Haven’t written up a Transition Ride report for a few weeks, but after reading exploits of record breaking hill climbs and 400 klms in a week – a 40 klm ride through Perry Lakes, Reabold and along the coast at an average speed of 27 kph seems all a bit tame . . . . but hey we enjoyed it anyway.
Saturday was hot and we’re very happy to be heading towards the coast and not inland for a change. 18 starters this week including Jens and Nicole back on their first group rides, and 6 ‘guides’ with Jono, Ronny, Steve, Garry & Leon joining in.
Started out at a nice steady pace with J & R sitting up front along Mounts Bay and up into Subi until R left for work and J split off on his way to Claremont. This ride route doesn’t really have many opportunities for rolling through and the group was a bit strung out at times – particularly up the rises, but it didn’t really matter as the high proportion of ‘guides’ meant there was always a couple of guys sitting back and looking after any stragglers.
Led out a nice single file run up West Coast Hwy with Jens, Nicole and couple of others tucking in – until the intersection at the top of the hill . . . . A car was sitting at the lights facing us & waiting to turn right . . . waiting . . .waiting (thought that was good of her) and just as I was accelerating up to 35 to head through the intersection, she took off and cut straight in front of us. Locking my back wheel in panic and pulling as hard as I could on the front brake – missed the back end of her fast accelerating car by not very much. There’s no excuse as I had eye contact with her & she was looking straight at me and my bright fluro jersey. Bizarre. Very lucky that Aron or Jens didn’t collect me from behind.
Heart back in chest, pulse settling down as we collected at the usual re-group point in Swanbourne. We stayed together for most of the ride home & paired back up around the tennis courts until heading into Crawley sitting up front with Aron, Jens came around and gave me the nod and a grin – the three of us picked up the pace and then it was on.   Aron was keen to come around casino online but I signalled for him to sit on J’s wheel for a bit and save his legs for the end.  As the pace headed into the mid 40’s, up & over the final rise before the drop down and back up to the ‘Steves’ turnoff, then Aron was up and gone & heading for line honours.  J sat up, and I chased and only passing A when he sat up too early; he’s learnt quickly from last week & I reckon that’s the last time I’ll get anywhere near him on that stretch – unless of course I’m mean and make him lead out . . . . I guess that Aron and a couple of others will be heading for M3 next week.
At Mounts Bay we re-grouped again; bit of a headwind so a couple of us sat on the front and we remained packed up nicely as the back end kept talking to the middle and the middle controlled the pace at the front – good communication guys.
Nice safe ride and big thanks again to Steve Leon and Garry for supporting the tail.

Next weekend has a Monday Public Holiday Ride – if any T”s want to have a Transition group PH ride – let El Prez know on Sat and we can organise it.