Club run reports - 26th December

Boxing Day ride led by Chris Boulton, ride report by Tony Dos Santos

This ride was advertised as a “leg loosener” after the Christmas frivolities and indulgence. 

Just before I was about to leave home, Lisa advised she had a puncture and would be riding her Hybrid bike, I said I’d change the inner tube for her, and asked what tyre size she had. Lisa said those immortal words, which were “I’m not going to measure the diameter (she didn’t really say diameter, as we all know, it’s circumference, but I’m putting this in to bulk the report out) of the tyre, I’ll just bring the hybrid”. My head fell into my hands with despair! I chuckled and got in the car! 

I thought I’d drive up as I over indulged with too many Christmas puddings the day before. I was happily setting up at Allenbury's when more and more Wheelers kept on rolling in. It was decided we would do a nice little twenty five miler. However, Chris Boulton said “I’ve got a nice little twenty five miler in my head”; being a complete idiot that I am, I agreed and let Chris lead. I mean, what could go wrong? Chris wouldn’t take us on a hilly route one day after Christmas would he! He’s only the cat 2 ride leader and luckily he was on his mountain bike; he had rode from home and only taken seventeen minutes to get to Allenbury's, From a quick calculation i realised that was like 18mph average! I’d already agreed to him leading; my little brain was screaming, we were going to be led on the ride from hell! However, I held my head up high and didn’t want to frighten the others. Chris said he knew a few shortcuts he could show us as well. Phew, it might not be twenty five miles. 

We left at 10 on the dot. Chris is like that! We were going to go through Stanstead Abbots, I assumed (stupidly) that we were going to go down the London Road and Amwell Lane, but no, of course Chris took us up Hollycross Road and through the hills. We got to Stanstead Abbotts and then went up the Hunsdon Road. We rode and rode and, erm, rode. 
We got to Widford and Elio advised his ride was over. Lisa realised she was no Chris Boulton and would help Elio get back to the club. Speedy recovery, Elio. 
The hills were intensifying and the speed was getting faster and faster. Then, it happened, I went passed Chris, yes, you read that right, for at least ten seconds I managed to ride passed the cat 2 leader! I know, amazing eh! He even posted it on line, so it’s true! Right, less of the self adulation! After riding for quite a few miles, we got to Puckeridge, I looked down at my Garmin to see we had covered twenty three miles; Mr Boulton had done it again and it was going to be a thirty miler minimum. 
Not to worry, we got to Cold Christmas Lane, where Leigh said his goodbyes and we were on the home straight. We got to Allenbury's for half past twelve and all agreed it had been a good ride. 
It was nice to see a lot of Wheelers out on a Boxing Day ride. A massive thanks to Chris;  despite being a lumpy ride and me moaning, I really enjoyed it. Happy New Year to one and all. 
Obviously, written on the throne. Love and kisses.