TT late again, solo ride and no coffee buddies

For the 469th time since the formation of the cycling arm of the Pirates Sporting Club, ‘He Who Is Habitually Late’ (aka TT) was late for a ride.

The 5.45am roll out time was strictly adhered to this morning as ½ Bionic, embracing the law of diminishing returns, was in no mood to wait on the off chance HWIHL would only be a minute or two away. After some chatter at Head of the Yarra last year, Richo made his maiden appearance for a Pirate ride.  Some other enormous dude whose name few of us caught fronted up too.  Geez sitting behind him was a free ride I tell you.  The roll down was uneventful until ½ Bionic, keeping a watchful eye on the rain radar on his phone (while doing a turn on the front of the bunch mind you) called a left hand turn at Reserve Rd to avoid the impending precipitation.

The truncated trip home comprised slick turns until JLo (fresh from a hard session in the ‘Nongs on Sunday) cracked the shits, jumped on the front, and strung out the Pirate locomotive into a paceline.  ‘Fat Rabbit’ Honeymoon and ½ Bionic were very eager second and third carriages, Sticks less so at fourth wheel and Stationmaster simply making up the numbers as the caboose, with Richo being left to fend for himself.

Although an extended period of caffeination was considered, the group elected to hotfoot it home and ensure no rain-occasioned bike washing would be required.

Apparently HWIHL was on Beach Rd this morning. And was quite miffed not to find us on our usual table at Phamish, prompting ½ Bionic to later remark over email that he had rarely felt such schadenfreude.

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‘Race the Ridge’ – Ride report by Semi Pro Lats

Gents,

Thought I’d give you guys a little update of what the Mighty Pirates have been up to this weekend.

Interesting weekend at Race The Ridge a short 3 stage race run in spring each year over here.  Run by the same guy who put on Barry’s Roubaix a couple of weeks back.  He’s awesome, finds wicked courses and runs such a well organised event.

We had all sorts of weather this weekend.

The RR was on Saturday morning.  Sunny to start with threatening showers.  A 10km loop with 5kms of punchy rolling climbs that always tear the feild apart.  I dressed for the rain and boiled in the first 3 laps, but was happy for the choice of attire come lap 4.  Of course then the corners got slippery. There is a couple of knarly +90 degree corners at the bottom of 70kmph+ straights.  You had to really pick who you wanted in front of you.  I was never feeling great, and then on the last lapdiving through the corners I locked up my rear wheel up and then found myself riding between a culvert and a pole… thanks for the advance driving course dad… look where you want to go.
The group was gone at this stage and I knew I had to limit my losses… and TT’d it as best I could to the finish.  The group must have been pinning it as they put about 90 seconds into me.  1 v 12 in the run to the finish. I lost miserably!

We headed back to Marks for waffles, newspaper in the wet shoes and a snooze… golden.

The TT is a great course (we raced it 3-4 weeks ago so I felt I knew it well) and on arriving at the sign in, I realised in my haste to leave Marks, my newspaper filled shoes had remained by the heater!  Sh!t … it took me 45mins to find someone with shoes that would fit me and a spare pair of pedals (one of the 1-2 guys with lots of sponsorship) I got 5 mins of pedaling in and then is was 5/4/3/2/1 – Go!  Boom.

Awesome 12km course that a little over half way becomes this really rough road… great for heavy guys (any ex-rower albiet lightweight or not).  I think I should do short TT’s with minimal warm up more often.  I felt great!  Rolled in for 4th on this one, and cursed myself for missing that corner this morning!

I just got home from the crit.  I love this course.  Anticlockwise (southern hemisphere style) with a chicane and a big long sweeping bend before the finish straight.  I knew coming into this I was sitting in 10th, 4 secs back from a Canberian … 6/4/2 second bonuses on the primes, so you know what the tactic was get some time, then line up for the win.  The field was small, and the time gaps between the guys going for podium places minimal so no break was going to be let to go.  I think I got two thirds, but am waiting for the results which would put me even for 9th.

There were crashes everywhere, and well, including me coming out of the last bend.  Sitting in 4th wheel, feeling great by this point, I pedaled in the usual spot… but we were coming through a little hotter, clipped the pedal and well, the photos tell the rest of the story!  Crap by me but it comes with the racing.  So much skin and carbon left on the bitumen!  It’s going to be expensive!

The guys were great, taking my bike, loading my bike in the car while the ambo dudes patched me up… Though I found alot more grit in the wounds later!  Then, Stotts (who took the photos) handed me a beer with Ryder Heshadals name on it … a f#cking cyclist with a beer named after him – it must be zero calories!

I’m gonna need some new kit, so those that expressed interest – remind me!

Out

Lats

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Semi Pro takes out 11th place in Barry’s Roubaix

Last weekend, our Canadian connection, Semi Pro (aka Lats) – perhaps driven by impending fatherhood – opted to make the most of his remaining chances by having a dirty weekend. Literally.  Our man was at his competitive pot-stirring best, forcing himself up the business end of the results in Cat 3, in what looks to be a damn fun event – Barry’s Roubaix.

Brief race reports on the Mighty Riders blog here and here.  Effect of washing his kit in the bath after the race here:

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