Tow path 10 November 2011

[manuel6b]

Tow path run on tonight. Looks like a lovely evening

5 confirmed + me so far.

[johnmcg]

Lucky f*#k*#s

[manuel6b]

Six of us out on a mild November evening, warm, clear skies almost full moon. Beautiful

Kyle, Adrian, Gibson, Phil G and I set off at 7 am and met Torchy along the path. Adrian and I up front for a nice steady run with hardly any walkers out. Met one bunch of 3 riders on the way down to the steel bridge. After a brief stop we pushed on for the footbridge, crossed over, gathered up quickly and I lead the bunch around towards the Ring. Met another bunch of 4 on the way to the Ring itself (VC Glendale?). All gathered up on the edge of the Ring for the sprint across. Adrian is sacked as our starter with his feeble 'one, two, three go'. Kyle got the jump on me and I couldn't catch him. Phil G came past me before we reached the far side. 3rd!

At the gate we came across a bunch of 7/8 coming into the Ring. Quick help with the bikes through the gate to speed up operation and we all set off out of the park and across to neetle lane. Slippery as before. All out to the road and expecting the sprint from Torchy. He didn't let us down. Kyle shot off after him, as did I, but I was losing out rapidly. Kyle thinks Torchy backed off before the left hand turn. I got there,....3rd!

Torchy lead us along the side of the river and into the trees. Nice run through here and I managed to get to the front for the first small hill up around the loop. We then took off at pace towards the big climb up to the car park. I was leading out but Kyle came through and then so did Gibson. I was 3rd up the climb
Adrian was 'lost' again but we gathered him up and off we went around the car park loop. Nice blast around here which I lead but had Kyle close to my back wheel. On the climb back out to the car park I pulled over to the side to let through Kyle, Gibson, Adrian and Phil. I was 5th back to the car park

All gathered up for the exit back to the tow path. Turned and headed to Stranmillis with Gibson and I on the front. Up ahead was another bunch of riders who didn't turn at the tennis club, which we did, and headed up to the Meadows. I stayed at the front for the whole of the Meadows run.

Back to the path with Kyle and I leading the bunch back to Shaw's bridge. Torchy left us here. The remaining 5 went up Cardiac hill, Kyle very strong off the front, but he didn't go too far ahead as he didn't want to be alone among the shadow men..

Down through the trees, up to the running track and out to the BMX jumps. I was in front to get a clear exit out of the dip but I was almost overtaken by downhill nutter Phil G who, on his mono fork hard tail tried to shoot past me!! Such skill !

For the run back Kyle was in a big hurry and was about 10 bike lengths off the front which I couldn't close down. Adrian and I rode side by side and just left Kyle out front. We did gather up at the steel bridge and I went to the back to get the draft. Nice run back to Lambeg after which Phil G started to fade. I was happy to ride beside him and let the other 3 duke it out for the win, which Kyle got, followed by Gibson and "overseen" by Adrian (who claimed there was no sprint).

All back for around 9:20. Great run, great evening, roll on next week

[torchy]

Great run last night with less mud and glorious clear skies - perfect night to be out.

I reckon we should get a head cam to record Phil Gs antics - he can make that old school mtb dance

see u next week.

T