A gasp of freezing rain forced the cyclists to trot off the jetty and huddle under trees to put jackets on. The water-taxi ride had been windy, but some optimist remarked that it was only as the boat disappeared that the weather showed its true intent.
When Graeme Read organises the ride, it is expected a grunty climb will be involved. He and a few others had ridden the McDonald Downs race the day before, so perhaps he was after something cruisy. The Mt Hutt Skifield Road was an obvious choice.