I think this mornings ride was the biggest yet.  I don”t recall seeing a bigger bunch riding around.  Was it because Pete wasn”t riding,? Because Pete was taking photos? Because word is getting out that we look after newbies to the group? Maybe because we are progressing towards a club?  Or maybe it was Dr Ronny volunteering to ride “au natural” (see post on weekend rides), or the return of Bruce.  Who know, but we should be pleased and proud that more and more people want to come out and ride with us. 

Peter wasn”t riding today, something about a titanium post – not a seat post but more medical in orientation.  And as I live out where we were due to ride, he told the bunch to follow me.  Hence i have felt the guilt and have done the short write up. 

Heading out everybody stuck together really well and we didn”t have any trouble with the lights – amazing for such a long train.    Pushing out into the easterly it was noticeable to the people at the front that the fast/strong cyclists were idling along at the back and all the work was being done by Dr”s Carl,Melvyn and Greg, Nev, Loraine and a few others.  Well done guys and girls. 

Uneventful trip out to Ridge Hill rd except for the d**khead at rosehill golf course excercising his right to walk across the road in online casino’s front of 60 cyclists.  Dr Paul peeled off and I think along here we picked up a few other cyclists on Oppy bikes, they headed off up Darlington way.  I”m not sure what happened up Ridge Hill as I was dropping back to hang around with some of the bunch who were not quite as fast as I didn”t want their first ride with us to end up in misery 30 km from home.  Peter got some photos of everybody heading up the hill here I think.

After a short wait at the regroup point we rolled out back towards home with the easterly behind us, this time with the stronger guys (the ones who got over ridge hill first) taking the lead.  The pace picked up and due to a couple of lights and roundabouts the group had to work hard to stay together.  After guildford and the lights along Guildford road the pace picked up again with the front rolling through at mid 40″s km/hr and the back was dropping off and getting split with some lights.  Post Tonkin Highway, I was too close to the rear and couldn”t get back on to the main bunch as they accelerated. 

Riding along Guildford rd on your own is no fun as you get no space or respect from the other road traffic, so i eased up and waited until the back markers with Dr”s Wal and Melvyn, Loraine and others who had a bad run with lights along guildford.  We cycled together back through East Perth (Loraine stopped to help another female cyclists who had been riding with us for a few months fix a puncture) and made our way to the coffee shop. 

Peter was spotted at a few locations along the ride and I am sure will post the photos. Can somebody fill in what happened up the front?

Russell