Arrived at the carpark reasonably early and started chatting with a few of the regulars, before I knew it Pete was ringing his bell to sort the groups. I decided to go with Main 2 this week as the lak of k’s is showing me up in Main 1. Russell kindly nominated himself to lead us on our merry jaunt, he also nominated two sweepers, some guy with a French sounding name (just joking Christophe) and I think one of the doctors (help me out here guys). After the groups were split in the carpark we found ourselves with a decent sized group, It seems that after the mix up of the past few weeks things have righted themselves.

Anyway we left the carpark a few minutes after Main 1 only to pass them out near Orrong Rd fixing a puncture. The tortoise and the hare, we were now Main 1. A nice Easterly greeted us all the way out to the hills, I managed to hide in the pack, thought about going and doing a turn on the front but changed my mind after seeing Mountain goat Anna struggling. As we turned onto West Parade brother Dan and a fellow rider came joined us and immediately headed to the front to take on the head wind. We then cut back through to Midland and headed out along West Swan rd to Bennara. This is where I got caught napping and found myself out front as Russell pulled off. I tried keeping a steady pace but soon found myself in trouble as a group of about 4 rode around me and I found a gap open up. Nothing like hitting Bennara with a box full of burnt matches, as pre Pete would say.

The pace picked up as we now had a tail wind, I got into a rhythm and managed to hang onto a couple of wheels. At about this time my phone started ringing, so what you think, Well it just so happens that my ring tone is Prodigy Firestarter (check out this link and you’ll understand how it helped my cause www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmin5WkOuPw) If you want something to get you motivated try this riding tune. Anna and myself slowly started picking our way back to the front, helped by a few fortuitous light changes and some fellow riders. I blew up just after the round about before the hill at the end of Bennara, Anna and the others kept powering on to the end.

A quick regroup around the corner and we were off to takle the rolling hills along Coode st back to Railway Parade. Again I found myself struggling but was fortunate enough to have a few stronger riders hang back and help me back on. This just left a few rolling hills and the great Col de Plain st to go before the sprint allong Riverside drive. It should be mentioned that Dan decided to get the drop on all of us along East Parade by doing a magnificent job of drafting a ute past us all and riding off into the distance.

Not sure who won the sprint but I do know I got chicked by all the lady folk on all the hills and the finish along Riverside drive.

The ride was managed well by all involved. Thanks Russ for putting up your hand to lead us.