Road: October Rec TTT

Ray Issac, RecTTT reporter extraordinaire, writes:

Spring has sprung and RecTTT riders are blooming like Western Australian wildflowers! Forty three shook off their winter lethargy for the first sunny RecTTT ride for many months.

They assembled out at Learmonth for a pre-ride briefing by Peter Canny about the day’s arrangements. A significant development was the absence of a qualified coach to deliver the pre-ride address. This meant that the usual Ride-It insurance would not apply for the ride. All attendees agreed to ride at their own risk and, happily, no incidents occurred.

Wendy Ross stepped into the Starter’s role and met all the teams after they had rolled out to the start in Donovan’s Road.

The Goddesses team of six assumed their time-honored position at the head of affairs. Matthew Canny added to the gender confusion in the Goddesses team by riding with them for his first RecTTT ride. Marilyn Morley was back, after missing some rides, and her husband Bob also started with the Goddesses. Bob was to be the corner marshal at the second corner. We can only hope he managed to keep up with them so he could fulfill his flag-waving duties as they swept into Coghill’s Creek Road.

Wendy sent a new-look Saxon House team off next. Missing was their hard man, Neal Goad, and his two deputies, Mark Blomeley and Roger Simkin. Some worthy replacements appeared for their first RecTTT ride. They were Jacinta, Graeme Collins and Geoff Pfeiffer. Some mutterings were heard from the troops about the higher pace being driven by the newcomers, so the more things change, the more they stay the same. The improvement in average speed they achieved was the highest on the day, so perhaps they had reason to complain!

The Yabbies had talked up the prospect of sending two teams to this ride, but in the end only one fronted up. That didn’t matter though because, as ever, they were all business and rode strongly. McPherson (is that his surname or another obscure Yabby nickname?) was a newcomer and clearly didn’t let the team down.

In a depressingly familiar tale, those Yabbies who promise to attend, but so seldom show up, were the usual suspects. I’m talking to you Lad, Cossie and Buzzard. It’s time for you to borrow a little bit of HTFU from the Yabbies who DO front up each ride and shoulder some of the load.

While a less charitable person than your scribe could level the same charge at the entire Myer Group, who were all apparently transfixed watching motor cars go around and around at Mount Bathurst all Sunday instead of suffering along with the other RecTTT teams, I am not going to do that. Reports that have filtered through indicate they may well have all ridden the Grampians Audax ride on the Saturday, so they have earned a leave pass this time.

The Turret Café had an embarrassment of riches with twelve riders showing up. They sorted the wheat from the chaff and sent yours truly, Peter and Beth Canny, President Volker and Rob and Sue Parker off as the “B” team. Rob and Sue were also in for their first ride and, as you’d expect, put in strong performances, if you discount Rob’s painful grind up the Wall. I can report that Beth’s unusual preparation involving a 3 am carbohydrate loading session had no discernible ill-effect.

Dennis Family Homes had tweaked their line-up, with noted hill climber, Dave Peters, relegated to the team’s soigneur, mechanic, psychologist and general dogsbody role. Aaron Blomeley was back for his second RecTTT ride and his first with this strong team.

Everyone knows that Dave is a rabid Collingwood supporter. What is less well known is that, like all true Magpie fans, he got a tattoo after the Grand Final. The fact that he can’t sit on a bike several weeks later gives you some clues as to where his body art may be found.

In a gallant gesture Dave handed over the sole spare wheel that he was carrying in the Dennis team car to the Goddesses who had punctured in their second assault on Coghill’s Creek Road. Fortunately none of the Dennis team punctured through the whole event. That included their erstwhile captain and naming rights sponsor, Crampy Peter Martin, who was telling anyone who would listen that he wasn’t last up the Wall.

The Turret “A” team was next to depart. Brenton Keats, Simon Wilkinson and Les Bilney returned after several months’ layoff and they all suffered manfully under the punishing pace being set by a reinvigorated Peter Norman. In keeping with their A rating they were clearly faster than the B team

The powerful Lake Health team was back after missing the sodden Mount Misery RecTTT ride. These young Turks keep on astounding their fellow riders with the velocities they achieve, and Sunday was no exception. They were without Jamie Huggett but obviously found some worthy replacements in John and Shannon. The amazing part is that, being serious athletes, they achieve these speeds WITHOUT the incentive of a cold beer at the top of the Wall. For many riders in other teams that thought was all that got them up the Wall and to the finish line.

Even with Dave’s fine gesture, the Goddesses had lost plenty of time with their puncture, and that prompted them to make an executive decision to shorten the ride to two laps, which proved a good decision as it got them to the finish at around the same time as most of the other teams.

When all the figuring was done, the following results were announced in the presentation back at the Learmonth pub:

Goddesses 21.86 km/h (down 4.07 km/h)
Saxon House 30.36 km/h (up 1.07 km/h)
Turret Café “B” 33.00 km/h (down 2.59 km/h)
Dennis Family Homes 33.00 km/h (down 2.60 km/h)
Yabby Divers 33.73 km/h (down 1.47 km/h)
Turret Café “A” 33.73 km/h (down 1.56 km/h)
Lake Health 37.95 km/h (up 0.50 km/h)

If some of these speeds look identical, they are! Wendy Ross, who was the timekeeper as well as the starter, advises that, in an incredible series of coincidences, each team finished EXACTLY on the stroke of a minute. Without any seconds to complicate the calculations, the identical speeds are a natural outcome.

We were all grateful to Wendy for all the jobs she did (did I mention she also organised the food at the pub?) and also to the many marshals who ensured we were safe at each corner.

Kathy Young is such a stalwart that we may be in danger of taking her for granted. That would be a pity and shouldn’t be allowed to happen! Thanks Kathy!

The revered CSC Award was won hands-down by Mark Blomeley. You may recall that he didn’t ride with the Saxon House team. He did front up at the start, however, along with his son Aaron who rode with Dennis Family Homes. The only difference between them is that Aaron remembered to bring his bike along. Time for some tough love from Captain Neal Goad I suspect.

****

Peter Canny, Rec TTT ruler, recently returned from five weeks in Canada, writes:

It’s time again for our next Rec Team Time Trial.

When: Sunday Oct 10th

Where: Learmonth. Meet at the Learmonth pub, on the Sunraysia Highway, and ride to the start.  There's a link to one of Phil Orr's maps in the October 10 entry on the on-line calendar. 

Time: Registration from 8.30 to 9 AM, start at 9.30

Finish: On the Learmonth Wall.  Ride back to the pub together.

Be inspired by the world champs and come along next week and ride a great course.

We would love to see our regular bunches back (Myers,Yabbies, Turrett, Saxons ,Goddesses ,Lake Health, Dennis Family Homes), and any new bunches or individuals will be most welcome.

Hope to see you then.

Cost: $5.00 for non members, free for members.

Sledging is encouraged.

SERIOUS FUN FOR RECREATIONAL ROAD RIDERS.

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