Time to rug up!

From http://www.showmeperth.com.au/event/tour-de-france-big-screen

Due to popular demand, the Tour De France LIVE via SBS will be screening at the following times on the Northbridge Piazza Superscreen.

Stage 11 – 9:30pm – Wednesday
Stage 12 – 8:30pm – Thursday
Stage 13 – 8:30pm – Friday
Stage 14 – 8:30pm – Saturday
Stage 15 – 8:30pm – Sunday

All stages will run until 2am.

All photos taken by Nathan

After a quick discussion with several T1 riders and with Peter, it was agreed that we should form a new Main group.  The idea was that many of the faster Transitional 1 riders should ride that extra 10k’s and follow the other fast/main groups.  This allows the members to ride on less friendly roads and experience things like right turns on mainroads and “let’s-stop-worrying-about-headwinds” routes.

I was pleasantly surprised when the majority of T1 liked the idea immediately and 16 of us formed up this new group.  All along the new route, we had the Main 2 in sight, so we were not much slower.

There were improvements needed within the group though when it comes to safety and route knowledge.  Obviously, being a surprise for all, the route knowledge is forgivable, but safety on the road is not.  As a group of 16 riders, we need to act as one within the lanes of the road.  We should not be taking over 2 lanes of the road unnecessarily.

In short, we now officially have 3 main groups.  I believe Transitionals will still have 2 groups if the numbers is there.  So if any Transitional wishes to move up a bit, here’s your perfect opportunity.  If any other Main group riders feel like a recovery ride, it would be great for you guys to share your experience with us.  Having ridden today with Andrew and a few of the M3 riders, I think it would be very beneficial if more experienced Main riders ride with the M3.

Saturday at 4.30am I looked out the window and the weather looked pleasant.  The tree in front of the house was not moving a single leaf.  After a shower and change, usual triple shot espresso, I opened the garage door faced with howling wind and very ominous looking clouds.  A quick check on weatherzone and it looked like I better change plans.  Checked with Nathan and he confirmed a few are going to pull out of the earlybird ride.  Having had my caffeine I thought I might as well keep going.

I got to the Narrows and there was a lonely figure on a bike.  Nick from Wales suggested we do Kings Park instead.  On the 6th lap around, I suggested we take the long way back to South Perth.  This proved to be a time trial against head wind back to the carpark as we were running late.

Mark S turns up right on time (6:59.55 am) and had the change of route as well as the T1 / T2 split all voted on and agreed before Pete could even get a word in.  He had even organised the Development riders.  It was a solid dozen of us in T1 and we rolled off.  As the main group caught up to us at  Canning Highway, we showed them some respect and went single file to let them pass.  Only thing was that we were on their tail all the way along Canning Hwy till the turn off.

Knowing there were legs wanting punishment, I called for a fast roll through on Bourke drive and final sprint up the hill at the end.  I positioned myself 6 riders away from Steve who had been helping out with directions and instructions and the roll through was a sight to see.  From where I was, everyone was at the right speed/cadence/effort on every turn.  My timing was just right towards the hill when I had the turn up up front up the hill.  But someone else came pass me to take the climb.

Just onto the descent on Riverside Road, I told the group that the sprint upto Left Bank was on.  Herbie (John) jumped to the front and I was 6 inches from his back wheel when he had a major rear blow out at 40 kph.  Thankfully he did a great job of holding his line whilst trying to brake.  Nick and I tried to fix the 2cm slit on his tyre with his $5 note without success so had to abandon him after being assured he has a phone and a not-so-happy partner to pick him up.

Another time-trial with Nick and I to get back to the group who had been waiting on Canning Hwy bus stop and must have been quite anxious by now.  The T2 had passed us a few minutes before.  By the time we got to the bus stop, the rest of T1 looked like they’ve had a picnic and were bored waiting.  I asked for volunteers to take the lead and Andrew proceeded to lead everyone all the way to Claremont!

At the lights before Dalkeith, I let the group know that there will be no sprint on Mounts Bay Road, so we will have our sprint from here onwards till the memorial at Waratah.  The pace was on as a few people didn’t realise that the end point was 5 km away.  We overtook the T2 group and I heard a comment from them that said “nah, that is just the T1”. Sorry, but I don’t know the rider who won the sprint as I was too buggered trying to get some air into my lungs.

The ride home on Mounts Bay Road was nicely co-ordinated with the dozen of us in perfect pairs.

Overall, it was a great ride.  I think many of the riders in this group should consider joining the Main group.

The Transitional 1 (T1 as in Terminator 1 or Telstra 1 whichever is your preference)  was officially born today with Mr. President declaring to all who must obey.  Peter did a fantastic job of splitting the lines and I could see all the ride leaders nodding their heads throughout.  I certainly appreciate all the comments Peter dished out so diplomatically.

As soon as it was our turn to roll out, it seems the T1 was still a big group, but everyone looked capable of the threatened 40kph on the flats!  Ruth was relegated the sweeper today and she told me that there was another main rider helping out (sorry about my useless memory, but was it Shawn?).

Onto Coode street and we saw the earliest puncture ever by one of the main group ride.  It was a laugh as we waved them goodbye.

Canning Highway was when I wanted to test out the theory of the T1’s brand new motto “keep up or be dropped”.  This worked fantastically to the point that we easily caught up with the other main group.  The main group were clearly miffed we were the transitionals and are on their tail, so to save face, I asked my left hand man (Shun) to ease up and let them get away from us.

North Lake Road’s hills brought us to a halt as we had lost a couple riders off the back, and just as we had regrouped – a bright yellow jersey sprinted off my right.  The yellow jersey had a 200pt font size saying PETER MAH and when the voice shouted “keep it tight – bikes back!” we obeyed.  Seems like the main group is showing their muscles up the rest of North Lake road.

South Street, with less traffic than normal and having access to the bus lane, I made the decision to roll-through.  This turned out to be an 80% success which is not too bad considering the few brand new people in the group.  Sure there were surges and calls of “slowing” but I had much preferred this to riding single file with 20+ cyclists of differing skills.

After Bannister, at Nicholson we spotted 3 SPR riders that was of the main group pedigree nearly 1km in front.  As I had been sitting out the front, trying to keep the pace higher than normal without too much hurt, I was happy with our pace.  The group were together and there was very little chatter.  Then I heard some shouting (I am half deaf by the way) behind me.  After more shouts, I turned around and seek clarification and apparently someone was asking me to sprint down those 3 in front.  Yo reacted at the same time and took off!  A few others took off along with me and suddenly the group was completely confused – what the hell was going on!  I could not resist the temptation and had totally forgotten any responsibilities to the group.

After hitting my max heart rate for that sprint, I sat in the comfy fourth wheel along Albany hwy where the pace was a nice and steady 36kph with the tailwind.  The pace then picked up just prior to the Causeway where a few of the ambitious would start the final sprint.  I think the finishers were Patrick, Shaun and Shun but I could be wrong as I was spinning by that stage.

Overall, I think the group dynamics is hugely improved.  The pace was definitely high (perhaps too much so?).  Practice in group riding skills and roll throughs would surely make all of us better riders.

ps – any riders in this group (or others that we passed :), please feel free to make a comment so that we can improve the group