Sat March 30^th;          We set off for Dead Horse Gap.  It is considerably colder today and everyone has their arm and leg warmers and jackets on.  This is a more undulating ride which makes it a bit easier for me to stay with the front bunch.  Even still it is really hard going up there and a few of us tail off and then have to fight back on again at various points of the ascent.  Chris White, The Slapper, Michael Murdoch and myself have trouble at various points but manage to fight back on. 

	We all go through Threadbo Villiage watching the perplexed look on spectators faces and imagining that we are riding through one of those little villiages we see in the Tour De France.
Well most of us get to Dead Horse and reckon that's enough. We are going to have a little bite to eat and then head back down. But then you have the maniacs who just have to do the "Hardest Climb in OZ"

So Clive, Joseph, Slapper, Spongey Jenkins, Robbie Cater, Matthew Lucas and Jay Collet go down the 22 kilometres down the other side of Dead Horse and then turn around and come back up. It was snowing at the top we are told by some Sydney riders who were coming back from the summit, Spongey gets nervous but when we get to the top the sun comes out and we all enjoy the beautiful 12 km the 6 km desents with a nice climd in the middle thrown in for good measure. The return is absolute madness, some of them are just able to make 8 kilometres per hour grinding away in  39/25 gear ratio.  Even Robbie Cater, KOM, has to stop on the first steep climb.  However we are not quiet sure why.  Maybe it was one of those Lance Armstrong type ploys, because when he gets back on his bike he goes past everyone and is not seen again. The rest of us suffer a thousand deaths and finally make it to the top. The slapper doesn’t even come last for a change and probably for the only time every he actually beats spongee Jay and Clive to the top (although spongee has been ill for a few weeks but slapper is not listening to excuses). Nearly as mad as the Cyclists are Pete's triathletes who after climbing the mountain for two hours go for a two hour run (1 hour out and 1 hour back).  Whitey and myself are not that stupid so we head down the mountain with various fledglings in tow such as Pita Vea and Andrew Young (both of whom rode brilliantly all weekend).  Half way down we find Mark Murdoch at the side of the road.  Mark had broken a chain and was this sickly blue colour and had rolled up in a ball.  Mark being new to the game hasn't purchased any arm or leg warmers, jackets etc yet.  Over a beer that night, Mark said to me, "You wouldn't miss this for quids!  To nearly die of exhaustion the first day then hypothermia the next." In spite of his near death experiences Mark really did have a great time.

News Flash!!! Its official Chris Jenkins and Robbyn Stanning are an item. No one can get a word out of them for the rest of the weekend!! Young Luv!!

Nightime News Flash!! Scotty, Joe and Clive have to dish out the rough stuff after the boys get a bit too big for their boots by stealing Scott's bike. Scott has to don his helmet and charge the boys room taking Mark and Thomas Murdoch prisoner for a pillow beating in the big boys room. The Murdochs exit via the window and return to their room for a well earned sleep.