only a few in the group know Dave, and each time they try to explain him to the rest, no-one is the wiser.   He could be the dark horse of the group – then again he might not be.  

Darren McCullum, 42 :  Biking pedigree, biking-riding frame, long-format bike-riding history.  Dazz has it all.  The 'postman', whilst almost always faultless on the pedals, has had a disrupted training program over the last month.  The weight of expectation to lead this mighty pack, might have played on his mind and caused him to go on holiday twice and get a migraine during the all important lead-up weeks.  No doubt he will 'deliver' again and again as he has too many miles in those chicken legs of his.  Naturally bald, Darren has perhaps taken the shave-down thing a little far.   

Graeme Lynch, 49?:  Another former ironman, at best Greame has had an unusual preparation.  His two weeks on, two weeks off, training regime, is as alarming as it is unstructured.  Deciding on the day, how long he will ride, Graeme has been known to ride 200 kilometres with one drink bottle and a mars bar.  His mind and body resemble that of a 'bull'.  His will-power will drive him to stay with the lead pack for most of each day.  Eventually his 93 kilograms will take its toll and thus he will most likely ride an additional 100 kilometres each day until he can stay with the lead pack.  

Chris Lynch, 46? :  Former ironman with vast experience riding European alps.  Travelling from the U.S. to meet the group, his sinewy, muscly frame is purpose-built for riding-up long and steep sections.  Chris is prone to foxing.  He is somewhat fixated on underestimating his preparedness for this event.  His weakness is an unexplainable inability to beat much heavier, less-qualified and prepared riders, up hills. Borzi, for example, seems to have him spooked.  The 'match-play' scenario in Italy will not play well into his riding style.  That said, he will be comfortably sit in the lead pack – if he can overcome his fragile mental state when riding with the sports 'heavyweights'.   

Tony Halfhide, 55.  Having to overcome an extremely average name for his entire life, Halfhide is well prepared for the his trip to Italy.  Built for downhill sections Tony's preparation has been almost exclusively mental.  When he has ridden, he has managed his cadence around a maximum allowable heart-rate.  This strategy has been fine under Australian conditions.  The only question remains: will 150 beats per minute allow him to cycle up any hill in the Dolomites.  As a loud talker and self-proclaimed local colourful identity, it is a blessing that Tony is underprepared for the journey.  Tony is also an extremely good van driver, with experience on the other side of the road.  That's Tony on the right:

Mark Hirst, old. (that's him above and on the left, cuddling Tony. What are they laughing about..?)  Mark is a professor of some note, so distinguishes himself from the other group members, based on intellect alone.  A measure of his intelligence is that fact that he will only be riding the flat areas around Lake Como.  Without doubt, Mark can ride, he simply chooses to do it on his own terms among the most breathtaking views in all of Europe.  He has called on all of his experience to stay in Como while the rest of the group punishes themselves for another week in the Italian Alps.  It feels odd to sledge a guy who has a better plan than we have, so we wont.       

Troy Cairns, 46, joins the group as an avid and experienced bike rider.  Built like a bike-rider, Troy enjoys maximum results from frankly, very little effort.  This means that his extensive 3 month training regime has made him practically unbeatable up hills.  Losing a few 'much needed' kilograms in the lead-up to the event will ensure he will be in the lead pack, up most hills.  His loss of weight and curious nature  however, might effect him in the bars.  Any time spent with Tony in the evenings could cause damage to his hearing, dress sense or foreign language skills.  A real watch out for Troy, but if he can stay off the piss, he should hurt less than others up the hills of Italy.



This trip is not designed to be a race as such but, as Borzi says, "if there's two of us, its a race!"

Departure date - 17th May 2012...