Club run reports - 18th February

Category 6 ride led by Amanda Speake

Plan 1: nice and simple 35 mile route to Vanstones. But then it was pouring with rain.

Plan 2: head to Vanstones, but modified route back to avoid overflowing fords.

Would anyone even turn up? 

Yes! Myself, Carolyn and Kevin. The three of decided to put our faith in the weather App’s prediction of clearing skies and headed off to Vanstones.

We made it as far as Westmill before the first little route adjustment occurred. Carolyn yelled ‘Left’ down Anchor Lane, which to be fair is exactly what the route also said; however Kevin and I both heard ‘Keep Going’. The fallout from not following Carolyn’s instructions was a couple of impromptu hill climb entries. Waiting at the top, we duly realised our mess up and sheepishly headed back down to find Carolyn waiting at the bottom wondering what the hell we were playing at.

The rain had pretty much stopped by this point, but the roads were pretty wet with more flooded areas than any of us had seen previously. We doggedly kept going, gaining confidence in judging the best routes to get through. Alex Powell joined us just outside Bramfield, so now we were four.

More tweaks to the route, more flooded areas (Alex displaying a nifty one legged cycling technique that kept one foot completely dry) and then, a couple of miles away from Vanstones, we saw the mother of all puddles waiting for us. The ride leader mumbled something along the lines of ‘This one looks a bit deep’ which got a brusque ‘Go on Amanda, you can do it’ response from Carolyn. Remembering what happened last time I didn’t follow her instructions and off we went. Oh well, our hubs, shoes, socks and legs all needed a good sluicing with muddy water. Creating our own bow wave we sailed through, everyone frantically changing down gears to keep some kind of momentum going. Once you’re committed there’s really no turning back.

After that there was no fear left and no stopping us, and it was full steam ahead to some very welcome coffee and cake. Alex shot off home and the remaining three of us decided to quit while we ahead and take a direct route back through Bramfield and into Hertford (Plan 3).

All in all it was another great category 6 ride with the usual surprises and laughs. We had sunshine for the last couple of miles, blossom on the trees and daffodils in the verges. Spring is on its way.