You get your bike from the garage and put on your fancy 50mm deep rimmed wheels. Floor pump out you watch and hear the pressure gauge snort up to 120psi in rear and 116 in front. You rummage through what has become the bicycle clothes drawer; your in luck, favorite gear is clean.
You cycle nice and easy up to Temple making sure to stay in the small ring; don't want to get to the start line exhausted.
In the distance you see the "Race In Progress" sign and know that McHenry is about. You sign on and engage in small chit-chat with the other riders. Your watch says 6:45pm and the first rider is leaving on time.
Your turn next, 30 secs count down, and you ensure a nice sharp cleat click-in as you power away. Conditions are good and you feel a gentle headwind along the first leg towards Ballynahinch. You are aware of the wind passing through your helmet and the sound of the wheels eating up the road. You clear your nostrils of snot and take the Saintfield roundabout as fast as possible; only two climbs of note left.
Approaching the time keepers you shout your number and let the bike freewheel to a stop. Then the last rider is home and the results get called out in reverse order for the girls and the boys. You hear McWilliams time and congratulate him on a new course record. You notice people are smiling more than they were 40 mins ago as the endorphins do their work. McHenry announces the time keepers for next weeks Killynure race as people go their own way home.
X-Factor
1 Judith Lowry 29.23
2 Sara Manning 30.55
3 Aisling Trainor 33.27
4 Heather Bamford 34.48
Big Brothers
1 Stephen McWilliams 25.41
2 Enda Marron 26.57
3 Vaughan Purnell 27.07
4 Hooperman 27.16
5 Peter Morrison 28.45
6 Dave Lonnen 28.54
7 John McManus 28.56
8 Desi McHenry 29.19
9 Bill Rafferty 29.46
10 Alan Laverty 30.1
11 Johnny Boylan 30.2
12 Carl King 31.5
13 Ed Smith 31.52
14 Andrew McMurray 32.41
15 Thomos O'Hagan 33.05
Thanks to time keepers Mike and Niall.
PS: obviously bored and so tried to write this weeks report in 2nd person