Post by manuel6b on Jan 3, 2014 14:52:12 GMT 1
2014 and New Year Resolution number 1 - get out on the bike more.
Thursday night tow path run had 5 of us out. John S, Garry W, Michael McG, Graham B + me. We gathered at the back of the Civic Centre in Lisburn. The night was mild and dry. A super night to get out. Garry had mentioned that there might be ice later on. We headed off, Garry and me at the front, had to swerve to avoid the remains of a bonfire under the first bridge
but other than that nothing to report on this first section, hardly a walker out. Around Lady Dixon it started to drizzle. We crossed over the footbridge and headed for the Ring. Michael McG was struggling a bit at this stage but kept going. A sprint across the Ring with John S getting a sneaky bike length on the rest of us which lead to him getting across first. After disqualification I took the win after a great sprint against Graham 
On down through Ronan's way back to Minnowburn with the rain coming on harder. Into the trees and the rain really started to pour down. The 3 strong lads up front with Michael and me bringing up the rear. The climb up Vomit Ridge was tough. Lots of damaged fences and trees from the recent high winds. We set off around the loop but stopped early with Graham B getting a rear wheel puncture. (Almost) text book tube replacement on the big 29er. We set off again but only got to the ice house where we stopped again so that John S could fix the tensioner on his single speed MTB. Struggled up the climb back to the car park. Down and out of the trees back to the path. We skipped the Meadows as we were running well behind. Back to Shaw's bridge at a steady pace which was matched by the steady rain. We skipped Cardiac Hill and the trails and just pushed for home. I was trying to keep Garry W on a leash as his "steady" is not my "steady". This despite him climbing up Divis early in the day!! Eventually John S and Garry W got side by side and that was the last we seen of them. Graham, Michael and I stayed together riding at a good pace into the head wind.
All back for just after 9:10 but with the cold and wet clothing there was no hanging about afterwards chatting. Home for nice warm shower and dry clothes. It's only when the cup of tea is in the hand did I realise that it was a good night out on the bike.
Thursday night tow path run had 5 of us out. John S, Garry W, Michael McG, Graham B + me. We gathered at the back of the Civic Centre in Lisburn. The night was mild and dry. A super night to get out. Garry had mentioned that there might be ice later on. We headed off, Garry and me at the front, had to swerve to avoid the remains of a bonfire under the first bridge
but other than that nothing to report on this first section, hardly a walker out. Around Lady Dixon it started to drizzle. We crossed over the footbridge and headed for the Ring. Michael McG was struggling a bit at this stage but kept going. A sprint across the Ring with John S getting a sneaky bike length on the rest of us which lead to him getting across first. After disqualification I took the win after a great sprint against Graham 
On down through Ronan's way back to Minnowburn with the rain coming on harder. Into the trees and the rain really started to pour down. The 3 strong lads up front with Michael and me bringing up the rear. The climb up Vomit Ridge was tough. Lots of damaged fences and trees from the recent high winds. We set off around the loop but stopped early with Graham B getting a rear wheel puncture. (Almost) text book tube replacement on the big 29er. We set off again but only got to the ice house where we stopped again so that John S could fix the tensioner on his single speed MTB. Struggled up the climb back to the car park. Down and out of the trees back to the path. We skipped the Meadows as we were running well behind. Back to Shaw's bridge at a steady pace which was matched by the steady rain. We skipped Cardiac Hill and the trails and just pushed for home. I was trying to keep Garry W on a leash as his "steady" is not my "steady". This despite him climbing up Divis early in the day!! Eventually John S and Garry W got side by side and that was the last we seen of them. Graham, Michael and I stayed together riding at a good pace into the head wind.
All back for just after 9:10 but with the cold and wet clothing there was no hanging about afterwards chatting. Home for nice warm shower and dry clothes. It's only when the cup of tea is in the hand did I realise that it was a good night out on the bike.
