Tag Archives: punctures

saturday 25th april – leach vs south

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ride report by peter.

 

early start for me as i decided to do some “secret” training and slip in a lap of the river before the saturday ride.  the benefit is that at least  i was pretty warmed up by the time we were underway as it usually takes me a good ¾ hour to get the legs firing.  i bumped into judd as i was about to cross the narrows and rode towards south perth with him.  however, he was yet to have his early morning coffee so shot off for a quick take-away before the ride.  he really needs a cup holder on his bike.

about 35 riders at the start today and an old familiar face with matt who years ago worked at the bike shop in south perth.  we were delayed slightly when the sound of a tyre being pumped to explosion rang out like a gunshot from a book depository.  brett had borrowed a pump to put some extra air in his tyre and may have over done it.  by 10 past we were off and racing.

the standard light changing interference along canning hwy didn’t dampen the spirits and soon we were at attadale and ready to split the group.  the main group were heading straight down canning and back up leach while the fast group were taking a detour along burke before using stock road to access south and home via albany hwy.  the split was a successful 70/30 division and we were on our way.

the pace along burke was not too extreme, and the roll through only really got going after about halfway.  next thing you knew we were at stock rd hill and were the fun really starts.  a couple of the boys hit it quite hard and sprinted up the first section.  i tried to sustain a bit longer and got into a tempo.  eventually the hill wore the boys down and their early antics cost them as they dropped back.  at the top i saw james turn back and wasn’t sure what was going on.  i debated stopping the group, but we were spread too thin by then and also wasn’t sure if he was coming back.  we managed to slip through the lights on canning and so it was the last we saw of him. 

not much rolling through on stock road but the pace picked up a bit after recovering from the hill.  once on south st, the roll through started, but the small hills put an end to any consistency.  for the majority of it there were maybe 5 or 6 riders continually on the front swapping out turns while everyone else just seemed to be hanging on for grim death.  ryan, mike, michael and jerry were consistently at the front and managed to get off the front a few times.  once it flattened out, the rest of the group would start rolling through, but every time there was a hill, the group spread out again.

there is no caption that can do this picture justice
there is no caption that can do this picture justice

pretty soon, south st became ranford rd and we were on our way to the left hander into nicholson.  one last small undulation before the shopping centre and i stood to keep the pace up.  unfortunately, that didn’t feel right and i looked down to see my front tyre bulging out more than it should.  luckily i was on the inside and a turning lane was there for me to use so i drifted off to the side.  i told everyone to keep going, but dr carl, lisa, john and brett swung around to make sure i was ok.  the rest of the group disappeared over the hill.

a quick change of the tube and we were on our way again.  we tried to set a consistently high pace, not in the hope that we would catch up, but more that we were not going to be too late to coffee.  everyone did turns at the front and we were clipping along at plus 40 kmh for most of the ride.  it was quite uneventful but very hard as long efforts at the front were beginning to take their toll.  as lisa pointed out once we cleared the hills around vic park, it was so good to finally see the city.

no sprint to speak of, but there was a final rush for the line at the end. probably more likely to be first in line for coffee.  it turns out that we were not that far behind as some of the group were still ordering their brew as we turned up.  the place was a bit busier with the anzac day holiday but they still had a table ready for us and service was not too bad.

at the end of the day i was just happy to have arrived and grateful for not having to be siting a bike seat.  i didn’t find out whether the main group was caught today as they were when we last did this route.  i’m sure that someone can let us know what happened…

also, someone left an spr drink bottle at the coffee shop.  i have picked it up as they are very rare (none left as spares), so if it is yours, let me know.

Sunday 8th June 2008 – Part 2, Canning Mills, Peet and Lawnbrook.

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Sunday Ride Part 2 By Ryan (following on from Darren’s report)

Well, I was not feeling the best today (I dehydrated my body on Sat arvo playing in the park (boxing, rugby finishing up with soccer) and do not think I refuelled it adequately even though I drank a lot of fluids on Sat night (coke and lemonade are good rehydration drinks? J), also have a cold sitting in the background threatening to become full blown given half the chance (flus are in the head after all, they need to be suppressed).

Quick summary of my ride, it was my first time up Canning Mills road and it beat me mentally. I started spinning at the bottom and everyone dropped off, then the road kept going and kept on pointing north.. Passed another lone rider and said g’day. Then my legs started to say they did not want to play, my heart was pounding and my head was asking “When does this end?”. I took a look back and saw Michael B was not too far behind so I thought it was fine to ease up a smidge and wait for him to catch up.

