In bed by 1am on Fri night/Sat morning and a slightly fresh morning (although BOM told me it was a balmy 11 degrees, I think BOM was lying) meant I decided I was not ramping up my training this week (read, riding to the Sat ride) and into the car Shrek Bike went.

 I arrived relatively early this morning and I actually got to ride into the car park before the ride set off. A fair few people congregating there these days as Captain Pete was doing his spiel.  No sooner had I unclipped and Pete was telling Fast group to get going.  I overheard one guy being encouraged by his mate to go fast but he declined saying, ‘those guys average between 35-38kms/hr’ and I would not be able to keep up.  Possibly wise for today as there is Ridge hill which usually breaks things up a little.

The group was relatively large today, must have been a smidge over 20 people.  A big group for fast.  I did my customary slip to the rear (for sweeping duties of course..  Not that much sweeping is done in the fast group at the start).  I had a brief chat to Stu who only had short sleeves on..  I know he would have been the oldest in fast and skin is meant to get thicker with age (or is that thinner?) but he was in the same boat as me, he had checked BOM before the ride and it had indicated 11 degrees, I had still donned the arm warmers and wind vest though and it definitely felt colder than 11.  I think the cold was going to have an effect on Stu’s ride today as he slipped off the back of the group when we were not pushing too hard along Welshpool road.  I suspected a mechanical or slow clip in had affected him but at the next set of lights, he was back on and said he had just dropped off.  Very unlike him, I hope all is ok.

I then had a brief chat with Nick Churchill who informed me he was conserving his energy for the inevitable acceleration over Ridge Hill and back home.  Time will tell whether this strategy would pay off.  Onto Hale road, on Mike B’s command, we started rolling ‘the correct way which, for the day, was clockwise.  I was slightly nervous as there was some wind about, a fair few riders and we had had a crash on Hale road (going the other way) not so long ago whilst rolling fast.

Soon the number of workers on the front had dwindled, with the bulk of riders strung behind the 6 or so workers at the front.  I was up the front with Jonno when we were stopped by the lights on Kalamunda road.  Once off from the lights and onto the lower part of Gooseberry hill, I looked back and Jonno and I had a small gap on the rest, perhaps a few slow clip ins and general apathy so Jonno and I kept up a reasonable pace rolling through on each other.  We would ensure that all legs in the chasing pack were getting a little work out.  As it turns out, everyone was sat on Mike B as he pulled us back.  Left onto Watsonia Drive for the descent to the bottom of Ridge Hill, this is where I would usually ramp things up to take a few people by surprise but I felt the slight stretch of legs up lower Gooseberry would have tired a few legs already.  So Jonno and I sat at the front some more.

Right at the round about and was behind Jonno and everyone was strung out behind me.  Jonno was still setting a good pace so I thought no use going past him, soon he pulled to the right a little and let me through.  I was not going to smash it up Ridgehill, I would just keep the pace ‘honest’.  Just nearing the ridge, Jarrad came up next to me and kicked towards the crest.   No probs, I will follow him over the hill.  Once over, we kept the pace on.  I rolled past Jarrad and tried my best to descend like Mark DeCastro (i.e. super fast) but I blame my massive chest for the inability to really fly down hill ;-).

Left at Helena Valley road and it was time to take count of the damage caused by Ridgehill.  Jarrad rolled past me and I jumped onto his wheel.  The front group had been whittled down to 5, Myself, Jarrad, Jerard, Mike B and Jonno.  Then I heard some huffing and puffing and Nick Churchill was on the back of the train too.  His strategy had paid off (although, it sounded like he had spent a few pennies ensuring he caught up to us on the downhill).

Some fast rolling ensued, Jarrad was doing his customary, go to the front and hit it whilst I had to ensure the gap to him did not open too much, whilst at the same time I tried not to chase him too hard as a gap behind me would open.  So slowly real him back in was my mission on each of his ‘roll throughs’ (admittedly, he is getting better though).  All clear at the T junction with East St and we were on the return journey into town with a sizeable gap on any chasers.

