The Big Lad is coming back from an op and was clear he wouldn't be out for long. The pace out to Temple made sure of it. We turned right and took the traditional route to Bailies Mills where he turned for home. Lanterne was on an off day and announced his departure after Annahilt. The kick into Kinallen almost claimed another victim, but Philip dug in bravely. As Capt and I tried to pace him back the pace in the bunch ahead seemed to lift meaning a hard chase.
Capt needed home early and turned off Gail Bog Rd for Dromore. We took Flough Rd and at the end pointed Philip in the direction of lunch in Banbridge. The rest of us took Drone Hill Rd, although I exploded just before Cappagh nearly taking Jeff out the back. Into Banbridge Nightmare was calling for more speed and I threw in a kamikaze grenade to mix it up.
While most of us ate lunch, 1st Cat and Bullet did a 20 min loop to work up an appetite. Back on the road we took Ballymoney Rd across Dromore. Nightmare had to take a call and while my decision to wait for him was morally correct, it was tactically naive while Retro was throwing coal on the furnace up ahead. The chase pulled the legs out of me and it took a few pushes from 1st Cat to get me back in the wheels - 2 weeks of inactivity then 2 days back-to-back takes its toll.
We took a slightly different route to Hillsborough taking in the monument, then the traditional route to Carryduff with it all kicking off over the last few miles. Credit to 1st Cat for towing around 2 litres of ballast and a few riders.
Strava link courtesy of Jeff: www.strava.com/activities/224790016
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