Post by manuel6b on Jan 31, 2014 15:20:08 GMT 1
Another great night on the tow path. Mild, dry and barely a breeze. Four of us out. Graham (big 29er), Garry (50 miles in his legs already today), the return of Kyle and me. We set off just after 7pm. Kyle and me on the front, Graham and Garry in behind. Kyle going strong despite not being on this run for a while (lots of secret training with John S though 
). Hardly any other MTBers out.
Over the footbridge. Kyle went ahead as he was worried he would be keeping us back (not likely!!). We chased after him. Around the paths to Giant's Ring. All lined up for the sprint. Kyle went ahead of us leaving me to say "Ready", Graham to say "Steady" and Garry to say "Go". Another tough sprint with Graham but I got ahead of him just as we caught up to Kyle. Heart pounding!!
Kyle again went ahead and we didn't catch him until the entrance to the trees. A good run around here. I'm still dying on the hills. Garry and Graham charging up the first climb at "OldOak" (new name) before we all set off to Vomit Hill. I went ahead trying to get some ground on the others but Garry and Graham were past me in a flash at the base of the climb. Garry got the jump and held it to the top while Graham was only half a wheel behind him. Kyle brought up the rear on this one.
Around the loop and there was little hanging about. Garry and Graham again racing to be first back to the car park. Back down to the tow path for a steady spin back to Shaw's with Graham wheel rubbing Garry onto the bridge at Lock Keepers. Got to Shaw's together. I took off first up Cardiac Hill but Garry was soon past me. Graham didn't attack this time. We regrouped just beyond the shadow men. I then lead off around the trails. Good push on here with everyone keeping up. Up from Mary Peters onto the Malone Road and through Lady Dixon Park back to the tow path. A fast push home with Garry and me at the front initially. At Lambeg I got Graham and Kyle to take over the pacing. We stayed in this formation until "Sprint Bridge" on the run into Lagan. Graham went off the front and I gave chase as I was behind his wheel. Another fast sprint but I managed to get past him (despite him leaning on me on the way past!!) to get back to the Civic Centre first.
A great night. We got back for 8:50, a record for us, in part because we had no punctures tonight.
Animal observations - 5 rabbits, 3 swans.
Roll on next week.
). Hardly any other MTBers out.Over the footbridge. Kyle went ahead as he was worried he would be keeping us back (not likely!!). We chased after him. Around the paths to Giant's Ring. All lined up for the sprint. Kyle went ahead of us leaving me to say "Ready", Graham to say "Steady" and Garry to say "Go". Another tough sprint with Graham but I got ahead of him just as we caught up to Kyle. Heart pounding!!
Kyle again went ahead and we didn't catch him until the entrance to the trees. A good run around here. I'm still dying on the hills. Garry and Graham charging up the first climb at "OldOak" (new name) before we all set off to Vomit Hill. I went ahead trying to get some ground on the others but Garry and Graham were past me in a flash at the base of the climb. Garry got the jump and held it to the top while Graham was only half a wheel behind him. Kyle brought up the rear on this one.
Around the loop and there was little hanging about. Garry and Graham again racing to be first back to the car park. Back down to the tow path for a steady spin back to Shaw's with Graham wheel rubbing Garry onto the bridge at Lock Keepers. Got to Shaw's together. I took off first up Cardiac Hill but Garry was soon past me. Graham didn't attack this time. We regrouped just beyond the shadow men. I then lead off around the trails. Good push on here with everyone keeping up. Up from Mary Peters onto the Malone Road and through Lady Dixon Park back to the tow path. A fast push home with Garry and me at the front initially. At Lambeg I got Graham and Kyle to take over the pacing. We stayed in this formation until "Sprint Bridge" on the run into Lagan. Graham went off the front and I gave chase as I was behind his wheel. Another fast sprint but I managed to get past him (despite him leaning on me on the way past!!) to get back to the Civic Centre first.
A great night. We got back for 8:50, a record for us, in part because we had no punctures tonight.
Animal observations - 5 rabbits, 3 swans.
Roll on next week.