By Ainsy

A great turnout Sunday morning with our prez counting 55 riders over the 3 groups. Great to see a few of the girls we don’t see much any more out today. Bec with her new set of wheels which I didn’t get to compliment her on and Anna also made an appearance. Both resplendent in SPR kit which was nice to see. Good to see Davina, Lisa and Lennie there as well to add a little class to the testosterone charged group. Apologies to any omissions in advance as I probably don’t know your name but do know your bike.

You definitely get a feel for the changing season with arm warmers and vests starting to become the norm on these cold mornings.

Pretty uneventful ride out to the hills with everyone doing a good job of keeping the group together.

The group split into 2 crossing Tonkin Hwy on Welshpool and I was stuck at the back with Jerard which left us a little work to do to catch up to the front of the group and be any chance of some points for the first climb of the day, Welshpool Rd.

Young (NDCC) Nick has been showing some good form lately and was again at the front with some of the usuals Jarrad, Jonny, Heiko, Brodie et al which had managed to gap the main group very quickly. Jonny put in a great effort to get us up to the pointy end with Nick and Jarrad. Nick started surging to try to shell some pea’s and was successful with the front group reduced. Unfortunately Nick nor me found the KOM sign and had already passed the finish line before we could get up and boogy for a sprint as we were too busy talking about how he totalled his Giant frame and replaced with the sexy Look he now has. Nick there are better ways of getting a new bike mate but maybe not as effective!

Climb 1 Welshpool
1. Nick 2. Ainsy 3. Brodie 4. Jonny 5. Dan 3

Onwards we go transitioning to the second climb for the day, Asher. I remember Peter telling me and a few others something like “the finish line is at Asher, near the camel farm” which I translated to “finish Line….blah blah blah…camel farm” so we kind of overruled the president and had our little race to the camel farm. Again Nick was strong and was surging effectively to loose wheels but had spent a little too much petrol to contest the win with Brodie just missing out on the points.

Climb 2 Asher (Camel Farm)
1. Ainsy 2. Brodie 3. Nick 4. Jarrad 5. Jonny

We had a few k’s to recover and enjoy rolling along Mudaring Weir Rd with the next climb being on this Rd.

This is where I started to feel the extra kilos I packed on while in Melbourne. I managed to hold onto the wheels of Jarrad and Nick as we cleared away from the others who were on the hunt for points. Quite a long climb (it seemed like it to me anyway) and was meeting my friend pain having to keep up with the surges Nick and Now Jarrad were employing to try to pop someone. Eventually the climb finished with all 3 pretty much together.

Climb 3 Mundaring
1. Ainsy 2. Nick 3. Jarrad 4. Jonny 5. Dan 3

We had quite a way to go before our final climb for the day including the bonus climb along Ridge Hill Rd. Chasing Nick and Jarrad had totally cooked my legs and I was having major concerns getting up Kalamunda Rd. We managed a re group at Marriott Rd just before Ridge Hill with Peter having to look for a few stragglers (including myself) who had stopped at a shop for refreshments and powdering of noses of the non Tom variety. Ridge Hill was a prick with the legs close to going on strike.

1 more climb for the day so I decide stuff it I will try to hang onto the front guys as long as I can till I pop. Jarrad started strongly with everyone else just letting him do all the work up Kalamunda. He was looking for a little help judging by the intensity and regularity of the arm flick however Nick nor myself had anything to offer by way of support. A gentleman’s agreement was reached to not contest Jarrad for the points but eventually Jarrad popped and Brodie powered away from the small group to take the final points for the day.

Climb 4 Kalamunda
1. Brodie 2. Jarrad 3. Ainsy 4. Nick 5. Jonny

Coffee stop at The Merchant was acceptable but the group is now so big that we struggle to get a seat for everyone. Jason, myself and a few other contented ourselves with a Pepsi (what no Coke!) as we decided to get our coffee fix back at Atomic where the coffee, service and girls…I mean ambience is better.

If I have missed anything glaringly obvious (remember I am a bloke I am not very observant) please feel free to add in comments.