Since announcing his win a few weeks ago, Adrian Tesoriero has been in hiding … too excited to venture out in public … and struggling to live with a face that knows only how to smile.

The bike has had the new Dura-Ace D12 electronic shifting gear installed. “This will sort them out” says Adrian … “I am going to look hot on this thing … just look how well it goes with my Rode Duivels Team Lycra”.

(Pictured left Ollie Martyna from Bike Bug North Sydney and Adrian Tesoriero during bike set up).

“The revolutionary Dura-Ace Di2 electronic shifting option with SEIS (Shimano Electronic Intelligent System) takes the already superior Shimano shifting performance to a whole new level never seen before. The increased accuracy, smoothness and reliability of electronic shifting makes gear changes faster and virtually eliminates missed shifts.” says Durace Australia

The question for all of us will be:

1. will this new toy make Adrian faster on and off the road ?
2. will the technology grant Adrian the ability to win one of our much coveted competition jersey’s ? OR
3. will the new bike simply allow Adrian to brag about having the latest and greatest bike on the road ?

Only time will tell … but from where I stand, Adrian is (thanks to Bike Bug) the happiest bloke on 2 wheels … and if that is where Adrian’s dream was to finish, he would still be a winner.

Congratulations mate … a great bike has gone to a great bloke and at a great home. Enjoy the new toy and I look forward to seeing you on the road … out in front … and driving the peloton until the cows come home.

Kent Williams
Director Entoure

Adrian Tesoriero has been riding with entoure since we commenced in 2008 and has in that time developed (with the help of some mates) his own team brand called, the Rode Duivels.

Adrian has brought riders to the network, raised a considerable sum of money for the Day of Difference Foundation and been an integral part of the entoure team. But, a search through the entoure gallery shows Adrian as  a man who dreams … a ponderer … a deep thinker … one doesn’t stand with a face like this without having a good reason. Is it possible Adrian knew then what we all know now ? Was he dreaming then of taking home the Argon 18 Gallium Pro ? In Adrian’s own words he says “I tell you what, I can hardly sleep at night just hanging to get the new wheels. The digital gears are going to be gold dust”

Congratulations mate … I can’t wait to see you on the road on your new machine.

Kent Williams
Director Entoure

More and more I see people having less and less time to be polite. I see drivers and riders fighting for road ownership; each one thinking they own the road; and I see drivers thinking cyclists are nothing more than a nuisance; a cause for being late; and an excuse to behave badly and a reason to make poor decisions.

What often gets mentioned when it comes to a solution is:

1. licenses for cyclists, and
2. cycle ways

But what rarely, if ever, get’s discussed as a solution is:

1. COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION.

Is it just me that thinks this could be the solution ?

Giving cyclists a license and or getting them onto cycle ways will do little to improve rider / driver relationships. Will do little to increase tolerance levels between those who “share” the road. I believe the solution to the problem is simple … but it will take a quantum shift in thinking and tolerance from both sides of the fence. The road is there to share … but how do we share it when those who use the road have run out of patience with each other ?

The Communication Revolution

1. Integrate cycle awareness into schools and driver licensing tests,
2. Develop a consistent communication platform for cyclists,
3. Educate and test cyclists online … as part of their membership to say Bicycle NSW,
4. Roll out an education platform across cycle clubs and communities,  and
5. Test and educate drivers to ensure the cyclists communication platform is understood

Cyclists already have a range of signals that alert other cyclists to:

1. slow riders ahead,
2. holes on the road,
3. park cars, etc etc

But not all cyclists are consistent with the signals, controlling lanes and communicating and or warning vehicles. Whilst cyclists have a communication platform of sorts, a far more rigid set of signals needs to be introduced and in my view, shared across all road users. If we want harmony on the roads and respect between cyclists and drivers, better communication and education is key. Like any relationship … if you fail to communicate … you fail the relationship.

