Necessity being the mother of invention and thus the unofficial “Transition 2’ Group ride was born. The Transition rides have been growing in numbers with 20+ regularly turning up and ave speeds increasing up & close to 30 kph – this makes  a big leap up from the Developer’s group where ave speeds hover around the mid 20’s.

Last week the Developers had decided that they were bored with Shelley, so I took them around past UWA and along the river through Dalkeith, up to Scotch College and back. Everyone seemed happier with the ride since it had a few ‘hills’ and a change in scenery, although there were mutterings that it was a bit short at 30 klms. The only dodgy bit was heading west in the low 20’s along Mounts Bay into a 20 knt headwind – sitting in a slow pack is a bit unnerving on this road with the traffic, and so half way along I moved them onto the bike path at the Brewery, aware that 13 yr old Stephen and a couple of others were with us for the first time.

Assembling this week in Coode St; Ruth and Shaw holding the Transition Groups reins, and assuming that Carol would be back from Europe to lead the Developers, I had intended to sneak into the Main Group ride and stretch out the legs a bit. But no Carol – so no Developers ride leader. Looking around & reading the thought bubbles sitting above peoples heads (Gwyn’s in particular) I got the clear message that no-one wanted to do the Shelley Developers ride anyway. Young Stephen had held up really well last week & had brought father Mike along and since he and Robyn, (introduced by Mike B) were the only two new riders, a quick chat with Ruth combined with Gazman’s offer to help out sealed the deal, and T-2 was born – for today at least. I suggested that we’d do the same ride as last week but with an extra 6 klms and one more hill thrown in for fun – no dissention so that was it and we were off.

Slight easterly and the 8 of us paired up & cruised comfortably out along Mnts Bay at around 30 with Stephen doing a good turn on the front. Up Steves hill (chatting stopped and panting took over) and then a bit of hit and miss along Victoria trying to gauge the right pace to keep the pack together and the chatting minimal: turned out that 27-30 seemed to be the optimal speed depending on the gradient and wind direction.

A few times the group got a little strung out but mostly stayed together and the next little rise by Scotch didn’t seem to challenge anyone – all good so far. Single filed down Curtin, left turn across the rail line at Jarrad, back up the next rise along Railway St. before return via the underpass and across Stirling Hwy and the usual way home.

Garry was sitting back with Robyn at the tennis courts along Victoria, so dropped back to pair up with him and we towed Robyn back into the pack and straight out to the front as she discovered the joys of drafting.  Mike B caught up and sat in with Robyn as a few others from the fast group came through. They took off at the lights onto the Mts Bay, whils we paired back up and although we had a bit of headwind, still managed a steady 28-30 past the Brewery up to the Narrows and onto the Bell for coffee.

Cheers Mark_S