Post by manuel6b2 on Nov 14, 2008 14:55:35 GMT 1
A wonderful mild night for winter cycling. However, the ground was wet from the earlier rain and there were deep puddles around the Giant's Ring to ensure that the cycling clothes ended up in the washing machine afterwards.
There were 6 of us out tonight. Ronnie had just arrived as we were about to set off so we delayed by a few minutes. Dennis showed up with his own and Alan's bike all fixed up for him (brotherly love!). Stewart had ridden round as had new face Paul Bell (unattached Masters cat.) who has spent much of 2007/2008 away from the cycling scene but not away from cycling. Paul has been out training on Monday nights around the tow path and up cavey and is gearing up for the MTB season in 2009.
The pace was easy on the first part of the path until we crossed over the footbridge to the other side. I led off trying to keep the pace steady as we headed for "the ring". Paul, Dennis and myself were getting through the stiles quickly with Ronnie (struggling with grip), Alan (struggling to stay upright) and Stewart bringing up the rear. All together again in the Ring with Ronnie leading off. Down through the nettles Dennis nearly came off quite close to the abandoned bicycle which has been lying there for a few weeks. Back to the tow path and under Shaw's bridge with Alan and Stewart at the head of the group. Into Belvoir and Stewart was raring to go shooting off before everyone had got into the park. Thankfully he stopped and waited for the rest of us and it was Alan's turn to take the lead with me keeping him on the right road. The pace was getting brisk now with a few stitches appearing.
In the race up to the car park it was new boy Paul along with old man Ronnie who were first up to the top. There was only a brief rest in the car park before we all headed off again with Stewart and me at the rear. Back to the car park I got Stewart up to the front again and he lead well before Dennis took over the lead.
Out of Belvoir and onto the tow path again with Ronnie and Dennis flying ahead
. Alan and I lead the other two in a 20+ mph chase. It was only at the entrance to Lagan Meadows that Dennis mentioned that Ronnie had to get back early (before 9)!
A fast spin through the meadows with Paul and Ronnie racing one another up out of the dips. Back to the tow path and as soon as Stewart joined us him and I went to the front to control the pace back to Lisburn. At Shaw's bridge Ronnie went straight on while the rest of us tackled the climb up to Malone House, Alan and I at the front. At the top, Dennis took over the lead down through the woods. We all managed to avoid the infamous rut but Alan avoided it more than the rest of us and headed left at the bottom while everyone else went right !!! Dennis lead us up to the running track and down through the 'humps' but stepped aside at the dip to allow Paul to go through and (successfully) negotiate the muddy hole. I tried following Paul's tracks but managed to collide with the tree sending down a brief blanket of autumn leaves.
We then put Stewart and Alan to the front again. It was past the metal bridge before Stewart wilted and dropped in behind Alan to draft. Dennis and Paul then came up the outside and took over the lead and lead us all on a fast dash home. Stewart pulled off at Hilden and the remaining four made it back for 9:10. 25 on the clock at a 13.1 average. Great night!
There were 6 of us out tonight. Ronnie had just arrived as we were about to set off so we delayed by a few minutes. Dennis showed up with his own and Alan's bike all fixed up for him (brotherly love!). Stewart had ridden round as had new face Paul Bell (unattached Masters cat.) who has spent much of 2007/2008 away from the cycling scene but not away from cycling. Paul has been out training on Monday nights around the tow path and up cavey and is gearing up for the MTB season in 2009.
The pace was easy on the first part of the path until we crossed over the footbridge to the other side. I led off trying to keep the pace steady as we headed for "the ring". Paul, Dennis and myself were getting through the stiles quickly with Ronnie (struggling with grip), Alan (struggling to stay upright) and Stewart bringing up the rear. All together again in the Ring with Ronnie leading off. Down through the nettles Dennis nearly came off quite close to the abandoned bicycle which has been lying there for a few weeks. Back to the tow path and under Shaw's bridge with Alan and Stewart at the head of the group. Into Belvoir and Stewart was raring to go shooting off before everyone had got into the park. Thankfully he stopped and waited for the rest of us and it was Alan's turn to take the lead with me keeping him on the right road. The pace was getting brisk now with a few stitches appearing.
In the race up to the car park it was new boy Paul along with old man Ronnie who were first up to the top. There was only a brief rest in the car park before we all headed off again with Stewart and me at the rear. Back to the car park I got Stewart up to the front again and he lead well before Dennis took over the lead.
Out of Belvoir and onto the tow path again with Ronnie and Dennis flying ahead
. Alan and I lead the other two in a 20+ mph chase. It was only at the entrance to Lagan Meadows that Dennis mentioned that Ronnie had to get back early (before 9)!A fast spin through the meadows with Paul and Ronnie racing one another up out of the dips. Back to the tow path and as soon as Stewart joined us him and I went to the front to control the pace back to Lisburn. At Shaw's bridge Ronnie went straight on while the rest of us tackled the climb up to Malone House, Alan and I at the front. At the top, Dennis took over the lead down through the woods. We all managed to avoid the infamous rut but Alan avoided it more than the rest of us and headed left at the bottom while everyone else went right !!! Dennis lead us up to the running track and down through the 'humps' but stepped aside at the dip to allow Paul to go through and (successfully) negotiate the muddy hole. I tried following Paul's tracks but managed to collide with the tree sending down a brief blanket of autumn leaves.
We then put Stewart and Alan to the front again. It was past the metal bridge before Stewart wilted and dropped in behind Alan to draft. Dennis and Paul then came up the outside and took over the lead and lead us all on a fast dash home. Stewart pulled off at Hilden and the remaining four made it back for 9:10. 25 on the clock at a 13.1 average. Great night!