ride report by peter.
after the downpour we had on thursday, i was looking forward to a nice ride this morning and the weather, at least, didn’t disappoint. a bit chilly first thing, but with the predicted max of 20 and not a cloud in the sky, it was not going to take long for the day to warm up. the sun is getting up earlier as well which is making the ride to the start easier… until daylight savings comes along again. thanks for letting us vote on that one.
there was already a fine contingent of riders waiting by the time i arrived (fashionably late) but the numbers swelled to over 50 once we started. the course was an old favorite and was a good one for testing your legs over rolling hills at speed. today would contain three sprint sections with regroups afterwards. a section on scarborough beach road, one on west coast highway and the final one taking in the home run through dalkeith and mounts bay road. the course was set, announcements made and we were set to go. not quite. judd had a flat tyre. a five minute wait allowed even more riders to arrive a bit late to swell the numbers more.
as we rolled out to cross the causeway, we picked up a couple more riders and i am sure we were at about 60 strong by now. it was a gentle cruise along mounts bay and up the hill around kings park. i can remember not long ago we used to start the smashfest about now. someone was always willing to go hard along mounts bay even though it was only the start of the ride. now we were more relaxed and it allowed a bit of social time.
the group managed to get caught and split at a number of traffic lights as was expected when we get it above abut 30 riders, but pretty soon we were on scarborough beach road heading towards the coast. as we approached the sprint section, i was on the front with michael and we were discussing what landmark we need to pick as the start. there are a number of shops along the roadside and i was hoping for something memorable, like the adultshop.com, but the fast section starts at the lights by bunnings. something i will have to remember for next time in the pre-ride briefing. so we were off.
michael and i pulled off the front and let the boys have their head of steam. i drifted back into the pack but may have gone too far as gaps started to appear. i made a move to get back into the front pack and sat in the back while the pace increased. we rolled over the first hill and the group was still quite large as everyone got into a aero-tuck on the descent. we lucked out the lights and managed to get through unscathed and approached the next rolling hill. these are all power climbs and they are pretty much uphill sprints.
as we got about halfway up the next hill i jumped from the back of the group and started coming around the outside to try to make it to the front. ryan also made a move from midway through the pack and the timing was impeccable as we both hit the front with me tucked into his wheel. we crested the hill with a gap on the group and ryan kept the power on during the descent. i was content to sit in as my heart-rate was pretty much peaking by this point. we came up to the final hill and i couldn’t hold his wheel as he applied the pressure again. the group then swept me up as we crested and rolled into scarborough beach. we turned the corner and pulled up on the side of he road to regroup. there were a lot of panting riders and i could feel the blood pumping through my head.
the good regroup allowed everyone back on before we headed off down west coast highway. we took it pretty easy and generally stuck together until the small rise coming towards oceanic drive. the group had already started to splinter as we crossed the intersection which indicated the start of the next sprint section.
nick was driving the group hard and the first ten or so riders had already strung out. john was in front of me but there was no-one in front of him so he was coping the full brunt of the wind and pulled into the line. “bugger this” i thought and powered around the group and past nicj who was still pushing hard. i held the front for a while before james came around to lend a hand. we had cleared the first rolling hill and i came around again to do another turn. on the final rise the whole group (whatever remained) came barreling past and left me to fend for myself with the other dropped riders. most of us managed to catch up at the turn into swanbourne.
as i was too far back, i couldn’t get the group to stop for a proper regroup, but the pace slowed significantly as we rolled towards claremont. by the time we crossed stirling highway, i would estimate that we were probably down to 30 riders with the others still playing catch up. but the pace was on again as soon as the lights changed.
as we scooted up through the first hill into dalkeith, i looked up the road to see steve and doug had broken away and had quite a good gap on the chasers. a lack of real coordination on the chasers part meant that they stayed away till after the left hander into jutland parade. a number of the guys were doing work on the front to force the pace, but most were waiting till the final undulating climbs on birdwood before showing their hand. when it came i think jerry was on the front, but i saw ryan pull out and around as well as jens made his move. i was content to sit on wheel and watch everyone else try to match the pace at the front.
as we rolled past steves and onto the uni, we picked up young nick who was out riding by himself. he used to go on the other south perth ride, but was by himself today. i chatted to him a bit and told him what the go was for the final run along mounts bay. he was heading that way so was keen to join in.
we didn’t have to wait for the lights at mounts bay and started the final run with some speed. i got trapped on the left hand side and just had to sit and watch as guys made moves to get to the front while big nick pushed the pace along. as we got closer and closer to the swan brewery, i didn’t think that i would ever get out when a gap appeared and i indicated that i was moving. it was a bit early, but i was committed now so checked the right lane and started my run around the group. judd and another rider had already broken free by the time i got to the front and i was chasing to get onto them. as i started to fade a couple of riders moved around and it turned out to be young nick with ryan in tow. they shot up the road and i resigned myself to just getting home. event this was interrupted as a bus pulled out and slowed the rest of the group down. we then had trouble getting into the right hand lane to take the turn to the coffee-shop as there was a long line of traffic to negotiate first. but we got there in the end.
the rest of the group dribbled in and we managed to take over the café again. this won’t be a problem next week as we will be having our second group breakfast at my place. for $10 you get food, coffee, raffle prizes and a chance to reweigh the bike to account for any modifications you might have made. if you are coming please let us know (southperthrouleurs@hotmail.com) so we have an idea of numbers for the catering. thanks.