March 24th Old Farts Tour

Stage 4 - Arthurs Pass - Rangiora 130km
After a cool but comfortable night we awoke to another overcast sky. The rain held off until we started our ride. Actually the start was a bit of a shock. I had gone to have a slash and when I returned they had all left. Grant had been putting his camera away so he was in the same position. As we rode down the road we spotted the support car turning around. Grant dropped off his camera and then I time trialled us back to the group who were by now some way off. As we reached them I kept the pace on and shot past at 55kph. I kept
the pressure on for about 100m before sitting up and riding tempo. I was pretty cold and wet and I had to keep moving. When the rest of the group didn't appear I just kept pedaling slowly. Eventually Grant appeared and together we continued riding. Finally we spotted the rest of the group. The climb up Flock Hill was short and sharp. I carried on as I was starting to feel very cold and had to take my gloves off which had filled with water. Grant and Garry joined me and we rode together. Grant was worried that I was hypothermic - I felt ok
but he was concerned about it and made me drink some water and have some of his OSM. The rain had eased as we reached Porters Pass. We had been joined by Paul and Neil so we plunged down the valley reaching speeds on the flat of over 60kph. We stopped at a cafe Springfield where the others joined us. The staff were great (although I had my premade sandwiches instead) but I did buy a cup of tea. The owner sent us on our way to Rangiora by ringing a handbell. The sun had now gone and we had a cross wind before getting a strong tailwind to Oxford. We lapped out nicely until Paul and I were on the front at 48kph when Ross, Grant and Ritchie attacked down the road. I managed to get across reaching speeds of up to 56kph on the flat slightly downhill road. I eventually got across and lapped out for a while before Ross did another strong pull after I had just done one and so I was dropped. I eventually got back (thanks to a little bit of drafting behind the van). The motel at Rangiora was a welcome sight but the realisation that I was going to be sleeping on the couch was not so pleasant. Hopefully it will be quite comfortable. If its not then I'm going to make someone pay tomorrow!