Right here goes…
Blokes health, we are a bit shit at it. It’s being a long few years for me down here in Oz with a lot of stuff that has hit me hard.
https://au.movember.com/about/foundation
Of all the things on that list it’s Suicide that scares me the most, too many guys are departing early and I’d like to help change that. For a month I’m doing the lamest thing I can and growing a tache
Not an issue you say!

the beard has gone, on top of the main challenge I have to shave for a month! I mean WTF shaving is something I’ve mostly avoided for the last 9 years it’s going to cost me a load in razor blades!

But now we get to the actual challenge
https://au.movember.com/mospace/13392380
Road bikes…. and a long way up until now I’ve gone past 100km less times than I have fingers, the route is
https://moustacheriders.com/route/
https://www.strava.com/routes/5180751
201km
1755m of climbing
probably going to kill me!!

So all I ask is that if any advice I have given or if you laughed at a post then please drop a donation in the box. That nice little hint that saved you some cash – time to pay up! Recommended a travel destination or riding here on Oz come on 🙂

Disclaimer – all parts of the ride funding and organisation along with buying the fancy italian lycra came from my pocket!
Some training pics
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NMKSq1]Little stop for a bit of a view[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NMKVrw]It of warmth before heading back south[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
Tache Day 1
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NtF8DF]Another one on the post work albums[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
[url=https://flic.kr/p/MGfbE1]Late sun[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr

and yes for the record I did get a bit n+1 for the thing and got a new road bike…

we need pics of the mo!

It’s coming along, only been 5 days
**Trying a signature out**
For Movember https://au.movember.com/mospace/13392380 Much appreciated

Small donation for the frankly rubbish Mo! pics at the end of the month with a fully hairy caterpillar on your lip gets you another!

Cheers TJ, been feeding and watering it all weekend

IO have 5 days worth of not shaving. Just trying to pluck up the courage to trim it to a mo, dunno if I can. Its both a pathetic mo and really dodgy shape!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/NTduim]Slot Mo Start https://au.movember.com/mospace/13392380%5B/url%5D by Mike Smith, on Flickr

Update time!!
Some shitty weather and some over zealous beer related fun may have slightly derailed training so got up and needed to prove to myself it was all going to be fine…
The weather obliged a little too much
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PcwJqS]View is OK I suppose[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
Threw some gravel in just to make it harder
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NaJeGC]Doing the #hardyards #tassieheatwave[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
Was good to see the end of that bit
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Pqg9Wn]#mobro #mosis last minute training[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
Some very serious Ice Cream was needed as we nudged up to 28c today
And after a little experimentation the Mo has shaped
[url=https://flic.kr/p/PcLbxL]What’s next….[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
The traditional handle bar it is!!
Ride is in a week now so a couple of gentle spins out and off we go, target is 8hrs
https://www.strava.com/activities/780404658/analysis
I’m putting the 202 on the HR down to the 4ft tiger snake by the side of the road, not sure if it was sleepy or passed on but not keen to find out

Geez, Mike – that last pic!

From some of your posts on this forum I thought maybe you were quite the athlete but mate… you have more Smiths than a UK phone book.

Uh, no… that’s not right…

😛

dodgy mo dude

OK time for the report…
Firstly many thanks for the donations guys, every little helps and it was good to know I’d taken money off people as the KM’s stacked up it really did keep me going (that and the gels).
The team has hit it’s target and through a few different events are must short of $110,000 raised. Quite an achievement and taking 2nd place nationally so far.
There were a couple of little extras in the rider pack
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NkQ3uz]Final touches applied[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
As for the day logistics meant a 5:30 pick up so a quick chance of seeing sunrise
[url=https://flic.kr/p/NmTDrg]Lets get this mo on the road #movember http://mobro.co/13392380%5B/url%5D by Mike Smith, on Flickr

The start was a little chilly

Bit of time for a warm up (to avoid standing around in the cold)

and I think we can all say Rapha would be proud of the this one 🙂


The easy first 30km was into headwinds, once we got out of those we hit the open planes for some cross winds which meant the group kept getting split up and lots of big efforts to stay together. Pace was high as we had a deadline to make for our Police escort for the last 30km.
Lots of up, lots of down and a lot of good spirits despite the end had us rolling into town just over 8hrs after we left, hitting an average of 28kph which is a fair bit over my solo 100km pace which may explain why the tank was empty!!

The feeling of finishing was hard to beat though, a hell of a day way out of my comfort zone on the skinny wheels surrounded by roadies and probably the hardest day I’ve done on a bike
[url=https://flic.kr/p/P3zRHU]And done! He'll of a day and lots of mo cash in the bank[/url] by Mike Smith, on Flickr
Heaps more pics here
https://www.facebook.com/pg/tourdemo/photos/?tab=album&album_id=331544473879291

Done.

And well done too!