short ride report by peter.

with so many people racing tomorrow, it was never going to be a fast day.  a group of about 50 were keen for a ride and we headed out shep rd towards welshpool.  the slow pace combined with the large group meant that we were bound to be caught out at a number of traffic lights and the group was split a number of times.  the worst was probably along hale rd where it crosses tonkin hwy and the second group was delayed significantly.  as we hit kalamunda rd, michael turned off to do more hills as he is not racing tomorrow and is training for the alpine classic in victoria in january. 

the pace was still easy as we headed through high wycombe and didn’t step up until we crossed the bridge in bassendean.  the stretch along guilford road through to maylands was a high pace with the boys at the front pushing along at about 45kph.  the group was still holding together, but you could see some of the riders slipping back as they were not used to the sustained high pace.  the tailwind was helping though. 

once we hit the rolling hills of maylands, jerry went off the front.  the pace and hills began to splinter the group and some of the guys just could not help themselves and began to chase.  once jerry was back in the fold, james and then ryan went off the front.  they pulled quite a gap but were slowed by the lights allowing the majority of the bunch a chance to catch up.  byt the time we were on east parade, there was quite a group together.

as we approached the final stretch along riverside drive, ryan slipped back in the group to get a good lead out.  the group was quite big in comparison to other days on the same route so it was always going to be messy.  a number of riders hit out hard but it wasn’t till the last 100 m that ryan started his sprint and (i am assuming as i was so far back) took it as the lights turned orange. 

a special mention today and i really don’t know how to explain it.  it thought of in terms of awards – the award for “getting dressed in the dark” or the award for “i am trying to cover up my advertisers” or the “superman wears his undies on the outside too” award.  anyway, it goes to dr mark for some how getting his knicks on inside-out.

christmas breakfast next saturday at jerry’s palace in city beach.  i will map a nice easy course so don’t expect any sprints or too hard a ride.  it will be $10 per head and if you are coming, please let us know by sending an e-mail here.  there will be food and coffee and a special appearance by anorexic santa.

we have another run of kit going, so have a look at the kit page on this website and send an e-mail if you need anything.  final orders need to be in by next weekend.

the prizes on the www.perthcycling.com.au are being drawn next saturday, so if you haven’t registered on the forum, do so now so you can get in the draw.