Saturday March 6th 2010

[PM]

With the bright sunny day ahead tomorrow we thought we would give people a choice in where they might like to ride.

There will be a group heading over to the North Shore to take in Horseshoe Bay, First Lookout and back around UBC and there will likely be some folks doing the usual Richmond loop.

The North Shore Ride will depart from the Bean on Cornwall at 8.30am and meet up at the West Van Bean at 9.15am.

Richmond Ride will depart as usual from Bean on 10th at 8.30am meeting up with others at Iona.

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

PM

[jc]

10% chance of rain. 90% chance of PM blowing up on the last climb to Horseshoe Bay.

[PM]

HB Hill? I'll be done by the Stanley Park Hill!

[PM]

Your percentages were a bit off today JC.

[jc]

Quite possibly. The British Bulldog (i.e. PM) impressed me thoroughly. You are an inspiration to all of us communist bastards.

[jeff]

...and my wife dropped me going back over Lions Gate Bridge. Way-to-go superwoman!

[PM]

Todays fine weather brought a dozen or so riders over the bridge for the first North Shore Ride of the year. Despite some notable absentees who were either at the Gran Fondo in San Diego or sick the group headed out towards Horseshoe Bay. Elpie and Steve in tow for their first NS ride with the group and Julian first time on a bike since August. At the double hill the pack was still all together until CC came storming through from the back to lead a small group over the first ride, JC, PM, AS, JS, AN, MAS all present and correct. Down to Eagle Harbour CC and JC were driving the pace with the group lined up behind. The final drive out of the harbour towards HB saw CC take off with the hopefuls chasing hard to stay in contention, just JS slipping off the back the pack resigned themselves to seeing CC a few yards ahead but unable to close the gap.....a good hard chase to the line with PM taking the best of the rest sprint.

Down to Whytcliff gave a chance for everyone to make their way over to Cypress along upper levels. A quick regroup at the good yard and up to first look out, not being anywhere near the front for the ascent I can only guess that AS & AN rode tandem to the lookout with JC, MAS, PM, VKL, JS, sprinkled along the road.

After basking in the sun we headed back down to cross the bridge, round the park and onto Spanish Banks.....by the time we reached the beaches we were down to AS, PM, MAS, AN, & Julian and the small group rotated carefully to the bottom of the hill, AS, MAS & AN riding steady and hard which first cracked Julian and then about half way up PM went (backwards).

Quick regroup at the top and then off to races, a swift pace down towards Camosun with now just AS, PM, MAS & AN left to try and outfox each other. MAS was pulling hard all day and his turns on the front hurt, a lot!......after a PM pull MAS launched another painful attack with AS in tow it was all PM could do to get back in touch, fortunately the pace eased near the line and AS took off and as is usual with his rookie status he was given the incorrect info as to where the line was and on passing the first 50 sign he sat up with a content grin just as PM slid passed him and on to the second 50 sign for the win.

Monitor the board carefully as rides will be switching between NS and Richmond depending on conditions.

Good luck to the Wedgewood Gran Fondo boys who are in San Diego for the big ride on Sunday.

[bringinthewolf]

Thanks PM...I needed that.

[MAS]

Great report PM. As for your riding, great move from the third wheel, GG taught you well.

First ride on the NS, wow, legs are definitely tired today !


MAS