Great ride today guys – don’t really need to say any more . . . . but I will anyway.
Toby was wandering around the carpark in civies making sure that rides had leaders . . . . Whats this – Toby in civies ?? then Lennie explained later at the Bell that after last night he ‘d probably be vowing never to drink again – or something along those lines anyway. . . .

The “T” group’s numbers have reached a consistent 12-18 each week (14 today) and the regulars have really sorted out who they like riding with, who’s good to sit behind in a head wind or sprint and who they can challenge on the climbs. The group’s speed and ability has melded well; there’s always the regular few who join in at the front, whilst others are happy to sit in and save their legs for the faster sections on the return home. Debbie stepped up from the Developers this week and worked hard to stay on the pace (big thanks to Rob who gave her a consistent helping hand up the hills). Certainly makes life easier for me when some of the stronger riders help shepherd the back markers.

We were just turning off Canning to head onto Riverside and then that sickening double crunch of carbon meets tarmac. With a lump in my stomach I look back to see two of the girls both in pink and white, sprawled across the road. Happy that no damage done, still not sure what happened – apparently no wheel contact and possibly just an extra strong patch of gravity. Shooed the riders off the road, Debs chain back onto the ring and with the lights at red we re-grouped, paired up, and settled back down. Eased away from the lights gently & held the speed down to mid 20’s to restore lost confidence. After a few hundred metres the chattering behind re-started – that’s always a good sign that we could pick the pace back up to 30+.

Slight tail wind, cool but not cold, and sunny – perfect conditions and who could ask for more. Past the brewery and the rhythm had settled back into the pack, right into Thomas and the rise up in Subi where Rob’s helping hand technique had Debbie leading out the front at the traffic lights. Under the Nicholson sub-way and the climb up Lemnos stretching the team out for the first time. Safe entry into Underwood and right through Perry Lakes where the pairing up was a bit scrappy as a couple of the guys on the outside wandered out to the centre line. Need to hone our ridig skills a bit and keep the pairs nestled close together – not only does it look good, but gives consistency and space for cars behind to overtake. Average speed so far was ok and up in the high 20’s.
Up the Oceanic climb, Robert stretched his legs and no doubt claimed the KOM as I sat back talking Debbie up the hill before coming across Mike pushing his bike over the kerb with a front flattie. Popped his wheel off (touch of envy as its half the weight of mine) new tube in & pumped back up to 110 and we’re quickly back on the road. Ramped it up to the mid 40’s to catch the others with Mike glued to my wheel. As we turned left onto West Coast, legs had warmed up nicely & with a good rhythm going, just couldn’t slow down as we caught the others. Single filed up West Coast and then stretched it out again with Michelle tucked in behind as we ran down into to Cottesloe.

Across Stirling and into Victoria Ave, waited at the corner of Waratah trying to tempt a couple with the shortcut; but Debbie (by now Rob’s hand had become surgically attached to her back) was on a roll and shooting straight past would have none of it;  so that was it – no takers today and the pack disappeared down the road.
Worked hard to get back on, sitting on 40 and thinking how slowly I seemed to be closing the distance – the pack must have been chuffing along the mid 30’s. Finally slid onto Emma’s wheel, then up the outside and sat in with Shane for a breather. A lead group was off the front by a couple of hundred metres – Hmm time to close this one down before it was too late & we’re into the sprint.   Rob – the usual sprint winner was happy to sit back (should have realised it was plot to help Michelle) so a quick nod to Shane and we’re off with a couple of others in tow. Hit the front pack, straight up the outside and kept going – Yeo and a couple of others had a go but ran out of legs. Past Warratah sitting in the low 40’s. Couldn’t hear anything behind, thought I had it under control & was on an easy solo run so eased up a bit . . . . fatal error . . . . and ‘bang’ Michelle (who’d apparently been on my wheel the whole time) was up and out of the saddle, accelerating away to claim the points. Classic victory !

Mounts Bay and the last chance to regain cred.  Sitting paired up in No. 2 wheel enjoying the easy ride in at around 35 – checked behind, everyone was on and pretended not to be interested in the sprint.  Speed dropping to 32, thought about going around and then someone else did, so followed through on the outside and we paired up on the front.  Speed back up to 37, just past the brewery when my partner slid back on the inside, and thoughts of “Cool this is an easy one with only a couple hundred to go’ . . . . Talk about a slow leaner – ‘Bang’ again – and this time Yeo accelerated past and got 30 metres before my ex-partner came around to chase; sat on his wheel and then came around – but it was all too late; these points were Yeo’s !
Second on both sprints is just not good enough – so no cred this week.   But it was a great ride anyway and ave speed of 28.4 was up +1.2 on last week.
Cheers Mark_S