Tow path 10 March 2011

[manuel6b2]

Looks like it might be a damp one tonight.

Meet at 6:45 at back of Civic Centre in Lisburn

[manuel6b2]

Bad start to the night when I went out to the garage to find my back wheel soft. Quick change (better in a garage then out in the open). Running late. Set off. Seen a missed call from Alan who was looking for a track pump. Turned around and drove back to the house to get mine. Arrived at 7pm. Dennis just arriving by bike. Alan showed up about 5 past 7. Got his tyre sorted then off we went. 8 in total. Dennis, Alan, Adrian, Kyle, Trevor N, Peter S, Bob and me. There had been rain predicted but thankfully it hadn’t shown up. Windy though.

Kyle and I lead the bunch down the path towards Belfast, the pace was quick but not hectic. Usual stop near Lady Dixon. Peter S having trouble with a cheap mudguard. Removed and placing beside a tree to get on the way back. At the footbridge we all headed over, Alan too eager to get over first forcing me to walk over Peter S then having problems with his light fitting. I lead the bunch on the other side. Met three riders coming the other way. Blinded!

Up towards the Ring. I was driving hard from the front knowing that Kyle and Alan weren’t far behind. All across the Ring, exit, down nettle lane. Bob’s brakes still sounding like an Ulsterbus. Back on the road heading towards Minnowburn. Trevor N shot past (again!). I tore off after him just getting around him before the turn back in toward Shaw’s
Nice run from there to the trees. Alan lead off, I was at the back with Peter S. Too far back for a challenge on the first climb but made sure I was at the front for the second climb up to the car park. All set off around the loop. Had to stop as Bob got a puncture. He put on a Formula 1 display of how to not hang about fitting a new tube. A sight to see. All set off again back up to the car park. When we got back we had another puncture, this time it was Alan’s rear wheel. This was Alan’s 4th puncture in 2 days and he was all out of tubes. Bro Dennis to the rescue. Bob into action again. Met up with Johnny Dugan and his crew who were out as well.

All back down the hill and back to the path. With the hold-ups we decided to skip the Meadows. Steady pace heading back with Alan and me on the front. All going well until we neared Shaw’s when we realised we were a man short. Peter S was missing. We went onto the car park to wait for him. He came walking under the bridge. Problem with gears. Bob and I stayed with him, the others climbed up cardiac hill. Bob sorted it out and Peter S and Bob went straight on to meet the others. I went up Cardiac to chase the rest. I only caught up with them at the exit from the BMX jumps. Successful exit this time through the dip.

Bob and I were on the front then as we headed back to Lisburn. Through the steel bridge Bob managed to rub against an exposed bolt. Nice cut to the arm. Bob and I led the others again until Bob decided to give someone else a go at the front to get out of the wind. Kyle stepped up. Him and I lead the rest back but the others were getting restless, especially Trevor N who wanted to lift the pace. I provided him with some valuable information on doing ‘things’ prematurely. After all he had hit the dirt last week when he went too fast on a corner. Kyle and I continued to hold the others up past the Lambeg Road and all the way up to the bridge where the CX course went across. I then said to Kyle, “ok, let’s go”. We lifted the pace at this point. Kyle stuck it for a while but then dropped back. I pushed it on. A light appeared to my right. I looked across expecting it to be Trevor or Alan. It was Adrian!!! He gave me a run for my money before he dropped back. The end was in sight and I thought I was going to get there unchallenged when old-hat Dennis comes powering through on my right. I got out of the saddle to start chasing, attacking him on his right. Up through the gears, pushing the bike so hard the front wheel was starting to wobble uncontrollably. Teeth gritted I drove on. This boy was not giving in. I came up level with him and then finally started to edge in front. I knew I had it when I heard Dennis laugh. We powered through the arches with me just a wheel length in front. What a great sprint!!! I was well into the purple zone, never mind the red.

Great night, no rain but lots of mechanicals. We found out then about Trevor N, after all his slagging about us going so slow that his chain was frozen, didn’t feature in the final sprint as he had picked up a puncture as well. Probably from trying to go around Kyle and me off the tarmac. He’d have probably blown up anyway

Super work out, 20 odd mile done, 13.2 average. Roll on the MTB race on Sunday.

We’ll have to see about next Thursday as it is St. Patrick’s day. I’ll send out text messages during the week to see who can come.