All respect to those who the did the ‘150’ and even more so to those who completed the ‘200’; the ‘100’ was sufficiently ‘character building’ for me.

I started this on the Monday after the ride (a week ago) and my quads were still whinging after twice around the river;  then Chris finished them off with a few ‘table tops’ and ‘leg bounces’ at the SPR Pilates night.

As always when you have a bit more time than normal, it was Sunday am and I was running late – mostly due to sitting too long in bed with my porridge and a smug expression listening to the 7.00 am weather forecast announcing the current temp at 3 degs C . . . lucky those SPR heroes who had been out on the road since 6.00 am.   So no warm up ride for me, as the bike went straight into the back of the car and for the first time I drove over to Coode St.   Arriving at the carpark at 8.55, the team were all there and lined up; 14 expectant lycra-clads astride their bikes, front wheels pointing at the car park exit and ready to go. Parked the car, grabbed water bottle, fruit cake and invested in a quick ‘nature stop’; by then the numbers were up to 16.    A quick ‘team participation ride / looking after stragglers’ chat and cunningly snuck in the suggestion that we come back via the carpark between laps, to drop off any retirees pick up more water and say hello to nature again; and that was it – except no sign of Carol . . . .Waited until 5 past 9 and then just as we started to roll out she arrived with a big ‘happy to see us’ smile.

Usual route out onto Riverside; sitting on the front (to control the horses who would have happily galloped off into the sunrise) and held the speed around 30.   Several others took in turns to roll through up on the outside come up for a chat and then drop back behind me on the inside. Judging by the chatting and chuckling that was going on behind everyone was feeling settled in and comfortable with the pace – clearly oblivious to their own impending personal world of pain that was to still to come.

Great weather, sunny, cool and no wind, the river flat with hardly a ripple and with our 18 strong paired up pack creating a presence on the road we were treated with respect by the little traffic that was around which gave us plenty of room.    I always love that section past the brewery at this time of year when you can see the early morning shadows of the tightly knit bunch of riders stretching out across the central crash barrier.

Past UWA and then onto ‘Steves’ hill for our first short climb. Instantly sorted out the climbers and non climbers, and gave the leaders a chance to look back from the top to see who’s who and how we’d go for the other little lumps we’d encounter on the way. The groups dynamics were well sorted by now with riders working out who to pair up with, who to ride behind, when to single out or double up and many doing regular turns on the front.

Onto Stirling and then hammering over the speed humps and down into Peppy G for the run towards the start of the KoM climb. Chuckled, as a bit of position jostling took place with the couple of traffic islands and several of the guys had a crack at an early sprint attack or two for the last couple of 100 metres onto the base of the climb.  Dave and Daryl pushed out for a gap off the front, as I sat back for a moment, knowing that for me this is a ‘measured climb’ with a nice little bite at the left hander half way up, so dropped down nice and early into the 39/19 and let the ‘smash attackers’ have their head. Predictably by about a third of the way up it was all over. I wound my way through the panting carnage, just ‘tapping out my own rhythm’ (quoting Pete) and was just about on the front, when Blair with Tim hot on his wheel cruised past as if I was standing still.
A bit of an effort and I was on Tim’s wheel looking for a free haul up and managed to hang on just past the left hander, when Blair attacked again. Tim stayed with him but that was it for me as I gracefully stepped through the back door –  at least they had pulled me well clear of the others – or so I thought.  Sitting up and relaxing on the false flat before the right turn and next climb, feeling quietly confident that position no 3 in the KoM stakes was mine, when seemingly out of nowhere a quick shadow on the road and then Shaw was pulling past me with a gleeful chuckle, obviously thinking that I’d blown up and the 3rd spot had his name on it . . . Clearly Shaw hasn’t been going to the Wednesday’s Spin with Fynn classes’ (I can just hear him now . . . “cadence up to 100”) I did just that and it was straight back onto his wheel. Sat there for about 30 metres and then (to Ryan’s imaginary “. . . .cadence up to 110”) went past and again sat there for a bit and then it was time for (“. . . .cadence up to 120 and hold for 15 seconds” ) and that was it, got the gap, made the next left hand turn for the final push up to the Water Tower and watched as Blair ahead of Tim by about 10 metres lead out for the No.1 spot in the KoM.   Shaw was 4th, Yeo looking cool and unflustered came in 5th and Ruth came in around 8th to claim the Queen of the Mountain. Shared a bit of mutual congratulatory back slapping and controlled our breathing back to normal for the few minutes it took for the others to roll in.

The bigger lads enjoyed the next fast downhill section, Shane hammered past at well over 50 before the final rise leading back to Stirling hwy; and (as was becoming the pattern for the day) on reaching the crest the usual few climbers sat up and waited for the others to arrive, the pack re-formed and we headed down Stirling into Freo and across the bridge as a tight solid bunch.

Our first time across the bridge and the wind had started to show its intentions, giving a foretaste of what was to come the next time around. Tim and Blair put in a good few turns on the front up around East Freo, Bicton and Point Walter before we stopped and re-grouped again to pair up for the roll throughs along Burke Drive. Onto Canning where we somehow managed to get a big split in the group – a big thanks to Shaw, Leon and a few others who regularly sat back to protect the tail on the few times that we were strung out.