Michael B caught up and went past saying it was only him. I asked how much further but received no response. I went past him momentarily, then Stuart came past and Michael B jumped on his wheel. I thought I would just sit on behind them which I did for a little while until my head gave in and I eased right up (not happy with myself for breaking but will endeavour not to do it again). I then spotted the road I had been given orders to stop at, I had to be sure and read the sign properly and in this time, Stuart and Michael B were still going up the road, I made a poor attempt at telling them we had to stop but then felt they would notice noone had followed and would turn around (they did eventually).

I was at the back at the start of the downhill section but was in second spot behind Mark (who loves downhill sections) when we hit Peet road. I was still feeling rough but was thankful as I looked right at the steep section of Peet road (looked very steep when looking down it) that we had not had to come up it. I was happy behind Mark then Stuart came past and Michael B jumped on the back of the train. I sat in for the rest of the uphill section. When the road went flat, I thought I would have a turn on the flat and pull everyone along at a decent rate of knots. Coming out of the roundabout and the road started going up again, I let everyone go past and resumed my stalking position (riding like a sprinter Michael B said).

I sat there until the hill up to the school and I saw Stuart stand and give it a bit, followed by Mark, I took this as my cue to up the anti and I had to dig deep to get the weary body out of the saddle and press hard towards the summit. I managed to summon the required energy and power to gap everyone by the top.

Next section is short and sharp to Karragullen servo and I started at the back. Turning onto Brookton, I slowly went around people where there were some gaps until I was up front and I started pulling at a decent pace. Then Melvyn did his special and shot past then it was all on till the servo (I arrived first to find CRT people already there waiting). Brief regroup and we were off again, now wrapped up with CRT folk. CRT group were good and had some strong ladies.

I decided to take it easy again and sat in behind the group with Stuart at the front do most of the work. I was a little confused where we were and picked up the pace and went past at a time when I thought we had a little while to go, turns out we were almost at the intersection where we had a small regroup, sorry Stuart, a little rude to take off with not much time left, I told myself I would do more work on the final climb of the day (turned out to be Lawnbrook).

Lawnbrook is not my favourite climb as it is one which is a little steeper than I can comfortably climb but I told myself to put some in this climb so when I hit the bottom, I kept the gears heavy and started grinding up and passed Michael B at the start of the climb. Kept on going and then the head started playing tricks and body did not want to play. No, I was keeping on going, I kept on pushing and I thought the road was flattening out and I looked down at my back wheel and there was another wheel right behind it, a red one, it must be Michael B. I eased up a little and he came up next to me, I said I did not want to play anymore and how much further to go. No response but he was breathing hard and pushing hard. So I decided to dig deep again and passed him on the right.

I kept pushing till the road flattened out, I thought this is where it would end, then Michael B came past again and kept the pace high. Fair enough, we are on the flat now, my territory so I upped the pace and pulled Michael along at a steady rate till I thought I could ease up and past me he went again. Hmm, seems this tussle was not going to be over till the T section so I put my head down and bum up and went past again and pushed hard till the T section where we were regrouping. Tough climb it was and Stuart rolled in 50seconds after we arrived and then about another minute back till others started to roll in. Time Trialled to coffee shop for some fun, I think Melvyn tried to latch on as I went past.

Coffee shop was uneventful, but please note matching Dashing Assos Doctors.

Ride home was puncture ridden. Jerard and I arrived at the Albany Hwy/Shep Hwy intersection first and wondered where everyone had got to. Jerard said Mark had pulled up with a puncture and everyone must have stopped with him. We sat there for a little while watching some ‘locals’ having a lovers quarrel. Which moved from the MacDondalds to some bushes. Mark rolled in and saw the quarrel and stopped to tell the ‘fella’ off for slapping his missus about. The ‘fella’ then started moving towards Mark so Jerard and I rolled up the road to where he was (a ute had stopped as well and was telling the ‘fella’ not to lay a hand on the girl (ute man disappeared fast).

‘Fella’ proceeded to tell Mark not to tell him how to live his life as he did not tell Mark how to live his. Mark told him that he would tell him what to do if what he was doing was breaking the law. Mark then told ‘fella’ to stay away from him. I took out camera (phone) and ‘fella’ told me to tell the police his name was JT and they would know him as he was recently out of prison (quality ‘fella’ I tell you). I told him I was not calling the police and he then accused me of being a paedophile (I asked how old he was and he said he was a man, I told him I was not a paedophile if he was a man.. Not sure he grasped the concept).

We learnt Dr Mark had punctured twice and fallen off (when pulling over to change first puncture). We rolled off when we saw everyone arriving but g
roup broke up again. It was late now and I had a little sprint with Jerard coming up to Canning Hwy (well Jerard did not play so it was a solo sprint working on technique). Rushed home to wife.. I had some sucking up to do (no photos included).