Post by manuel6b on Dec 16, 2011 12:52:57 GMT 1
With threats of snow there were not too many wanting to turn up at the tow path last night. Some loaded with the cold, one with an injured knee etc but Stewart, Kyle and I were there along with Torchy who had cycled up the path to join us. The four of us set off at 7 pm for a pleasant run down the path with Stewart and I at the front yammaring about last Sunday’s trail quest. The weather was cool but no rain, nor snow nor strong winds. Nice one!
Just before the footbridge we passed two other guys who didn’t cross over the bridge. I stopped for a wardrobe fix and then joined the others on the far side of the river. Torchy lead us towards the Giant’s Ring. We weren’t going mad, just a nice steady run. Up through and across the Ring where I lead down through neetle lane. Everyone keeping together well and very little time spent hanging around. We gifted Torchy with the sprint along the road section to Minnowburn (first part of our Christmas present to him
Torchy then lead us to Shaw’s then down to the trees for a great run here. I was leading up the first climb when Torchy came through. I didn’t challenge so let him have that small victory as well (part 2 of his gift).
At the next climb, the big one up to the car park, we let Torchy lead out (part 3) but he faded early and Kyle and I went past with Kyle getting a clear victory to the top of that climb. We gathered up really quickly and set off around the loop with everyone keeping together. I was getting some left knee pain (poor bike set up, again!!) and couldn’t make much of a challenge out to the car park again as I was nursing the leg. Kyle made it back up first. We exited the trees back to the path where Torchy asked us to return early, skipping out the Meadows. We granted him his wish (part 4!) and returned to Shaw’s where Torchy left us to go home. Happy Christmas mate from the towpathers from DCC! ;D
Kyle, Stewart and I then headed up cardiac hill. When we got we turned to look back and seen another set of lights coming up the hill behind us. It was Wes who had arrived late at the Civic Centre and had spent evening chasing after us! We all then set off up through the trees, (no shadow men tonight!), with Wes leading down the slope and up to the running track. I then took over the lead through the BMX jumps (slippery in here with lots of branches down). I messed up the exit through the dip, Wes stopped dead on the way in and had no momentum to get out again but Kyle and Stewart exited successfully. While Stewart adjusted his back wheel the two guys we passed earlier came past us again.
Nice run back to Lisburn with Wes and I at the front. The temperature was dipping and the path was getting icy. We took it easy, kept a nice steady pace. Stewart left at Lambeg leaving the three of us to continue home. No sprint tonight and back for just after 9. Great run!!!
Got home, changed, showered and fed then got a call from Kyle at 9:50. He was still at the Civic Centre as his big wagon had a flat tyre and he needed a trolley jack. Quick call to Stewart then I called to his house to pick up his jack. Got to the Civic Centre for 10:10. We got the car up, wheel nuts off but the wheel wouldn’t shift. A dog walker was there helping too. I called A1 Marsden for advice. Told it was likely that the alloy had ceased onto the rim and that we would need a sledge and a block of wood to shift it. I returned home to get these, got back to the centre and Kyle and I started blattering the inside of the wheel. We ended up destroying the piece of wood I had but made no difference to the wheel. Time to call in the A1 guy. He came with a stronger bit of wood and really blattered the wheel to get it off. Kyle and I finally left the centre at 11:30!!!
Just before the footbridge we passed two other guys who didn’t cross over the bridge. I stopped for a wardrobe fix and then joined the others on the far side of the river. Torchy lead us towards the Giant’s Ring. We weren’t going mad, just a nice steady run. Up through and across the Ring where I lead down through neetle lane. Everyone keeping together well and very little time spent hanging around. We gifted Torchy with the sprint along the road section to Minnowburn (first part of our Christmas present to him
Torchy then lead us to Shaw’s then down to the trees for a great run here. I was leading up the first climb when Torchy came through. I didn’t challenge so let him have that small victory as well (part 2 of his gift).
At the next climb, the big one up to the car park, we let Torchy lead out (part 3) but he faded early and Kyle and I went past with Kyle getting a clear victory to the top of that climb. We gathered up really quickly and set off around the loop with everyone keeping together. I was getting some left knee pain (poor bike set up, again!!) and couldn’t make much of a challenge out to the car park again as I was nursing the leg. Kyle made it back up first. We exited the trees back to the path where Torchy asked us to return early, skipping out the Meadows. We granted him his wish (part 4!) and returned to Shaw’s where Torchy left us to go home. Happy Christmas mate from the towpathers from DCC! ;D
Kyle, Stewart and I then headed up cardiac hill. When we got we turned to look back and seen another set of lights coming up the hill behind us. It was Wes who had arrived late at the Civic Centre and had spent evening chasing after us! We all then set off up through the trees, (no shadow men tonight!), with Wes leading down the slope and up to the running track. I then took over the lead through the BMX jumps (slippery in here with lots of branches down). I messed up the exit through the dip, Wes stopped dead on the way in and had no momentum to get out again but Kyle and Stewart exited successfully. While Stewart adjusted his back wheel the two guys we passed earlier came past us again.
Nice run back to Lisburn with Wes and I at the front. The temperature was dipping and the path was getting icy. We took it easy, kept a nice steady pace. Stewart left at Lambeg leaving the three of us to continue home. No sprint tonight and back for just after 9. Great run!!!
Got home, changed, showered and fed then got a call from Kyle at 9:50. He was still at the Civic Centre as his big wagon had a flat tyre and he needed a trolley jack. Quick call to Stewart then I called to his house to pick up his jack. Got to the Civic Centre for 10:10. We got the car up, wheel nuts off but the wheel wouldn’t shift. A dog walker was there helping too. I called A1 Marsden for advice. Told it was likely that the alloy had ceased onto the rim and that we would need a sledge and a block of wood to shift it. I returned home to get these, got back to the centre and Kyle and I started blattering the inside of the wheel. We ended up destroying the piece of wood I had but made no difference to the wheel. Time to call in the A1 guy. He came with a stronger bit of wood and really blattered the wheel to get it off. Kyle and I finally left the centre at 11:30!!!
