It was a nice morning for a cruise along the foreshore to Outer Harbour this morning apparently, so rather than let all the rich people on the Queen Mary have all the fun the Muddies headed off from a drizzly Hallett Cove at 7-30 for a cruise of our own.

Ten riders left Cafe Rimini for the bike path to Marino and were soon joined by Phil on his first Muddies ride. Phil had suffered a visit from the p******e fairy and had to call on his wife Michelle to pick him up and get him to the start line. He got there just after we left but found us just along the path, so with his wife and kids still in their jarmies in the car the tube was replaced and off we went. I wish my missus was so understanding ;)

With a tailwind pushing us along we made good time on the esplanade to Glenelg where we were joined by Paul. Paul is fairly new at this cycling caper and he phoned me during the week concerned he might not be up to the pace, I told him not to worry and I'd ride with him on what would be his longest ride to date.

Led by the Port Adelaide cyclo-sportif team of AVO, Baron and RD6 the peloton disappeared from view fairly quickly as myself and Paul made our way at a reasonable pace towards OH. The pace must have been pretty hot as the five man breakaway smashed the Strava segment Adelaide Shores sprint with Baron and Trent 1 and 2 on the leader board.

Richard Stevens joined us along the route passing the tailenders somewhere near Semaphore and chasing down the breakaway, we wouldn't see them again until we regrouped at OH which was packed with sight see-ers looking at the cruise liners. With people, cars and bikes everywhere my sprint finish had to be abandoned due to jay walkers, there's always next time.

After a brief stop for me and Paul, I reckon the others were there for quite some time getting cold waiting for us we turned and headed into the usual coastal headwind back south. It was hard work and te group splintered as we all went at our own pace in the trying conditions. A flurry od SMS messages saw a regroup at Cibo's for those who hadn't peeled off for various comittments en route and confirmed that Paul had got back to his car after completing his longest ride, stuffed and sore, was his description. 

That left a group of six to ride uphill into the headwind back for a second coffee at Riminis.

It was a good ride, made harder by the wind and I have to say I have never seen so many bikes on the beach run, it was good to see.

Hopefully Matt B took some photos as I was too far back from the action to take anything worthwhile, and like Paul, I too am stuffed and sore.