Tow path 26 November 2008

[manuel6b2]

Tow path tonight.

Looks like it will be a clear one. Cold but dry.

[manuel6b2]

What a relief to not see that ******* rain for one day!!! Seven gathered at the Lisburn Civic Centre tonight among them, team 'The Losers' (missing Stewart who was ripping that he had to stay at home to sell a motorbike),
Jonathan (back for more),
Savage Pete,
and our newbees Colin and David.

We set off just after 7 on a fine, dry evening with little wind but darn cold. Dennis and I lead the bunch right to the footbridge passing a few MTBers going the opposite direction. We crossed over and then Dennis and I lead again to the forest for a quick blast. We passed Neill C + a.n.other heading in the opposite direction.

There was the usual charges up the climbs with me still using all the tricks in the book to stay ahead. Fast run around the loop before heading down and onto the tow path again. Thankfully there was barely a puddle and the run to Stranmillis was quite steady and dry

Back through the Meadows with Savage Pete right on my tail the whole way. We didn't hang about once we got back on the path and headed back towards Lisburn spotting more cyclists out on the far side of the river. At Shaw's "most" of us climbed up to Malone House with Colin and David going straight on instead. Alan was leading the group up the climb with me right on his tail and, you guessed, Savage Pete right on mine. No let up from the man with his new (first time) cleats!!

I lead the bunch then through the trees and up to the running track. I also wanted to be first going through the jumps and through the dip at the bottom. Alan (I think) took a bit of a tumble in the dip itself. The rest walked it.

Back on the path and it was Alan and I leading the way back with Savage tucked in behind. Past the steel bridge it was then Pete and I on the front with Dennis behind. Alan and Jonathan were coming back at their own pace. The tempo was brisk but not full on. We were almost back to the Civic Centre when we spotted the other two, Colin and David and that then got us going. Pete and Dennis took off while I hesitated contemplating whether to give chase or cruise back. After a moments thought I decided to give chase. Dennis had gotten ahead of Pete but I must have had a good wind on my back as I went past Pete and then caught and passed Dennis before charging up to overtake David and Colin 100m before the arches at the Civic Centre. That got the breathing going!!!!

Great night. Very enjoyable, but compared to last weeks episodes of aquabiking and flying Heron incident, it was pretty uneventful !!! ;D

Roll on next week. Fingers crossed we get another great evening like this one.