Peter sent the Transitional group off five minutes ahead of the advanced group today. Scott and Dr Ronny lead the group out of Coode Street and down Great Eastern Hwy. The group got split at the lights in Ascot. However we backed of and the Int riders quickly caught back on.

Right off Great Eastern Hwy and onto West Pde. Scott and Dr Ronny pulled off and Stephen and I took over the lead for the next few kms. Peter came up front to remind himself where it was we were going. Was fine with me if he fell of because of sand and crap from Mondays storm we knew too slow down on the round abouts 🙂

Pace was still sitting on a comfortable 29 ~ 30km/h. After crossing the bridge over Roe Hwy we turned right into Midland Rd as the intermediate group kept on going straight. This was the roughest road we been down and if you were carrying a supa shake it would have been well shaken by the end of it. The call came constantly on this stretch to slow down so we did. However when the pace has been dropped back to 22km/h or less and then we got another call to slow up again seriously it was a bit of a joke.

Left turn onto Kalamunda Rd and the short 800m or so until the climb began. This is a climb I had been looking forward to for a while now. Since I lived in Kalamunda for 23 years and never actually ridden up this road I have travelled a million times I kinda knew what to expect. We had two new young riders with us today that will give young Jamie a run for his money. Jared and Jordan I think their names were. Sorry Don’t have a name to your face yet but one of them seriously ran up the hill no worries and had the cheek to look back wondering why no one was with him, Stephen gave it a good effort but slowed at about the half way point.

Now for my recount. Had no plans of racing up this hill set my own pace and worry about getting myself to the top. Thanks to Scott for staying back and sort out who wasn’t going to attempt the climb. Once I start these climbs sorry but I have no intention of stopping unless your hurt or I get a mechanical. So approached the first part of the climb which is the steepest section. Ivan who had past me just before stopped for a breather and I went on past. Stephen had caught me and went past also. So I had a goal. Rope them back in. Managed to get over the first climb and a short rest before the second. I was gaining on Stephen a few hundred meters before Davies Cres and went on past telling him good job on the first section. I knew I wasn’t going to catch the young rider in front especially when he kept slowing and looking back not sure where to go. I wish I knew where he was getting his energy. While sitting I was in my tallest gear and then standing jumped between 2nd and 3rd. At the top of the hill I pulled over in the car bays to wait for the others. My mum was there to get a photo and even though I waved she still didn’t see me until I stopped right in front of her. Knew that would be the case but finally got a photo so will send that thru for that bike weight page when I get it. Over the next 5 or 10 minutes the rest of the group who made the climb rolled in. I took a group photo with Scotts camera. He may attach to the post later. Once we were all here we heading around the corner to the coffee shop.

After about an hour at the coffee shop we were back on the road and following the map to South Perth. I kept gaping the group on Canning Road but was only doing around 25km/h. After bunching up again we made the right turn onto Lesmurdie Rd and picked up the pace on the downhill to around 60km/h. A short climb after the private school and downhill to Welshpool Rd.

We zoomed down Welshpool Rd this week. I touched on 72.5km/h according to my computer but had no gears left after passing 68km/h. After a short regroup up the road Scott and I lead the group back to South Perth. Overall today was a great ride and one we will redo again in a couple weeks. Discussing with Peter we made send the Transitional on a long ride one week and a Hills ride the next and switch it.

By Nathan Rzepecki