By Jonny
A small group of only 12 this week probably due to a combination of people racing; people taking a long weekend break or because of the howler of a wind forecast. Does this mean I write a short blog as only 12 will be interested in reading it or a long blog as the rest want t o know what they missed? Does anyone read my waffle anyway?
We rolled away from the car park and the group looked perplexed, probably because we were waiting for Jens to come and drag us at the start. Knowing that he was racing in Pemberton Melvyn and Julian took the front. It was windy from the word go but most people took a turn at the front and at least we were moving forward. A new guy had joined us and did some good turns with Carl early on, which the rest of us were happy to take advantage of.
We started an inside – out roll-through on Hale Rd and continued onto Hawtin Rd. This was very hard and at one point into the wind we were going 22km/h and still loosing people. The group was now 8 and Julian was next to say goodbye as he had to take his son to cricket. It was pretty awful riding and I was certainly thinking as tree branches were coming flying towards us that this is a bad idea and no fun whatsoever; it was made worse knowing we still had Ridge Hill Rd to climb.
The climb was not easy but I went over in second place behind Ryan wary to stay close to the front after a previous time on this route when I was at the back of the group over the top then eased up lost 10m and couldn’t close back again even though we were heading downhill. Problem now though was I’d dug pretty deep and never really recovered for the rest of the ride.
I followed Ryan down and was impressed by his ability to go sidewards quicker than forwards at one point when a big gust hit at the start of the downhill. Deep-dish wheels and cross-winds….no thanks. The group was down to 5 now and working well together (well all apart from me). James, Jerrard, Michael W, and Ryan were all doing big turns at the front, while I was looking forward to seeing a Red traffic light. Along Bushmead Rd and onto Guildford Rd the pace remained high and we got the best run of green lights I’ve experienced in ages. Finally a Red coming towards Maylands and I could try and recover.
I tried to do a few turns after that but probably dragged the average speed down rather than up. The group then numbered 4 then 5 then 4 then 5 as I yo-yo’ed off the back on the drags through Maylands. Many thanks to the lorry driver/s who held the other boys up each time and allowed me get back on; and thanks to the group for riding sensibly and not over-taking it.
Joining onto Railway Pd we waved to the transitional group who were stuck at the lights there and headed to East Perth. The steep climb there is normally one of my favourites but today I was last up. I got caught at the lights and the group was gone again. The front group got caught at the next set though and with the help of a few of the stronger guys from the transitional group I was somehow back in the front group. I think Ryan was first to the blue sign ahead of James and Jerrard.
Zipp + wind = silly
garmin + zipp = maps of gravel rash
Tail wind + Zipps = TURBO 🙂
Mino + turbo = stack!
One needs to learn how to handle them deep dishes out in the wild.. Besides 404s are all weather wheels, when one gets to 808 and 1080s, then we talking silliness….
Although I was very tentative coming down Ridgehill road as the side gusts were scary. I would imagine they were scary even on normal rims (well unless built like a bob sled rider… 😉
Zipps are for racing in my book not training 😉
The guys are simply complying with the Euro code of conduct to the letter. Training = Zipps, Racing = Lightweights / Boras
Nico i was wondering if you ever got that old training wheelset of yours trued? I think Judd used to call it ‘the mesmerizer’ when sitting behind you, now that’s what i call a training wheel.
If I saved my good wheels for races, they would never get used.. Although in saying that, my new Zipps (only Zipps I own) are yet to be used…
4 Year old Carbones tubulars get a good hit out (especially now as the Fulcrum is in the shop getting trued after my bingle in Vic Park)…
If I could afford zipps for all occasions, I would def use them… Kudos to the chap who came out end of last year with Zipp 808s.. He did stand out a little and was not there when the pace went up…
I thought it was a race?
Nah Jarrad I true it every week, apaprently a common problem with the new Dura ace clinchers, had the front one loctited when trued last time and holds true quite well now. Just have to get back one done but dont have any other wheels bar my disc and race wheels which I dont like to train on. So one day Ill get another trainng set so I can leave a set on my TT bike if anyone knows of a cheap good clincher set for SHimano 10 speed……
I was carn beleef all them zipps.. did somebody photoshop that picture?
I suppose some people need all the assistance they can get…..just feel satisfied in the knowlegde that you can keep up with anyone with your plain standard set of wheels.
sorry nico, i just turned my old shimano wheels into campy, otherwise you could of had them
and if any one wants there wheels trued i do my own and have built a few sets as well, just give me a hoy
If anyone has an old Campag rear wheel they no longer use please throw it in my direction, i’m keen to get one I can put an old tyre on and use for spinning. Kimbo before you start I do now own ‘most’ of the parts on my bike.
ps If it’s buckled give it Josh first……