This turned out to be one of the group’s best rides yet. 12 of us set from South Perth – with 1 new rider “Yu” ? from Japan who’s studying in Perth & riding his new Orbea. Leon joined us for a pre-Lancelin ride and Kate came along without Mike B. as escort. We wound our way around the Air Race barricades and packs of security personnel; looking back at Angelo St traffic lights – I saw no stragglers and felt we were going to have good one.
Usual first group stop at Canning Bridge where we discussed today’s change of tack; with Lancelin tomorrow we would work out our system for pairing up and then dropping off the front rather than our normal roll throughs. A few nervous glances, but the group’s so used to working together that it was instant success and we rode the whole length of Shelley like this, ticking along comfortably at 27-30 kph.
After the turnaround the return was the best roll through yet – paced lifted by several ‘K’s’ from last week and everyone riding consistently and tight. Kate dropped off half way along – legs still weary from the hours of hard ice skating the night before, so we paired up and sat back as the rest of the pack kept up their pace and rode away to rendezvous at the car park. Didn’t see the end sprint so not sure who won the points this week.
At Canning, Kate, Debbie & Christine returned to the Bell Tower, whilst the rest headed for the ‘Majestic’. Jackie on her new wheels had a bit of a mechanical after changing gear on the hill when derailleur and chain decided to have a ‘discussion’ with the spokes. Out with the rubber gloves, straightened up the derailleur and we were off again and heading back home for coffee. Passed Mike B riding south and mistakenly assumed he was looking for Kate – so I turned around to chase after him to let him know Kate had returned early – not realising that Michelle was riding today. Time trialled back down to Canning – didn’t catch him but did enjoy pushing myself for the extra 10 klms and eventually got back the Bell as most people were leaving.
Cheers
Mark_S
2 thoughts on “Saturday’s Development Group Ride”
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Sorry about that, Mark (Time trial on heavy rig etc.). Kate was quite happy to ride with the DG without chaperon on Saturday and the rendezvous with Michelle was planned so I must have been looking concerned for some other reason (though I don’t think I was).
Hope the Cyclosportif went well for all concerned.
Mike – you looked relaxed and waved as you went past – its just I put 2 and 2 together and made 17 . . . . I should have listened to Gwyn !
Sportif was good – hopefuly I can find time tonight to do a quick write up.
cheers
Mark_S