A pretty brief report for this week’s Sunday long ride. 33 of us set off, only 8 braved the long course, which featured 5 climbs in just over 80 km. We were nearly taken out by Ms Dickhead in a white Hyundai, who decided the fastest way to see the Dalai Lama at Burswood was to do a left hand turn from the middle lane of Great Eastern Highway. Let’s hope his holiness dished on some spiritual enlightenment on correct driving techniques.
Climb 1 up Welshpool and Lesmurdie was made (only slightly) easier by a weak tail wind. Jarrad got the points ahead of John B, myself, Davin and Lim. Quick regroup at the servo then down Lawnbrook and up to the Observatory. Top 3 the same and Lim took fourth from Davin. Straight down again and almost straight up again as we tackled Camelberg. Top 2 the same on Camelberg, Davin pushed up to 3rd on this climb ahead of myself and Lim.
The continuing theme of straight down and straight up continued with the Weir Rd climb. Jarrad set an early pace but eased back. I took the points from John B, Davin Lim and Lisa. Then it was down the zigzag and up the Goose. John pipped Jarrad, from me, Davin and Lim.
We split up here, Lisa and Davin headed home, Peter, Rupert, Jarrad and Lim headed for coffee and Peter and I decided to play ‘Mr Bonner’ and go back down the zigzag again and up Kalamunda Rd. It seemed like a good idea at the time and we were both spent by the top. A quick refuel and it was back down again, detouring around a pretty bad smash on Lesmurdie Rd. The detour unfortunately meant more hills, so by ride’s finish I’d climbed 1500 m. Peter topped out at 1800 m after doing the river loop as well. It was a hard slog on the way home into the wind and I spent the rest of Sunday doing very little.
Good effort guys
Hope you had more fun being me than I was – busy trying to hang on to Jonno’s coat-tails in the Pickering Brook A grade race.
The race was a bit of a shamozzle on the day. Requested A but had been put in B. Queue to register and change to do more than 40km (Hilly criterium). Didn’t want to do the prologue TT so didn’t. Wait until 10:30 to start.
4 or 5 Midland juniors were given a headstart of 4 minutes (when they could have raced B grade – if they needed a handicap) which mistakenly turned into more than 6 minutes. They were never caught. Watched Jonno do a lot of work on the front for the first couple of laps while I was using Iain for shelter. Got caught on the front when the breakaway attacks came on the downhill. Didn’t have the speed to get on, so annoyed as legs were feeling good on the uphill sections. Rode the rest of the way with the remainder of the steadily shrinking peleton who weren’t strong enough to really chase the 6 (plus the under 17s) who were up the road. Jonno won the sprint for “7th” and I was effectively “10th” after 60 kms.
Didn’t get to see many of the other SPR riders who were dipping their toes into racing. Apparently there were some good results in the time-trials despite some timing issues, and Wongers did well in the C grade road race.
After a good warm down through Kalamunda, I did very little for Sunday afternoon as well.
Well done to those who did the 5 hills (plus bonuses). No hills for me next week either as the surrogate Hale Cyclosportif team duty beckons.