ride report by peter

the redbull air race forced us to move up the road a bit this morning as they had commandeered our carpark.  generally this is not a problem, but there are a few people that do drive to the start and i didn’t want to make it too difficult for people to get to the ride.  also, the road blocks will be more extensive tomorrow and start at 6am so i had to make sure we could still get access for the hills ride.  by the time i rolled up the majority of the group was lurking outside the south perth senior citizens centre.  i know that this is not a young group, but i didn’t think we needed to sign up just yet.

as i was giving the morning spiel about the ride route, i was rudely interrupted by someone’s mobile phone.  it was mine, with lorraine asking us to wait as she was stuck in the redbull restricted area and was getting an escort from two burly austrian  security guards.  i asked the group if we should wait and someone suggested that we could if she was bringing brownies.  since she provided us with brownies and coke at the last cyclo-sportif, i was sure we could wait a couple of minutes. 

the change in venue didn’t seem to affect numbers as we had around 40 roll out from angelo st.  we picked up mike on douglas and doug on great eastern as we headed towards guilford.  the wind was not that pleasant, but i have definitely survived worse heading along helena valley rd, and the group stayed together well.  i was sitting well back once we hit ridgehill rd and was never in the hunt for king of the mountain points.  i was taking it easy for a while but as the field thinned out i found that i had room to accelerate around the slower riders.  i got to the top with paul, jules and dr mark but then waited for the back markers to make sure we had everyone when we jumped onto kalamunda rd.  dr carl was in struggle town today after over a month of trekking in nepal with simon.  different diet and different muscle groups while over there meant that it will be a long hard road back to full bike fitness.  i said that it was probably the lower altitude air was creating too much resistance for him.  good to see him straight back on the bike though.

we cruised though to guilford and created a bit of a mobile road block along parts of kalmunda rd which would have made traffic happy (but safer for us).  once we hit the lights at lord st in bassendean, i announced that it was all on for rest of the way back to the city.  christophe said that i should lead the way, but i said that i was hanging back to help the stragglers.  he volunteered so i headed off, but luckily not at the front.

the pace picked up almost straight away with little breaks getting a few metres up the road before being brought back by a concerted effort or a lucky traffic light.  i was just sitting in, but managed to move forward after we crossed under tonkin hwy.  about half way up the first of the rolling hills, ben made a move and ryan took off after him with jerry.  i managed to get around the rest of the group and eventually jumped on the back.  we held it together for a while before we were pinned down by the traffic lights which allowed the rest of the group to rejoin.  ryan and i just set tempo after that as it seemed that that was the end of our escapades. mike had a different idea and too off on the next rise.  i didn’t react straight away as i wanted a few more wheels to follow as i was feeling like i needed so recovery time.  after  about 5 or so riders had come past i gave chase and jumped on the wheel.  i managed to come around them and catch up with ryan and mike just as they had the lights change at the turn to east parade.

the majority of the group headed along the last stretch into the city and the last attack was on the hill near the police station.  ryan was boxed in next to me and we waited till halfway up the hill before attacking together and gapping the group.  the traffic lights soon paid heed to any break as did the road block as we approached riverside drive.  the old guy manning the detour said that the cops went off a the last group of cyclists so i forced the group onto the bike path for the remainder of the ride.  jules and his brother dan took the road and sprinted it out, but the rest of us took the more dangerous route along the path with all the tourists trying to walk and look at planes at the same time.

the coffee shop was full as expected but we managed to squeeze in and take up most of the outdoor tables.  they actually had them set up ready for us, which was a complete contrast to last year where they told us off for moving them.  service was slow as they were so busy, so i had to forego the hot choc that i had bought as i was on the clock today.  another hour and a half of riding the mountain bike with ben on the front to watch the pre-redbull entertainment was to follow.  it was all going fine until the f18 came past and was so loud it scared the crap out of him and he wanted to get back on the bike and go home.  the rest of the arvo was spent cleaning the bike and adding a bit of bling to it.  i managed to weigh it in as i missed out at the breakfast and i have finally got it below the 8kg mark to come in at 7.98kg.  no cheating involved and it still had the computer mount, seat bag clip and two bidon cages on.  dr paul said the the new wheels should be ready by next weekend, so hopefully i can shed a few hundred more grams.  still a long way off competing with the cervelos in the group though.