A legend leaves Hong Kong - Justin Baldacchino farewell ride, Saturday 15th September

[Sheel Kohli]

I am very sad to report that a true cycling legend of Hong Kong will be leaving our shores next week to return to Melbourne.

Some know him as JB, others as Scooter. His mum calls him Justin, and no-one can pronounce his surname!

Fiercely competiive - he is top 10 ten on most if not all of the hills on Hong Kong Island and some further afield. He is the first person - and there is only one other at the moment - to have won the Dragons King of the Mountains trophy for two consecutive years. He went through a phase last year of riding 100 miles every weekend, but on the island, with elevation regularly closing in on 3000m and involved multiple circuits of Shek O Road and Redhill.

He has been a stalwart Dragon and has ridden with the Dragons every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for more than five years! He is also one of the original Project852 racers, competing at Chiang Mai, Bintan and Matabungkay, as well as of course the local HK racing scene back in the day, and has a glittering palmares.

However, he is absolutely petrified of wet roads, and refuses to go out on them. At least on one occasion I have seen him crash into a wall he has been riding next to (don’t ask me how) or skid off the road on a roundabout. Also at 6 foot 3 he is a little uncoordinated, and has the fastest cadence you are ever likely to see, but he also has the longest arms in the Peloton, and when we are looking for the big group selfie shot, it is to Justin that we entrust all the photo taking. He also has a secret love affair going on at Lulus. We cannot tell whether this love affair is with Lulu herself, or with Yoyo or with all the staff at the cafe. However - everyone smiles broadly and winks knowingly whenever he rides into town!

So to give him a proper send off and bid him farewell, we will be doing a trademark JB 100 mile ride on Saturday! Two main pick up points will be:

0530 Sinopec, 9 Kennedy Road
0630 Sinopec, Wong Nai Chung Gap Road (next to HK Cricket Club)

We will start at 0530 at Sinopec in Kennedy Road, heading towards midlevels, Pok Fu Lam Road, Mount Davis Road, Victoria Road, before going into Aberdeen and then climbing up Repulse Bay to be at Sinopec at Wong Nai Chung Gap Road at 0630. From there we will likely do a Peak, Butler, Sinopec (again), South Bay, Cheung How Kok, Stanley Fort, Redhill, Tai Tam, 3 Ds, Shek O (Breakfast at Lulus) and then we will see where we are up to on mileage.

All are very welcome to join for all or just part of the ride. Even if you just want to blow him a kiss good bye.

The pace will be friendly and don’t tell Justin but breakfast is on him at Shek O!!

Hope to see as many of you as possible on Saturday (unless of course you are doing the Dragons summer series)


Sheel

[Paul Wright]

Has Lulu been warned? Is it ‘Justin’s’ all round for breakfast?

What time and in what direction with the PFL peloton be leaving from Bisney Rd firestation to get to Kennedy Rd for 5.30?

Paul

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[Sheel Kohli]

Lulu is in for a big surprise and if you can stomach a ‘Justin’ mega breakfast after all that , then go for it !

Will be leaving Bisney at 510 to get to the first Sinopec stop

[Paul Redmayne-Mourad]

Hear hear.  

Not only is he a Dragon, a Sir and a formidable force on the Island, I think everyone on this group would agree he also embodies something of a C U NT (Cycling Union New Territories) rider, as he holds a number of impressive cups over this side of the harbour too. 

After the 630 Sinopec and for the sake of us Dark Side C U NTs heading over, the first train only allows us to be at Sinopec for 645, so is the plan to head straight up the Peak ? Should I/we just head straight up the Peak and catch you on the way down? 

Cheers. 

 

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018 at 13:37, Sheel Kohli <sheel...@gmail.com> wrote:

I am very sad to report that a true cycling legend of Hong Kong will be leaving our shores next week to return to Melbourne.

Some know him as JB, others as Scooter. His mum calls hJustin, and no-one can pronounce his surname!

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[Sheel Kohli]

Ahem - thanks Redders - nice to know that the CRUDE (Crusty Rude and Dodgy Elements) of the Peloton are also planning to join us. Yes - see you on the Peak on the way up or down)! 

[Benjamin Darde]

Hi there!
I'll join you guys at Sinopec at 5.30 (or 6.30 depending how tonight goes... 😋)
See you

[Paul Wright]

Will try to join you or catch you on the way (via Sassoon)

P

Sent from my iPhone

[anthon...@gmail.com]

Can’t resist free mega breakfast at Lulu’s, I will join at 0530 Sinopec Kennedy Road.

[Vivek Varadarajan]

ill join for 630 at the cricket club

[Trott, Julian]

Alan Casey and I will join 6.30 at CC

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From: hk-drag...@googlegroups.com <hk-drag...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Vivek Varadarajan <vivek.var...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2018 1:51:22 PM

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[Rupert Griffiths]

Jane and I will be waiting for the Justin train at approx 5:45 at top of Mt Davis. 

-- Sent from my iphone.