Brass Nipple (SG Winter Series Race 4)

This year the Brass Nipple was on a slightly different course - starting and finishing on Pugh road with the prize giving at The Grape Escape.  Numbers were good with 75 riders turning up.

It was a beautiful sunny day with a slight SW wind.  The circuit took us out to Pea Viner corner and then through Waimea West, back through Hope and then out to Pomona and Marriages, over Harley's and then Moutere, Waimea West, Ranzau finishing in Pughs road again.  The pace was pretty moderate although on the first leg from Brightwater Paul Odlin picked up the speed and we found ourselves galloping along at over 50kph.  This caught out a few people and those that weren't awake at the time were soon trailing in the distance.

The climbs along the coastal road were pretty relaxed as was the climb over Pomona.   On Harleys we lost a few people - we started the climb at the bottom at 40kph - I had dropped into my small chain ring coming into the corner to be in the right gear for the climb but almost had to change back up to the big ring  to keep up.  My plan had been to ride to support Chris C as he was further ahead in the series points.  At the top of Harleys there was some road works and unfortunately Chris punctured.  I carried on - even if I stopped there would have been no chance of us getting back.

On Moutere George attacked and rode clear with Paul.  I didn't even try to go with them (I probably couldn't have) and instead rode tempo leading the rest of the group up the hill which at the top had been reduced to Murray, Garry, Chris H, Rob S & myself.  We worked together through Waimea West to try and catch them but Paul was obiously keen to win and although for a while we were gaining on them, as soon as we turned into the tailwind they were away.  I'd actually found it hard going along Waimea West as was a bit concerned about what was obviously going to be a sprint for 3rd.  In the end Murray and Rob just bet me so finished in 5th place.  

The Grape Escape provided vegetarian soup or seafood chowder along with bread and cheese.  Its quite a good venue although in poorer conditions I think Seigfreids would be better as it has a larger indoor area.