Club run reports - 25th February

Category 6 ride led by Ian Bailey

This was nearly an uneventful ride. There had been fears earlier in the morning of ice but the roads were clear. It was a little chilly and a tad foggy as eight brave and well-wrapped riders poured in formation (1:2:3:2) out of Ware and through Wadesmill to meet up with Carolyn at High Cross. 

Spurning the easy route to Puckeridge, the multi-group peloton took the hilly lane past Latchford and the giant teddy bear (in a shock move, relocated to the living room), before forging through Braughing and up the hills in time to watch the mist dispel and the sun light up the surrounding valleys. We stopped to admire the view. 

There was a bit of standing water as we descended through the Pelhams before turning for the long descent through Manuden towards Bishops Stortford but none reached our crossbars and nobody drowned. 

Kevin did however lose most of his gears, so bravely maintained washing machine spin cycle cadence for the last 20 miles or so. 

Food and service at Cafe Mocha (cash only) were as usual excellent. 

The shorter route home went fairly smoothly until Much Hadham, where Peter came to a sudden stop with a rear wheel puncture. He stood nonplussed for a moment before Claire rode back and took control. 

With Claire’s support, advice and core strength (see photo) Peter donned his orange rubber gloves and performed a text-book tyre-glider change in minutes. 

Like the whole ride, teamwork of the highest order.