Ronnie was scheduled to work and during the week he had offered me the leaders baton for the Saturday Transitional’s, so I conspired with ‘el Prez’ to find a route that I knew well enough such that getting lost was one thing I didn’t have to worry about. With 12 or 14 in the group I recognised most of the faces (not so hot with remembering names) and was good to see that Ruth had now stepped up and was in for the ride, along with several others who not long before been ‘rolling through’ along Shelley with the Developers. Ronnie had decided to start off with us with the aim of heading off to work half way through. Happy to see that temptation got the better of him and he stayed in for the whole trip, which worked out well as we took it turns to sit on the front or hold back and support the tail.

Setting off via Canning Hwy and Riverside drive, Tyrone and Yu lead out and with myself and Emma on second wheel being conscious to control the pace of the horses on the front. An easy transition onto Stirling Hwy with Ronnie riding shotgun at the back and a couple of changing traffic lights momentarily split the group but re-grouping was quick and painless and was clear that the group dynamics were balanced, cohesive and working well together.

After a few klms I ended up sitting back with Ruth as the others slowly crept away as a paired up pack. Traffic was light and most drivers passed without any issue although I did have a Transperth bus sitting right on my rear wheel for a short time, until I turned around and pointed to the PTA logo on my shirt, when he backed off passed by and sat on the rest of the group in front. Its well known at work that bus drivers like to brag to each other at smoko about the aggro they give to cyclists . . . .
Ruth settled down, found her rhythm and with every downhill section we edged closer to the others; by the time we arrived at the left turn off online casino at McAbe St to head into Mosman Pk we were only just behind the pack.

This ride has a few ups and downs and the first real group splinter happened on the sharp rise leading up to the golf course water tower. By now Ruth was going well and those regular sessions in Kings Park were paying off as she starting overtaking several others on the short climbs. Ronny was sitting there waiting at the top with his usual smile as the others rolled in and from then on he agreed to sit at the tail & I would lead out with Shaw through the river side of Mossy Park.

Next little test was the steady climb up along the River from Peppy Grove with its couple of speed humps and the sharp left and right hander, certainly generated a few red and puffing faces for those who handed expected it. A quick re-group at the roundabout before sneaking down the lane ways to get back onto the Stirling Hwy footpath, right turn at the lights past Christchurch and then the usual trip home and constantly checking backwards to waiting for the main group to hit us from behind.

Tyrone and a couple of others obviously know the rides regular sprint sections and took off so Ronnie gave me the nod and we joined in but quickly it was just the three of us swapping turns until the next rise when Ronnie put in a 50 m gap and took the honours. As we were sitting waiting at the lights onto Mounts Bay Rd, the Main group rolled up and as we all headed back to the City together and a few had a bit of fun as the pace picked up and then suddenly it was all over as we hit the roundabout and cruised back to the Bell.