Post by manuel6b2 on Oct 9, 2009 1:08:03 GMT 1
Only four intrepid adventures out tonight, Stewart, Alan (Lance), Peter S and me. Off to a bad start with Peter showing up with a puncture. Alan gave Peter a tube and the team fixed it up. We all got underway around 7:05. Dry but crisp evening. We really felt the cold on our faces as we passed the river. Reduced amount of dog walkers out as the night was drawing in quickly.
The four of us set off at a nice gentlemanly pace. Peter was pushing on a bit but, realised that I was not joining him, came back into the fold. Nice run down to the footbridge which we crossed over. Headed for the Ring. Peter was suffering from his damaged ankle and tended to be the last one going through. Across the Ring and back into the trees. Nice run down through Shaws before disappearing into the trees. Under a floodlight we stopped to adjust Alan's light. We took this opportunity to take a photo (see below) but it took 7 attempts to get the self-timer working properly.
We skipped the route from the car park and back and headed out of the trees and onto the tow path again. We headed for Stranmilis before turning and nipping through the Meadows. Nice run through there as always. Peter fell just as we were exiting. His ankle took another hit. He decided to limb back with us to Shaw's and then head off home. Stewart, Alan and I took on the Malone House climb and then into the trees. I was the only one to tackle the exit out of the dip at the far side. Back on the path again and it was Stewart who was filled with energy and took the lead. At the back of the golf club I heard a bang, seen a spray of white latex and was hit by something. It turned out to have been a twig which had got caught around the rear wheel on Stewart's bike, punctured a large hole in the tire before flicking out and hitting me as I rode along side.
We stopped to fix the problem. Stewart produced another tube from the saddle bag and did warn us it might not be good. It wasn't. Big hole in the side. With Alan having given away his spare tube to Peter, Stewart now with a dud tube that left only one spare between us, mine. Stewart got it fitted and got back on his bike. We all set off gingerly at first back to Lisburn. After the steel bridge it was Alan who took the lead. At one point Stewart said we were doing 18 mph. Alan then found another gear and pushed us up to 21 mph. Rounding the Coca-cola factory we almost crashed into a dog walker. The pace dropped. Stewart left at Hilden. Alan and I took it easy and made it back for 9:20 ish.
Great night. Very enjoyable.
The four of us set off at a nice gentlemanly pace. Peter was pushing on a bit but, realised that I was not joining him, came back into the fold. Nice run down to the footbridge which we crossed over. Headed for the Ring. Peter was suffering from his damaged ankle and tended to be the last one going through. Across the Ring and back into the trees. Nice run down through Shaws before disappearing into the trees. Under a floodlight we stopped to adjust Alan's light. We took this opportunity to take a photo (see below) but it took 7 attempts to get the self-timer working properly.
We skipped the route from the car park and back and headed out of the trees and onto the tow path again. We headed for Stranmilis before turning and nipping through the Meadows. Nice run through there as always. Peter fell just as we were exiting. His ankle took another hit. He decided to limb back with us to Shaw's and then head off home. Stewart, Alan and I took on the Malone House climb and then into the trees. I was the only one to tackle the exit out of the dip at the far side. Back on the path again and it was Stewart who was filled with energy and took the lead. At the back of the golf club I heard a bang, seen a spray of white latex and was hit by something. It turned out to have been a twig which had got caught around the rear wheel on Stewart's bike, punctured a large hole in the tire before flicking out and hitting me as I rode along side.
We stopped to fix the problem. Stewart produced another tube from the saddle bag and did warn us it might not be good. It wasn't. Big hole in the side. With Alan having given away his spare tube to Peter, Stewart now with a dud tube that left only one spare between us, mine. Stewart got it fitted and got back on his bike. We all set off gingerly at first back to Lisburn. After the steel bridge it was Alan who took the lead. At one point Stewart said we were doing 18 mph. Alan then found another gear and pushed us up to 21 mph. Rounding the Coca-cola factory we almost crashed into a dog walker. The pace dropped. Stewart left at Hilden. Alan and I took it easy and made it back for 9:20 ish.
Great night. Very enjoyable.