Tow path 25 Nov 2010

[manuel6b2]

Tow path run on tonight again.

Meet at 6:45 at Civic Centre in Lisburn.

Looks like it will be a nice night, little wind, cool, light rain forecast for 9pm.

Confirmed
Kyle I, Adrian, Trevor N (new),

Possible
Massimo, Stewart

Not available
Neill, Alan, John McG,

[torchy]

I've just read last week's report

spare socks packed ;D

Trev

[manuel6b2]

Trevor, I got the following from Surfer Stevie.

"The towpath is fine, they've even cleared the mud off the bits that were under water."

You shouldn't need the spare socks

[torchy]

phew - might not even get my bike dirty? ;D

[manuel6b2]

It had just started to rain when we arrived at the Civic Centre last night. Low turn out with just our (newest) regulares Adrian and Kyle (back despite having to wade through water last week) and with a new addition Trevor "torchy", a time trialler from Phoenix with his new mtb all gleaming and clean (this was only his third time out on it). We set off with icy rain in our faces, Kyle and Adrian up front with Trevor and me in behind. Steady run down to the metal bridge, the path in great nick despite last week's floods. We pushed on further to the footbridge, an obstacle that the group needs to learn how to ride up

Over to the far side for a quick spin towards the Ring. Trevor getting used to the gravel climbs, the rain still cutting the faces. Nice spin around here. Crossed the Ring, through the gates and down a slippery nettle lane. Pushed on back to Shaw's, I was leading the pack down to the trees. Nice run through here, some excellent climbs. Adrian was struggling and wanted to head back after we returned to the tow path. As we were all pretty cold by this stage, my feet were starting to feel it again, we agreed to skip the meadows and pushed on for Shaw's again. Through the gate Adrian decided to go straight on and gave us the target "you can catch up to me". The rest of us took on cardiac hill, Trevor commented that it was well named

On through the trees and up to the track. Of course we had to take the new guy down past the BMX jumps and out the dip at the end. Kyle couldn't get his line right so we let him try a couple more times. Trevor declined, we both agreed that the roots etc would be more of what Johnny B would be heading for. Back on the path, still cold I was pushing hard to catch up to Adrian. On and on we pushed, little conversation, buff up around my face to protect from the icy rain, on and on with still no sign of Adrian in front. We thought he had left the path to take the road back to the Civic Centre. Back to the CC just after 9 and there was Adrian with his bike on the car already. He must have been going a fair lick. He told us he was pushing so hard not to get caught. He has been holding back on us!!! Next week Adrian is going to lead us around the route at this super speed !!!!

Great night out. Little wind, just that annoying rain. Not as cold as last week but still cold enough.

Looking forward to next week's run. Hope the predicted wintery weather holds off.

[torchy]

really enjoyed that last nite guys

Thanks for the welcome and it was fun to learn some new territory - i did get my pristine bike totally bogging but did end up outside hosing it down at 11pm after being fed and watered - my neighbours reckon ive totally lost it ;D

The short sharp climbs are good training and it beats being on a turbo trainer by a long margin - i just need to get the hang of going up hills and making forward progress instead of mini wheelies and then grinding to a halt

roll on next week

Trev