Post by manuel6b on Dec 30, 2011 11:51:42 GMT 1
All day we had lashing rain and strong winds. Every time I looked outside it looked worse. Had we offended the Gods who now sought revenge on us and forbid us to leave the house?
I send out the usual text messages and got a whole string of "no's". Only one fool said "Yup", that was Kyle. At 6 pm I rung Kyle to discuss wether we should give it a skip but he didn't answer. In the meantime Gibson said "I'm allowed out" so that was it, I had to go.
Got changed, loaded up the car and got to the Civic Centre for 6:45. Just the 3 of us but no rain and the wind had died down!!!
We set off at 7 with Kyle and I on the front and Gibson tucked in behind. Good pace down to the usual stop where Kyle and I both took a layer off. It was quite mild now!
Onwards and over the footbridge. Kyle lead us to the Ring. Gibson went for the race across but I pipped him to the far side. I then lead down a very slippery nettle lane. At the road Gibson took over Torchy's role and shot off from the start. I took off after him and just got around him before the left hander into Minnowburn. I was in the red!!
Steady run then to the trees. Kyle lead us through here to the first small climb where Kyle faded and I made it up first!!
Around the loop and headed for the bigger climb up to the car park. We had to stop for a branch which completely blocked the path. We got off and pushed it out of the way as best we could. Momentum lost we pushed on for the climb. I was going alright but Kyle was going better and he made it to the top first, I was second and Gibson third. No hanging about I lead us around the loop. At the climb back to the car park both Kyle and Gibson went around me then Gibson came from behind to make it up to the car park first.
Again no hanging about we pushed onto the tow path again and turned right to head for Stranmillis. Steady run there and then we turned to head back through the Meadows. While Kyle and Gibson were chatting I set off to get a jump on them! Good fun run through here as always. All gathered up again and set off down the tow path towards Shaw's. Gibson was on cardiac hill first and I was on his wheel. Kyle was last through the gate at the bottom and therefore well behind on the climb. Just before the pain tree I went past Gibson to get to the top first. In the red again me thinks!!
We all set off then through the trees. No shadow men about. Gibson tired to out brake me on the first descent but he almost overshot the right hander. I then lead up through the trees to the track and then down to the BMX jumps. Very slippery in here. I attacked the exit dip but the front wheel pulled left in the mud and I messed up my exit. Gibson and Kyle struggled with the mud at this dip as well.
All set off again for home with Gibson out front. I was tucked in behind him as he was going at a fair lick. I was struggling to keep up and only at the Lady Dixon corner, when Gibson went incorrectly right up the hill to the main road, did I get to the front and crossed the steel bridge. I then lead the other three for a while but with Gibson's strong light behind me I could barely see in front. All I could see was a giant shadow of me!!
Gibson took to the front just after Hilden. Then I realised that Kyle was not behind him. We all stopped. Kyle caught up but Gibson was well gone by this stage. Kyle and I cycled home side by side. No point in racing now. Gibson was flying!!
Great night. Really glad we went out. It was dry and the winds had calmed when we got back to the car park. It was cold though so we didn't hang about.
Roll on next week !! Hope to see more out.
I send out the usual text messages and got a whole string of "no's". Only one fool said "Yup", that was Kyle. At 6 pm I rung Kyle to discuss wether we should give it a skip but he didn't answer. In the meantime Gibson said "I'm allowed out" so that was it, I had to go.
Got changed, loaded up the car and got to the Civic Centre for 6:45. Just the 3 of us but no rain and the wind had died down!!!
We set off at 7 with Kyle and I on the front and Gibson tucked in behind. Good pace down to the usual stop where Kyle and I both took a layer off. It was quite mild now!
Onwards and over the footbridge. Kyle lead us to the Ring. Gibson went for the race across but I pipped him to the far side. I then lead down a very slippery nettle lane. At the road Gibson took over Torchy's role and shot off from the start. I took off after him and just got around him before the left hander into Minnowburn. I was in the red!!
Steady run then to the trees. Kyle lead us through here to the first small climb where Kyle faded and I made it up first!!
Around the loop and headed for the bigger climb up to the car park. We had to stop for a branch which completely blocked the path. We got off and pushed it out of the way as best we could. Momentum lost we pushed on for the climb. I was going alright but Kyle was going better and he made it to the top first, I was second and Gibson third. No hanging about I lead us around the loop. At the climb back to the car park both Kyle and Gibson went around me then Gibson came from behind to make it up to the car park first.
Again no hanging about we pushed onto the tow path again and turned right to head for Stranmillis. Steady run there and then we turned to head back through the Meadows. While Kyle and Gibson were chatting I set off to get a jump on them! Good fun run through here as always. All gathered up again and set off down the tow path towards Shaw's. Gibson was on cardiac hill first and I was on his wheel. Kyle was last through the gate at the bottom and therefore well behind on the climb. Just before the pain tree I went past Gibson to get to the top first. In the red again me thinks!!
We all set off then through the trees. No shadow men about. Gibson tired to out brake me on the first descent but he almost overshot the right hander. I then lead up through the trees to the track and then down to the BMX jumps. Very slippery in here. I attacked the exit dip but the front wheel pulled left in the mud and I messed up my exit. Gibson and Kyle struggled with the mud at this dip as well.
All set off again for home with Gibson out front. I was tucked in behind him as he was going at a fair lick. I was struggling to keep up and only at the Lady Dixon corner, when Gibson went incorrectly right up the hill to the main road, did I get to the front and crossed the steel bridge. I then lead the other three for a while but with Gibson's strong light behind me I could barely see in front. All I could see was a giant shadow of me!!
Gibson took to the front just after Hilden. Then I realised that Kyle was not behind him. We all stopped. Kyle caught up but Gibson was well gone by this stage. Kyle and I cycled home side by side. No point in racing now. Gibson was flying!!
Great night. Really glad we went out. It was dry and the winds had calmed when we got back to the car park. It was cold though so we didn't hang about.
Roll on next week !! Hope to see more out.
