Tow path 3 March 2011

[manuel6b2]

Tow path run from Lisburn Civic Centre to Belfast and back is on again tonight. Meet at 6:45 at back of Civic Centre for departure at 7pm sharp.

[manuel6b2]

Felt a whole lot better than I did last Thursday. The tummy bug (or whatever it was) knocked me for six. Nice to get back out again onto the tow path.

Big night for us, 11 in total. Peter S, Pedals Pete, Kyle, Mr Consistent Adrian, Atomic Alan, Trevor N, Phil G, Stewart, the legend Bob Patterson, Davy Y (who we picked up in Hilden) and me.

We set off at 7pm with Alan and me leading the bunch down the path. It was a perfect night, no wind, no rain, ground dry and not too many walkers out. The pace was high, Alan hadn’t been out for 3 weeks and was buzzing from the ‘off’. Short stop near Lady Dixon when Stewart and Pedals Pete took over. These two kept the pace high but the bunch stayed together. Over the footbridge and we swapped again putting Kyle and Adrian up front. This worked until the start of the trail around the Ring when Alan and I took over the lead. Through the series of gates we went. We stopped just inside the gate at the final run to gather up again before Alan led us onto the Ring itself with me right on his rear wheel all the way. All gathered up then sprinted across the Ring. Out the far side, down nettle lane. Bob concluding that his brakes were more noise than stopping action.

Quick sprint down the road towards Minnowburn, me out front with Bob. Cheeky Trevor N then shot past us (time trial training coming on well). I shot off after him and went round him. Phil G almost came around me before we turned in towards the tow path again. Steady run through Shaw’s towards the trees. All through, Alan up front, me and Peter S at the back. I was too far back to challenge the first short hill up towards the exit from the park but on the return leg I started to make my way from the back and was at full tilt for the climb up to the car park. Felt good. Alan was suffering through. Thought we see Bogues’ boys through the trees. Looks like they had a big group out too.

Quick breather in the car park. Peter S deciding to give the loop a miss. He is still recovering from a long period off the bike. Good run around here with Alan and Kyle up front. Pedals Pete was then pushing us on through the trees. Alan couldn’t keep up with him so I bridged the gap to his back wheel. Just before the aqueduct Pete turns right. We normally go under the aqueduct THEN turn right. I yelled but he also spotted that we was heading directly for the river. That left me to get back to the car park on my own. The rest of the bunch followed shortly afterwards.

All 11 then set off out the trees and back to the tow path. A quick pace down towards Stranmillis. I was at the back with Davy Y. We turned and then headed for the Meadows. I took over the lead to ensure that we all went via Adrian’s bypass. Kyle was chasing me up the gravel path towards the Malone Road entrance. When the ‘all up’ was given I took off first wanting a clear run at the dips. Enjoyed these. All gathered up on the path. One missing. Peter S. Chain suck on the granny ring meant that he was running-with-bike down the hill. Quick fix and off we went. More quick pace from the front guys as we headed for Shaw’s. At the bridge beside the “how much!” café Peter decided that we would check to see if the granny ring was ok again. Big mistake. More chain suck. Had to stop to fix it again. He decided to give cardiac hill a miss. Peter, Davy Y, Kyle and I had to play catch up with the others. They were already on cardiac hill when we arrived. Peter went on and the rest of us took on the climb. Davy Y was the last up. We waited for him to say ‘off we go’. Stewart was off like a whippet with Alan and me chasing. Down through the trees and up past the running track. Lots trying the dip out past the BMX jumps and succeeding. I didn’t get it this week. Too close to the tree.

Then for the big push home. Alan, Pedals Pete, Trevor N were really pushing it. Bodies were strung out all over the place. We re-gathered past the steel bridge and stayed together as a group. However, it wasn’t long before them three were starting to lift the pace again. More bodies out, regathered. Trevor N shot off the front. I gave chase; we rounded a left hand bend. I heard a crash ahead (but no splash). Around the corner I found Trevor off the tarmac and onto the grass bank. (Going too fast!) Other riders like Alan were almost on top of us. Trevor picked himself up, fixed the chain back on and set off again. No harm to bike or man (well, until he woke up the next day….?)

The group was getting split up again. Trevor, Kyle and I waited at Hilden. Alan came along and went straight on not waiting. We set off after him. Bob and Adrian were bringing up the rear. Stewart & Peter S peeled off at Hilden, Davy Y peeled off at Lambeg. The pace was really high then. I was a long way back before I decided to give chase. I passed Kyle, Phil, then Alan. I was bearing down on Trevor. Up ahead were Kyle and Pete. We were under the concrete bridge with the lights of the Civic Centre up ahead. I was still a good distance off these two. I was pushing hard and closing but so was the distance to the finish. I really dug in, legging spinning, last change of gear. I started to close in on them. The beam of light from my bike was on Pete’s back. I was hammering at this stage and starting to make ground. As I got near them Pete was swinging to the right to go side by side with Kyle. I shouting “on your right”, Pete pulled over a bit, I went through, momentum high. Left Kyle and powered on through the arches. Felt great..

Kyle’s comment “I’ll get ya one day”. And he will.

Great night, bit too pacey at times. Thankfully no punctures and just Peter S’ chain suck issue. Hope to keep this form for Sunday’s race.

Looking forward to next week’s run.