By Russell

As birthday boy I get to write the ride report and pay for coffee.  This is my oppourtunity to cross the line first – irrespective of where i actually came in the sprint. Those who write the minutes of meetings know that you can twist the record of the meeting to suit your purpose! 

I knew about the committment to buy coffee for those I beat home, as I had made it, but being ‘volunteered’ to write the ride report after the ride meant that I did not pay attention to all the normal details that Peter ususally gets in.   

The ride around the river in my view is a 5 star rides and one that really showcases our Perth waters.  You cannot do a decent river ride in Melbourne, Adelaide and many other cities – but Perth is absolutely made for it.  My recollection was that we kicked off with about 40 or 50 riders from South Perth after the pep talk from Peter including the acknowledgement of my impending 50th Birthday and the ‘lead out’ that was going to be set up.  We were going to ride the route (almost exactly) of the Perth Bike ride (this weekend?) and it was to include the steep pinch in Mosman Park. Fast sections were to be up the hill to the water tower and then along Burke Drive and the sprint home.

Everybody rolled out and was well behaved all along Mounts Bay road and through the leafy suburbs of Nedlands and Dalkeith.  Perth waters were like a millpond – a sensational day.  I kept myself in the front 3rd of the bunch and kept calulating how much my shout for coffee was going to cost me.    It was a bit disconcerting to see couple of the back riders pop out in front of the group after taking short cuts – this was a trend that was to occur a few times in the morning – it either smacked of desperation or a charitable desire to save me from buying them coffee.  Your choice dr’s wal and paul. 

The bunch had a nice ride past all the private schools, schools whose fees are so high their parents cannot buy the bike they really want, and down the bumps past devils elbow.  Everybody that I could see ahead of me stuck together until the start of the Mosman Park hill and then kicked on.  The bottom part is normally chaotic as fast guys from the back come past, there is lots of position changing in the middle of the bunch (not that the fast guys ever see that) and one or two almost stall as they miss a gear or crunch a gear change.  Top of the hills are ususally pretty safe as everybody seems to have their own space and their own slow agony to deal with. 

It did not take long to regrouped at the water tower as it was a short climb and not much opportunity for big gaps from front to back.  Don’t know who made it there first but I think I stayed about a third back.  After the regroup we headed past the manicured lawns, range rovers, bmws and transplanted grass tree to get back to Stirling highway.  I think dr’s wal and paul were infront again as we went down the highway.

Orderly procession through Fremantle and Bicton (- did we pick up another rider or two?) before the normal fast flog along Burke Drive.  Things got exciting there for a little while as we tried to roll through, overtake a few riders and dodge cars overtaking cyclists coming the other way.  From there is was hop back onto Canning Highway all the way to the causeway and the bell tower.

Things seemed to stayed together along the highway to Canning Bridge, until we hit all the lights at Applecross, where drs wal and paul again appeared at the front.  The last time I had cycled along from Canning to Causeway with the bunch I had got dropped as the bunch pushed through the undulations at speed.  This time I was determined to stick with the leading group and was trying to engineer a wind break by forcing Christophe to get out from my rear wheel.  Through South Perth we tried rolling through until I was in front only to find the roll through had turned to a breakaway that I couldn’t stick with.  Melvyn came to my aid and provided some shelter.  We had all reformed by the causeway lights and I was againing thinking of the rash promise to pay for coffee. 

Since I posted that i would now pay to get to the front a couple of the fast guys had made some suggestions about hooking onto their wheel for the sprint.  However as I have no kick whatsoever I needed to line up behind a turbo diesel not a dragster.  Coming past the gardens at the causeway Ryan took off – way to fast for me, then Jerry (i think) also too fast, couple of others came around then my turbo diesel – Christophe, and I could hop in behind him for a while. Christophe faded and I and others had to pass and I was left out high and dry until Nick offered his wheel to stop me being swamped by everybody. But I had nothing left to push past and had to stay there until the pressure came off.

So at the coffee shop I was infront of some and behind the fast guys – I had fun, made a couple of good riding decisions, worked hard and was not disgraced.  And i bought coffee for all those behind me.  Special thanks to Melvyn, Christophe and Nick for keeping me in touch with the front runners.

And I look forward to ridding with you all next week – I will still be trying to stay in the front half of the bunch even if i am over 50