Spokes Time Trial 15.5km Waggrakine August 12th, 2012
Strong winds and the promise of rain did not deter sixteen
riders seeking the lactic pleasure of a
fifteen and a half kilometre time trial in the dramatic landscape of Waggrakine.
Two laps of the Collins, David, Cooper and Hall Road circuit were on offer, for a
heads down, grin and bear it race against the clock.
Riders self-selected their starting order and set off in one
minute intervals, with exception of Peter ‘Johnno’ Johnson placing himself as last
starter by virtue of his just-in-time arrival at the start line.
Juniors’ Mitchell Crabbe, Hayden Nicholas and Jonty Calder
were the first three riders off the block, giving it heaps from the start to
finish. Jonty hammered the first lap to
match many of the ‘experienced’ riders.
Junior Triathlete Hannah Laurent, daughter of Gerald, started
fourth and looked very comfortable at the end of her one lap training ride.
Nice work Hannah.
Next to go was Duanne Crabbe who had to work hard to hold
off Rhonda Bradley. Starting one minute later, Rhonda was only four seconds behind
Duanne’s finishing time. Well done
Rhonda, your burst of latent speed unleashed
along Hall Road did not go unnoticed.
Bradley Ewing, looked good on his new Azzurri and put in a great
performance, to only finish one second behind fast starter Mike Reymond, who
himself was only one second short of Julie Firth.
Richard Houwen and
Tom Thujis both rode hard with quiet determination. Tom , took a lap to warm to
the task improving his time as the race went on. Reg Salmon, on his smoothly lubed sparkling
yellow curvey Corima, with saddle bag swinging and arms pumping rode consistently on both laps, warmed up
pre-race by a cup of tea.
Gerald Laurent, aboard his Specialized black stealth, took to
the tactic of going hard on the first lap and hanging on in the second lap to
secure third position overall.
Mark Adam, started behind Gerald and flew on his blinged-up triathlon-converted
Giant road bike. Missing the turning on the first lap, he lost vital time as he
turned back around and rebuilt speed up Collins Road. Max Nowrajee resplendent in skin suit and with
deep dish wheels went like a rocket from the start in the task of chasing Mark
Adam. Johnno took off another minute
later with a poetic chorus of sweetly timed gear changes.
Unfortunately Johnno punctured on his first lap, and was effectively
out of the contest, despite a fast second lap which was the best of the race. Max
holding the promise of a good time went hard, on the bike, but could not match
the overall speed of winner of the day, Mark Adam.
Great effort by all riders. Thanks to race marshals Paul
Dodson, Richard Quinlan and Johnny Barber.
Apologies from Johnny for a slip up in timing for riders who started in
race order fifth onwards. They should have been credited with an additional
one-minute correction to finish times. This changed the final finishing order
for the Juniors announced on the day. Still the Juniors are on restricted
gearing, so us older riders better make
the most of it while it lasts.
