Pt I

I’m not sure if this has happened before, a public holiday falling on a Tuesday.  Regardless, it presented the perfect opportunity to combine the normal Tuesday ride with the SPR Public Holiday ride for a sweet double.  100 kilometers before breakfast – brilliant.

So we gathered under the Narrows for the first loop at 5:30am.  The group was pretty big, but not quiet big enough to split.  Probably about 30 or so early birds.  That being said, I think we picked up a few along the way as the group seemed to get bigger the further along we went.

The turns were noticeably shorter this morning as we rolled through to Steve’s hill and Dalkeith.  Probably a result of a) lots of miles being done over the holidays and resultant sore legs; or b) Christmas  hangovers; c) both.

Nonethless, with a bizzare southerly blowing us along we made good time through to Christchurch.

Mosman hill did what hills do.

All accounted for we headed off down the other side and along to Freo.  The climb over Preston Point Rd after the bridge proved a bit much for some and we had a bit of a split there.

I’m going to take this opportunity for a big BITCH – they (whoever ‘they’ are) have completely rooted Dunkley Avenue.  What used to be a nice road has been destroyed with those stupid speed bumps which seem to do nothing but make the trip along there dangerous.

Anyway, after this, Majestic did what Majestic does.  

Flying Finn had a schleckanical during the sprint to the Raffles leaving Bolton to take the honours.

We regrouped at Raffles and then headed back to Coode Street with 20 minutes on the clock before the second ride was due to start.  

Carlos and I stopped at the servo for some Gatorade and then headed down to the start of the second ride.

Pt II

The group heading out for Pt II was bigger than Pt I.  Julian counted 48 riders as we headed to Shelley.  As expected with a group this size there were a couple of splits at lights on the way, but with a bit of active management from JJ we had everyone together as we started the run down Shelley.

The pace was pretty tame for the first part of the Shelley run until Mark H and Zac sparked things up, which stirred Jason on the shiny TT into action.  We averaged about 43km/hr along Shelly today – not surprising as we had a bit of a head wind.  In the final uphill sprint I managed to come over FF with a fast Big Bill finishing close behind.

After regrouping at Shelley, and working out the El Presidento had gone home to tend to his off offspring, we headed off for the Burke Street section.  Flying Finn and Johnny lead the way through to Canning Highway.

Burke Street was quick but pretty uneventful until we hit the hill at Stock Rd.

The hill at Stock Rd did what the hill at Stock Rd does.

After this we made our way down through Freo and along the coast.  We had a rapid ride up Marine Parade to  Cottesloe – FF drove the train down with a sweet tail wind assist.  Not much to see at Cott this morning.

Flying Finn left us at West Coast Highway as the rest of us pushed on to Dalkeith and Nedlands for the blast home.  The speed picked up early and stayed in the 40’s as we hit Steve’s hill and down to Mounts Bay rd.

In the sprint home Satoshi lead us along Mounts Bay at around 50km/hr.  As he started to fade Jason came through on the TT with Mark H on his wheel.  Bolton and I sat on the train as we headed to the brewery.  300m before the footbride Bolton jumped and took me to about 200m to the finish.  I managed to take the chocolates ahead of white blur (Zac – as if you couldn’t guess).

My ride data is here if you want a peek.

I wish holidays would last forever….