Post by manuel6b2 on Dec 31, 2010 0:21:55 GMT 1
My domestic arrangements were a bit complicated tonight with wife working, normal babysitter in a house with no water or heating, I had to wait at home (my kit on, bike on roof of car) until good wife arrived home. 7:40 I finally got away. Lads had started at 7. I told them I'd head for Shaw's bridge but at that time I didn't know where they would be. I decided to take the Hillhall Road with the turn off to Giant's Ring. The group normally pop out onto this road briefly before dropping into Minnowburn. As I drove along I thought "wouldn't it be nice if they were on this road so that I would know exactly where they were and that they would know where I was". Lo and behold up ahead there were 6 riders, at least one in a Dromara top. Great. I pulled up along side and told them where I'd meet them. Success. They looked a bit knackered. Alan had been driving them hard from Lisburn. Also out was Stewart, Dennis, Kyle I, Pedals Pete and Raymond on his brand new steed. Nice....
We set off through the trees for a great run. I only had one working light on the bike as the battery I thought I had charged up weeks ago was flat. It was great to be out on the bike again. It felt like a long time since the last trail quest. The hills were tough as usual but looking around the group were sticking together really well. The sprint up the hill to the car park was fun with Pete chasing me all the way. My body was screaming in shock after weeks of doing nothing. I then lead the group around the loop but Pete took the climb back up to the car park. The one light I had had given up at this stage. Time to stick close to Alan. Pete was doing the same thing. Back out to the path for a fast run to Stranmillis. Again no one getting dropped. We turned and headed up the Meadows. Not as much fun without your own light but Alan was setting a great pace for me to stick to. Out of the last dip and we had Stewart come through to lead us out. All back to the path for a nice steady run back to Shaw's with Alan and me at the front.
We had to get up to Malone House. The evening was perfect for cycling, 7o for heavens sake. What a difference a week makes. Raymund and his new steed were having teething problems with the clip ins. Raymund hit the deck twice in quick succession. A few bruises but on he went up cardiac hill like a trooper. At the top I linked up with Alan again for the light. That boy descends quickly through the trees and I had a devil of a job keeping up with him. Out to the track for a quick break before heading down past the BMX jumps. I missed getting Alan's light and had to rely on the candle I was wearing on my helmet. Not good. I called ahead to have Alan light the exit dip. This was great until I hit the dip itself when my head was parallel to Alan's powerful front light. All I seen was bright yellow. Nothing else. Naturally I wasn't able to power out of the dip. I pushed the bike up blinking to try to regain some sort of night vision. Kyle was the only other to attempt the exit dip but didn't make it this week. I left the 6 companions to ride back to Lisburn. I turned and headed back to Shaw's where I had parked the car. I only had the candle on my head for light. It was eerie but tranquil. What a great evening. Heard the strange sound of a chain saw in action off to my right. At 9:10 pm this seemed a little strange. I suppose with so many without heat someone was perhaps making use of abundant fuel
Great craic. Can't wait for next Thursday.
A few cry offs tonight:
Davy Y (dying with the cold)
Massimo (babysitting)
Kyle A (in Cambodia)
Adrian (no water = no shower for him or the bike
)
John McG (busted after going out with the roadies earlier today)
We set off through the trees for a great run. I only had one working light on the bike as the battery I thought I had charged up weeks ago was flat. It was great to be out on the bike again. It felt like a long time since the last trail quest. The hills were tough as usual but looking around the group were sticking together really well. The sprint up the hill to the car park was fun with Pete chasing me all the way. My body was screaming in shock after weeks of doing nothing. I then lead the group around the loop but Pete took the climb back up to the car park. The one light I had had given up at this stage. Time to stick close to Alan. Pete was doing the same thing. Back out to the path for a fast run to Stranmillis. Again no one getting dropped. We turned and headed up the Meadows. Not as much fun without your own light but Alan was setting a great pace for me to stick to. Out of the last dip and we had Stewart come through to lead us out. All back to the path for a nice steady run back to Shaw's with Alan and me at the front.
We had to get up to Malone House. The evening was perfect for cycling, 7o for heavens sake. What a difference a week makes. Raymund and his new steed were having teething problems with the clip ins. Raymund hit the deck twice in quick succession. A few bruises but on he went up cardiac hill like a trooper. At the top I linked up with Alan again for the light. That boy descends quickly through the trees and I had a devil of a job keeping up with him. Out to the track for a quick break before heading down past the BMX jumps. I missed getting Alan's light and had to rely on the candle I was wearing on my helmet. Not good. I called ahead to have Alan light the exit dip. This was great until I hit the dip itself when my head was parallel to Alan's powerful front light. All I seen was bright yellow. Nothing else. Naturally I wasn't able to power out of the dip. I pushed the bike up blinking to try to regain some sort of night vision. Kyle was the only other to attempt the exit dip but didn't make it this week. I left the 6 companions to ride back to Lisburn. I turned and headed back to Shaw's where I had parked the car. I only had the candle on my head for light. It was eerie but tranquil. What a great evening. Heard the strange sound of a chain saw in action off to my right. At 9:10 pm this seemed a little strange. I suppose with so many without heat someone was perhaps making use of abundant fuel
Great craic. Can't wait for next Thursday.
A few cry offs tonight:
Davy Y (dying with the cold)
Massimo (babysitting)
Kyle A (in Cambodia)
Adrian (no water = no shower for him or the bike
)John McG (busted after going out with the roadies earlier today)