Miguel and Annie (Annie a supporter), Michael Insomniac & his partner Tracy, Rodney & Fiancée (I forgot her name Sorry Rodney - but she was lovely), Stuart and of course me. We were met by another couple of friends of mine from work.
I thought Loop the Lake was a great ride. For some reason the camp was divided on whether it was a harder ride than Waterfall (both were 85km). Miguel and I thought it was much easier than Waterfall and every one thinks we went a different direction, but the elevations show who is right. It may have been that Miguel and I were slip streaming with the right crowd whilst Rodney and Stuart didn't. Plenty of hills but very undulating, perfect weather. Loop the lake definitely has more hills, but they are less steep than Waterfall. See elevation:
LOOP THE LAKE
![Image](http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo181/stuarthickson/Image_2009-03-09185526172.jpg)
WATERFALL
![Image](http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo181/stuarthickson/Image_2009-03-09190643469.jpg)
It was worth the trip just to see Insomniac in action. Unfortunately he didn't perform to his usual standard. His passing quote at the finish line being: "%^%%& that is the hardest ride I have ever been on". This from a guy who loves RNP. My thoughts are a) He burnt himself out in the first 20km b) the sleeping pills he took the night before c) his usual 4 hours sleep d) the extra load he was carrying. Crikey he could have bought panniers. What rider takes his complete wallet, a family litre bottle of sun screen and other non essentials, and shoves it all in the rear of his jersey?. 10 points for Tracy who finished the whole 85km on a flat bar road bike, with runners and no clip ons. It was her first long ride. She didn't finish too far behind us (and actually looked in better shape than Mike at the end).
Anyway - as a charity ride - it's a good change from Waterfall, and a chance for the other halves of partners that don't ride much. Rodney's fiancée did the smaller loop and joined us at the end. We all completed it in around 3 hours so it is very similar to Waterfall.
Hope the group and some new candidates will join us next year........AND WE ARE ALL SOOOOO SORRY WE MISSED RNP !!!