Another re-group again at Raffles for a strategy chat about lane selection to cross the bridge,  then we were winding it up in the big chain ring along Labouchere before the final climb up Mill Point and left into Coode St carpark at around 11.25am.   First lap had taken 2 hours 20 mins – and according to my computer we managed an ave riding speed of 26.4 and riding time of 1hr 54mins, which confirmed 26 mins of ‘stoppage time’.

Raided my car for a full bidon and more fruit cake, said our ‘Thanks’ and ‘goodbyes’ to Carol; Tess, David and a couple of others who were easing ou to relax for the rest of their day, whilst the foolhardy geared up for round two. As predicted the pace was up this time, Blair , Tim, Tyrone joined in to do a few good turns on the front and the pace was up into the mid-30’s. Bade farewell to Sandy at the Belll Tower and as we sat in the cross headwind at 36 noted that it had all gone quiet behind – until a plaintiff cry came from the back, suggesting that maybe 30 or possibly 31 might be nicer !   Shuffled Ruth around inside the pack to give her better protection and then the train was back up and running, with Owen in his fluro yellow jersey still gamely guarding the back.

A lot less waiting at the top of the hills on this lap; Blair and Tim did another big turn pulling us nicely along Victoria Ave up past the tennis courts and up towards Stirling.
A hundred metres or so from the right and left hander and short rise leading to the final roundabout on Queenslea Drive, sitting in second wheel with Tim and Blair out on the front, I couldn’t resist giving them a bit of needle about dropping the pace . . . . and was curtly told to put my words into action.   So with ego and honour at stake, did the business and lead out to the roundabout  . . . remembering that they had just both done a big 3-4klm turn on the front and of course knew their revenge was still to come up the next KoM.

Out onto Stirling with Shaw and this time we managed to get the correct left turn onto Richardson and the Esplanade, back down over the speed humps and approached the base of the ‘hill’ for the second time. Most were a bit more circumspect this time with only Daryl going early; I covered him with Blair and Tim sitting on my wheel. Left hand, right hand and into the climb, and no messing this time with Blair & Tim as they both stood up and were gone. Tried to get a rhythm but legs were heavy and jelly like, but the pressure was on as I was aware that Shaw was sticking to my wheel like glue. Going nowhere in the 19 on the cassette this time, so dropped into 21 – not much better but at least the legs started to spin for a bit then flagged, speed down to 14k and my quads were burning big time. Knew I couldn’t stand up the whole way so in desperation dropped onto the 23 and spun the legs back up to 90 cadence (thanks again Mr Fynn) and finally speed started to creep up. Shaws shadow was still lurking under my back wheel but was sure he’d be hurting too. Around the left hander and then WTF . . . . . . . this has to be one of my most humiliating riding experiences ever. Some dude with a skate board was standing in the middle of the right hand lane, half way up the hill just waiting . . . . as the two of us were about to draw level with him, he throws the board onto the road and skates up the hill for about 30 metres, not just overtaking us but pulling out a gap of about 5 metres before stooping down collecting his board, giving us a cheeky grin and waving us on. This just has to be far worse than getting chicked ! I know I was sitting on 14 +kph so not sure what he had been smoking but I could have done with some of that for sure. (check the incriminating photos . . . . . thanks a lot Jonny )

I knew Shaw was still attached to my wheel as his shadow hovered under my feet and we rode like that for some way until half way up the next rise I reckoned I could have a go at standing up, clicked into the big ring and finally I was gone (thanks again Mr spin the Fynn . . . . . . ). KoM as before Blair, Tim, myself, Shaw and this time Tyrone displaced Yeo for fifth spot. Ruth QoM of course.

Rest of the ride pretty much as before: the Burke Drive roll through faster but a bit chaotic although Ruth got stuck a couple of times on the front into the increasing headwind, and we did have a Schleckanichal dropped chain or two – but happy to say no punctures, and only one ‘discussion’ with a driver as we approached the red lights onto Stirling by Christchurch. Didn’t see what happened but went back anyway, had a friendly chat and apologised (still not quite sure what for) and so he left happy enough.

Congrats to everyone on the ride. Without exception, everyone gave it their best shot, and for many it would have been the longest single ride that they had done; the strong put in some huge turns on the front, others kept the tail alive and wagging, and the not so fit or so fast still gave it 110%. Its always rewarding for me to see good team work in action and what was out there on the 100 klm ride epitomises the general attitude of SPR, ie; egos and smash feists come a lowly second to ensuring that we have a safe ride, that we collectively enjoy what we do and we feel happy and satisfied at the end. And that’s how it was. The only tangible disappointment being that at the end it all fizzed into a bit of an anti climax . . . . after we rolled into the carpark at around 1.15 pm, no cheering crowds, couldn’t see any of the other groups (we’ed assumed that they had beaten us home), and unhappiest of all – no food ! Later found out that the mid ride catering had taken place at Pete’s – but was OK for me I guess as I still had some emergency fruit cake left and at least I had the car to drive home in !

Cheers Mark_S