Post by manuel6b2 on Mar 27, 2009 19:43:50 GMT 1
The last night on the tow path before the start of the Thursday night club league. The night however turned out to be a bit of a anti-climax to an otherwise great season of tow pathing.
Trevor was there to see the five of us off. Present were Stewart, Alan, Dennis, Rabb and me. We set off just after 7 into a cold and very blustery evening. There were many dog walkers out enjoying the longer daylight hours. I didn’t even need to turn my lights on until almost the back of the Malone Golf club. We crossed the footbridge to the other side. The majority (except Alan!) decided that the Ring would be too wet and went straight ahead. Almost at the corner we encountered a fallen tree. Dennis, Alan and Rabb squeezed under but I jumped off and pushed it out of the way, nearly taking Stewart’s head off in the process. We met the others on the far side of the bridge. I then lead along the path towards Shaw’s bridge. After last week we were all expecting (and indeed found) the path to be closed on this side so everyone was in the right gear to zig zag up and over the bridge. We headed along the exposed path on the far side feeling the strength of the cross winds. Back into the trees and dodging more dog walkers before heading into Belvoir. Alan, keen as always, lead the way with me on his tail. The path was quite mucky as we charged along and through the crossroads and up the climb. I shot off the front as usual and then cruised to the turn and the rest stop through the gate. Behind me was Rabb going strong as always. While we waited for Alan to change gloves, Rabb and I set off, up the climb, round the corner, down through the crossroads and along to the big climb up to the car park. With Alan far behind I only had myself to race up but I was knackered when I got to the top. Only a quick rest in the car park before charging around the loop, Dennis leading the way. On the climb back up to the car park I wasn’t firing on all cylinders. I however dug in when Alan came up beside me. Old habits !!
Stewart and I were at the back of the group as we left the car park heading back to the path. When we got to the path the others were a bit further on ahead. Stewart asked me to take a look at his back tyre as he said it felt like it was going down. I couldn’t see any difference in the tyre compared to the front on so we cycled on. All of a sudden there was a loud BANG beside me. It was Stewart’s rear tyre. It had blown a large tear in the (Continential) tyre. The others came back to find out what the noise was. Stewart rang the emergency number (his wife) and him and I started back, Stewart riding on the burst tyre. The others went onto Stranmillis and Lagan Meadows. We expected to meet up again at the exit to the Meadows but the reunion only happened at Shaw’s bridge park. We stayed together until the car park then left Stewart to be picked up. We all (apart from Alan!) decided against the climb up to Malone House as we were cold, wet and muddy. Dennis and I lead the way until the flyover when I got a twinge in my left knee. I reduced power to rest it a little to make sure I didn’t damage anything before the race on Sunday. However, reducing the power soon had me out the back of the group and seeing their lights disappear into the distance. We all met up again at Hilden but it wasn’t long before I was out the back again this time with more aches and pains in the legs (getting old!).
All back for just after 9. 12.5 miles down at an average of 14 (for Dennis). Next Thursday the MTBs will be put away and the light road bikes will be out. I’ll just bring the camera
Stewart texted to tell me that while waiting for his wife to pick him up a lady arrived in her car with a puncture, which Stewart duly assisted. A night for punctures for Stewart !!!
Stewart is also looking for advice on better MTB tyres, if anyone would like to contribute. ;D
Trevor was there to see the five of us off. Present were Stewart, Alan, Dennis, Rabb and me. We set off just after 7 into a cold and very blustery evening. There were many dog walkers out enjoying the longer daylight hours. I didn’t even need to turn my lights on until almost the back of the Malone Golf club. We crossed the footbridge to the other side. The majority (except Alan!) decided that the Ring would be too wet and went straight ahead. Almost at the corner we encountered a fallen tree. Dennis, Alan and Rabb squeezed under but I jumped off and pushed it out of the way, nearly taking Stewart’s head off in the process. We met the others on the far side of the bridge. I then lead along the path towards Shaw’s bridge. After last week we were all expecting (and indeed found) the path to be closed on this side so everyone was in the right gear to zig zag up and over the bridge. We headed along the exposed path on the far side feeling the strength of the cross winds. Back into the trees and dodging more dog walkers before heading into Belvoir. Alan, keen as always, lead the way with me on his tail. The path was quite mucky as we charged along and through the crossroads and up the climb. I shot off the front as usual and then cruised to the turn and the rest stop through the gate. Behind me was Rabb going strong as always. While we waited for Alan to change gloves, Rabb and I set off, up the climb, round the corner, down through the crossroads and along to the big climb up to the car park. With Alan far behind I only had myself to race up but I was knackered when I got to the top. Only a quick rest in the car park before charging around the loop, Dennis leading the way. On the climb back up to the car park I wasn’t firing on all cylinders. I however dug in when Alan came up beside me. Old habits !!
Stewart and I were at the back of the group as we left the car park heading back to the path. When we got to the path the others were a bit further on ahead. Stewart asked me to take a look at his back tyre as he said it felt like it was going down. I couldn’t see any difference in the tyre compared to the front on so we cycled on. All of a sudden there was a loud BANG beside me. It was Stewart’s rear tyre. It had blown a large tear in the (Continential) tyre. The others came back to find out what the noise was. Stewart rang the emergency number (his wife) and him and I started back, Stewart riding on the burst tyre. The others went onto Stranmillis and Lagan Meadows. We expected to meet up again at the exit to the Meadows but the reunion only happened at Shaw’s bridge park. We stayed together until the car park then left Stewart to be picked up. We all (apart from Alan!) decided against the climb up to Malone House as we were cold, wet and muddy. Dennis and I lead the way until the flyover when I got a twinge in my left knee. I reduced power to rest it a little to make sure I didn’t damage anything before the race on Sunday. However, reducing the power soon had me out the back of the group and seeing their lights disappear into the distance. We all met up again at Hilden but it wasn’t long before I was out the back again this time with more aches and pains in the legs (getting old!).
All back for just after 9. 12.5 miles down at an average of 14 (for Dennis). Next Thursday the MTBs will be put away and the light road bikes will be out. I’ll just bring the camera
Stewart texted to tell me that while waiting for his wife to pick him up a lady arrived in her car with a puncture, which Stewart duly assisted. A night for punctures for Stewart !!!
Stewart is also looking for advice on better MTB tyres, if anyone would like to contribute. ;D