Caffine Rush......

Breaking news for cyclists who enjoy a good ride and a strong coffee - Bella Vista have just announced that they will now be open on Sundays from 8am - 12pm! Yippee.......fantastic coffee, delicious food and cyclists are ALWAYS welcome.....brilliant!

My taste buds are already looking forward to a post ride cuppa and poached eggs and cheers to John for giving us the heads up.

Feeling hot, hot, hot...........

A warm easterly wind and temperature of nearly 40 degrees didn't deter 32 keen riders from lining up for the start of the Spokes Farewell to 2009 ride at Deepdale today. The difficult conditions led to the committee reducing the distance, with teams completing 3 laps of the 5km circuit. Each team comprised 2-3 cyclists set off at 1 minute intervals, resulting in some hard racing and very close finishing.

Paula Purcher, Deb and Mark Greene took line honours having gained 5 minutes across the ride to overtake the teams in front of them. The three worked well together on the hot and windy circuit. Spokes Vice President Tim Glenister combined with new club cyclists Paul Matthews and Duane Crabb to take fourth place on corrected time, an excellent result condering the team had never ridden together prior to today's race.

Claire Tutton and David Geqwin rode as a pair team and backed up their form from the Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor Opening ride with another good performance today.

The shorter course led to the top five placings only being separeted by a mere ninety seconds. Designated winners on the day were Reg Salmon and Peter Johnson, who were announced as the fastest time. The two rode hard from the outset, holding off the team of Mort Harslett, Max Nowrojee and Jonathan Tamm, and although final results suggest a slight variation, the announcement of the day stands.

Jacinta & Jason Potts were the workhorse pair for the day, riding the event on their Cannondale tandem, ably assisted by the strength of Paul Hearne, Richard Correy and Ian Beard. Richo had a little rest halfway through the event and was seen by many enjoying a cold beverage on the finish straight whilst his team soldiered on in the heat, wondering where he had gone......

Roger Swan and Paul Wilson finished strongly and with their matching glasses the pair took out the prize for 'looking good'. Father and son team, Dean and Matthew Carroll, showed the rest of the field how well the combination of senior and junior rider can fare with Dean riding in front and Matthew again competing on a fixed wheel bike.

Sonia Davies, Jennie Haste and Shane Turner managed to hold off a fast finishing Darryl Sheilds, Andrew Toovey and Barb Glenister with the two teams only 20 seconds apart. Fleur Bishop and Bec Swan rode together, enjoying the event and the chance to be back out on the road!

Full results are available in the post below.

Thanks to Anita for timing at today's event, Dom for marshalling and to Jennie for her hospitality, welcoming riders to her house for pancakesand home made jams after the event. Well done Pancake Turner and Hannah - very nice! Thank you also to Barb for providing delicious scones after the ride.

Spokes have now finished their riding calendar for 2009, however training will still leave from Red Rooster at 6am Monday to Friday over the festive period.

Watch this space for the 2010 calendar and membership form.

The President and Committe of Spokes Cycle Club would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a New Year of no wind and cooler temperatures!!

Results - 15 km Farewell 2009

What a ride.....

The Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor Opening Road Race attracted fifty-nine keen cyclists and the mass start saw the field quickly stretched out along the not yet opened road. Main Roads and Abi-Group had done a brilliant job of ensuring the road was swept and the turn around points clearly marked and at 8.00am the race was on. This one off opportunity to ride on a brand new road wasn't one to be missed!

The pace was on from the outset with many groups of like speed riders settling in to work together for the 24km event. The lead group of Paul Hearne, Damon Angelatos, Richard Correy, Gavin Keyser and Peter Johnson set a cracking pace and never looked like being caught. Hearne and Angelatos upped the ante into the second lap putting some space between themselves and Correy and Keyser, with Johnson slipping off the back.

Riders in groups behind took turns to help keep their speed high with many sprint finishes seen. Mark Greene and Deb Greene rode well together, combining strength to their advantage. Michael O'Farrell took time off his mountain bike to join the road race, riding very well in his first race. However it was the return of Andrew Toovey to road racing that is perhaps most amazing. Former Geraldton Guardian front cover favourite, Toovey shone (literally) on his well polished retro bike with matching clothing. It was great to see Toove's, and many previous Club members who were thought lost, back out on their bikes and enjoying the race.

Sonia Davies rode very well for someone who has only recently taken up road cycling, completing turns with Deb Carlyon before assisting Shane Turner across the finish line.

Junior cyclist Matthew Carroll rode a fixed wheel bike and brought along dad Dean, to show him how it was done. Matthew rode two very strong laps and impressed all with his fitness and skill. A number of female riders combined to ride together which resulted in close finishing between Anna Kosch, Terri Quinlan and Paula Purcher.

Road specific bikes were joined by a hybrid bike and a hand bike, ridden by Tom Thuijs and Chris Kerr respectively. Both rode very well finishing in good times.

Club stalwart Vicky Sheilds encouraged those cyclists who were struggling into the wind and ensured that all finished within the allotted time frames.

Spokes would like to sincerely thank Hosemasters Geraldton, Geraldton Family Gym at the Greene Room, Paint'n'Quip, The Bicycle Entrepreneur and Bayer Crop Science for their generous donations of prizes.

Top three placings were as follows:

Men

1st Paul Hearne (fastest time) 2nd Damon Angelatos 3rd Gavin Keyser

Women

1st Deb Greene (fastest time) 2nd Anna Kosch 3rd Terri Quinlan

A full list of results is available below. See you all next week for the Farewell to 2009 ride - 9.00am start from Arthur Road, Deepdale.

The Picasa Photostream to the right has been updated with photo's from today's event, enjoy........

Results