A quick count of numbers and we were back at 5, Nick C had blown a gasket during his efforts to latch onto us.  Poor fella, so close and yet so far J.  It was a relatively uneventful run onto Guildford road.  A pleasant but fast roll through was established within the core group of 5.  Then I heard the load roar of truck wheels bearing down on us (in the right lane), so shouted truck back.  The truck went past us and lo and behold there was Toby stuck to the back of the truck..  So close he could have reached out and touched it, next in line was Mark resplendent in his Italian colours, with the Belgium champion (Iian I believe on his gold Biacnchi) not far behind.  Seems the pretenders had to enlist outside assistance to catch up..  Surely the commissaire should have pulled them up and had words.  But there seemed to be a lack of officials on the road that day.

So rather than let them disappear down the road, us 5 core riders upped our pace a little but kept a respectable distance behind the bulky vehicle traveling at pace down Guildford.  Upon approaching a set of amber lights, there was no way that the truck was going to stop and thankfully a wise voice rang out from the group to say ‘STOPPING’ with still plenty of time to actually wipe the speed off and come to a stop.  Mark, let out a ‘now that is a motor pace’ with wide eyes and wide smile. J

Well free ride was gone and we had the slight undulations of Guildford to contend with.  I was into cruise mode, no attacking yet.  Mike B set the pace on the undulations and we all lined up behind him.  Then Jonno took the reigns and Mike B turned left at Garret road to head to his kids sporting events.  Jarrad slipped to the rear with me and we had a look at each other and gave the nod, we would attack on the next rise.  Mark was sitting behind observing and as we went, the call went out that we were coming.  Jonno jumped on.  Jarrad rolled through on me, then I rolled through on him with Jonno sitting pretty on the back.  Recovering from his efforts along Guildford  and the chase to get onto our train (he had been on the front when we attacked..  Good work Jonno for getting on J).

Coming down the hill to the lights on East Parade, the lights were green but the cars in the left lane were not moving.  All three of us started using expletives and shouting and waving arms as we approached the rear of the cars..  Why were they taking so long to get off the line? Grrrr….  But as we drew near, we saw there was a red arrow for turning left..  WTF..  It made no sense but we were stuck at the rear and soon the rest of the core group (+ the truck drafters) were back with us.  Grrr..  Jerard requested I let him know next time we planned to attack (but it was the same place I went off by myself the week before.  I thought it was common knowledge by now J).

Lights went green and I set the pace along East Parade, I did not want things to ease up too much.  I pulled up a little nearing the graham farmer cross over and people rolled through and past me.  I was at the rear, good place to be nearing the Plain street hill.  Toby attacked the hill hardest and I picked a few riders off, ensuring there was no gap to split me from the front if the lights were green.  But we all got through the lights together.

Now we were nearing the ‘sprint’ section.  Hmm, what to do??  Attack from the start and hope no one had the legs to hang on or chase the full distance?  I would sit back and see how things played out..  Turning onto Riverside Dr I was last in line, I saw Jonno stand up and kick..  He was going from a long way out..  Noice..  So I kicked and then went into tt position, I would real him in.  I cruised up to the back of him..  I think he was a little tired from doing the lions share of pace making during the ride.  So I gave a little kick past him and then tt’ed the rest of the distance down Riverside drive.   I waved my arms in the air a little as I crossed the blue line.  In my mind I was doing some uber cool moves, but if there were any witnesses, I am sure they would have thought I was being stuck by a swarm of bees.

Apologies for the long winded recount of ‘MY’ ride..  Seems I spend more time in my little world whilst riding than I do watching what others are up to..  Thanks for the enjoyable hit out.  A few strong legs out there and some outside assistance.  I hope the rest of the Fast group enjoyed their rides after Ridgehill.  I would imagine there were some little groups of like abilities making their way to the Bell tower.  Coffee + Milkshake + banter was enjoyed before bike was put back into car and homeward bound I was to collect the little one to take to his swimming lesson..  Till next week when I will attempt to ramp up the training again (all things going well (read me not being a soft pr*ck), I may even ride to work a few times this week :-))..