A Cafe spin with a proud Dad

Today was another milestone in the Palefish CC journey. Badders daughter Sian joined us for a spin out to the Eureka Cafe.
I was a little concerned that there may be some ice about this morning, as the forecasts were saying the temperature on Friday night may have dropped to as low as -6 degrees in places! As usual though, the forecasters were wrong, and Wirral wasn't covered in frost and Ice this morning.
This week has been a strange weather week. Tuesday night was cold, 1 degree, and Thursday night was the foggiest ride I have ever done. Today however, even though the temperature wasn't tropical, it was sunny with no wind! I do have to add though that I have now got my winter Palefish CC kit, Jacket and Bib Tights that are lined and toasty! I know I am biased, but the Bio Racer kit is absolutely fantastic. The Winter jacket has a thin lining, that if you pick up the jacket, you would think it couldn't keep you very warm, but it does, and more importantly, it doesn't make me overheat! I am looking forward to some more cold rides now!

Any way, back to today's ride. Dave and Sian came round to mine on the way to the 12th Man, where we met up with Derek, Giles, Nick, Paul, Dave L, Owen and Steve.
After introducing everyone to our youngest rider, we set off for the cycling Mecca of Eureka Cafe. Dave and I had discussed routes previously, and we had agreed to ride up to Eureka, independently to give Sian a chance to get some miles in her legs, before she starts to beat us on the sprints and climbs! Paul and I led the main group up through Greasby and Irby, down into Lower Heswall, then through Neston which was were we discovered that Steve and Giles weren't  with us. My instant thought was that they had punctured or even worse, crashed! As you probably know, I hate it when someone falls off the group or gets dropped at a junction! But after a quick discussion we realised that they hadn't been with us since we left the 12th Man! We rode on through Puddington to the Cafe, where Tim and Nipper were waiting for us. It wasn't long before we saw Giles and Steve ride into the Cafe yard, closely followed by Dave and Sian. The lads had elected to stay with Dad and Daughter to keep them company and help them along the high road, true Palefish spirit, thanks lads.

While we were there Pete and his friend arrived, which made the Palefish crew total 14! even when we don't all ride together, we always fill the Cafe!!!

A Proud Dad with his Daughter

The rest of the crew with Dave L holding court!

   

After we had all warmed up and fuelled up (cake and Coffee) we set off home. This time myself and Derek rode with Sian and Dave, and the rest of the lads rode back together, the way we had come. 

I think I may have been almost as proud as Dave to see Sian riding along the lanes. When I started the club, I wanted it to be an inclusive friendly accessible club for everyone, and we have often talked about what will happen if juniors want to join. Well, that day has come, and I hope there will be many more rides with Palefish junior riders! ( I now want my boys to grow up quickly!)  

Dave and Sian on the way home!

One thing I didn't think of as a benefit to having Junior riders joining us was their ability to act as a pack horse! When we were at the Cafe, I noticed that Sian was carrying Dave's money, and also their food and gel's. I wouldn't be surprised if Sian also had the spare inner tubes and pump in her pockets too! Shame on you Dave!!

Finally, even though I said we filled the Cafe, today, as with most weekends, the Birkenhead North End club dominate Eureka! They have been going a lot longer then our club, since January 1901, but maybe one day, the Cafe will be a sea of green instead of red?

The North End and a sea of red.

Vita at the 51st Eddie Soens Memorial Race

Instead of riding myself this morning, I decided to take the boys to a real bike race. Paul joined me with his two lads, and we met Ian and Carla and their lads there. The Future of Team Vita all together!!

If they don't like cycling there is always base jumping!

The Weather wasn't too kind at the beginning of the day. When we arrived at Aintree the rain was getting harder, and it was pretty cold. I felt for the 260 riders as they lined up at the start line.

Vita were represented by Andy and Steve today. It was Andy's first ever race, a big one to chalk up as the field included some of the country's top teams and riders. 

Andy (220) on the start line

Steve however is a seasoned rider and had a real race face on when we saw him lining up.

Start of the first group

The riders were split into 4 Groups and were set off at minute intervals. Starting with Cat4 and juniors and finishing with the Elite riders.

First group are off

And the rest are off.

The first few laps were pretty grim!

As the race went on the conditions started to clear

The pace was furious, Steve has told me that his average was 28mph and he reached a top speed of 38mph, on a flat course! I think this video shows the pace of the pack well.

Andy did fantastically to last just over an hour into the race.

Steve riding well in the pack. (Black helmet and top with 3/4 bibs.)

After 1 hour and 40minutes and 57 seconds the suffering was over and Russ Downing, Endura Racing, crossed the line as the winner with his team mates Scott Thwaites and local rider Jonathan McEvoy in second and third giving Endura Racing a clean sweep.

Russ Downing

After a warm down and a quick clean up, the Three team mates stepped up to the podium.

The Boys were made up to have their photo taken with Russ.

It was a great race, and a good start to the season for Endura, and Vita with Steve finishing 118th. 

Here is a link to a much more comprehensive report from British Cycling.

I have put these photo's in to show that cycling isn't an easy sport. The faces of these riders show how much determination and effort go into riding "an easy bike!"

Dan Whelen of Omnipex Bio Racer Team and his Onix Aurious

There was a lot of talk about the possibility of either Paul or Me entering the race next year! The good thing about riding a bike is that you can live the dream and have a chance to give it a go against the Pro's, but if any of us are going to give the 52nd Eddie Soens race a go we need to start training now!!

Full Photo album here.