So whilst the debate continues:

1. ride smart,
2. spend a bit of time understanding each others signals,
3. set some rules that you will all abide from,
4. respect the road rules,
5. give some thought to the driver behind you who has no idea what’s in your head,
6. do whatever you can to ensure they (the drivers) are better informed and able to make better choices,
7. thank them (the drivers) when they make a good choice,
8. don’t get aggressive when they (the drivers) make a poor choice, and
9. don’t allow or encourage them (the drivers) to make a bad choice

A Final Thought

Why is it that ?

A driver won’t overtake another car on a roundabout and / or across double yellow lines that is for some reason traveling at say 30 or 40 ks an hour ? But they will happily overtake a bike rider under the exact same conditions ?

Answer ?

1. Is it the fact that the driver sees so much spare road between the bike rider/s that they just have to take it ?
2. If bike riders had backsides as wide as the rear of a car … would drivers still overtake them ?

I think the road can at times be compared to a badly proportioned birthday cake … too many people wanting a slice and no rules on who should get what slice first.

Safe miles.

Kent Williams

Director Entoure

Some riders need no training …. some riders need a plan …. and some riders need help.

Ergo Trainers

I recently purchased a TACX Bushido ergo trainer and for those of you who are time poor and don’t know much about these, I highly recommend you look to purchase something like this if getting out on the road is just not working for you. One hour on one of these is like 2 + hours on the bike. There is no where to hide and no free wheeling.

The Bushido is the newest Ergotrainer by Tacx and if you listen to them, by far the most advanced available today. The Bushido is entirely wireless and therefore requires no mains allowing you to ride it indoors or out. It comes with a handlebar-mounted computer showing you all the necessary information (power, heart rate, cadence, speed, time, watts etc). Operation is easy; and the choices of route options is vast. I have had the unit for a few weeks now and intend to do the bulk of my tour training in my backyard with my dog by my side.

Road Rides

But with all that said, time on the road with friends can’t be under valued. Equally, riding in a peloton before the tour is essential.

For Peloton Etiquette and Rider Rules for the tour, click here.

For a look at our Training Rides, click here.

Safe Miles

Kent Williams

Director Entoure

Riders will shortly receive a newsletter, advising that our new website is live and ready for action. With the launch of our new website, it is important all riders and donors keen to receive newsletters and to stay engaged, REGISTER FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS by clicking on the button identified in the newsletter and / or registering for our newsletters via our website.

This tour we are expecting around 60 + riders across 6 or so teams.

The teams so far include:

1. Primatec
2. Lend Lease
3. MacMil
4. McGrath
5. Rode Duivels
6. Propel

Make sure you do the following:

1. Register and secure yourself a spot,
2. Nominate a team Captain and have them log in and establish a Team Page,
3. Link yourself to the team page,
4. Dust off your bike, and
5. Giddy Up

To learn how to use the site download our user manual.

Tony Abbott is coming

Tony Abbott, the new leader of the opposition, is expected to ride on the 2nd day of the tour. Tony has been a big supporter of the Day of Difference and as we all know, a very keen cyclist. It will be a pleasure to have him along and I look forward to sitting next to him in the peloton and chatting about life.

Training Rides

I look forward to seeing you all on the road soon and will shortly announce our training ride schedule.Stay tuned.

Safe Miles.

Kent Williams

Entoure Director

An important change this tour however, is the rebuild of our new and improved website and the ability for riders to take control of their fundraising and to better engage their communities in what they are doing. The site has been streamlined for both riders and donors and is scheduled to go live tomorrow March 4, 2010. Congratulations to the team at Websalad and I hope everyone who uses our website enjoys what has been created and the increased levels of functionality now on offer.

To the riders soon to register for the 2010 Hunter Valley event ….. WELCOME.

Spend a bit of time to:

• learn about the website,
• download the user manual from the newsletter that will issue to you tomorrow,
• register for the event
• establish your hero page
• create a team page
• link your riders
• dust off your bike, and
• get ready to start your journey that will save kids lives.

Safe miles.

Kent Williams

Director Entoure