Club run reports - 4th June

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

The decision was made. I was going to ride up to Much Hadham, until I got a message from Arron confirming he wants to ride up too. Then another from Leigh. I met up with Arron first, as he only lives in Waltham Cross, lovely guy, and nice to have him on his first official ride. Now, Arron told me, his longest ride EVER (yes, I’m shouting) is 63 miles. We both do the calculations and work out he will smash that out the water today. We rode up to Hoddesdon and met Leigh, who was late, despite him being on my Beacon. It was a lovely ride up to Much Hadham.

We got to the bus stop by 9, nice and early, eh. Riders started to turn up and in total we had eight, until Daniel turns up with 2 minutes to go. Daniel says he can’t change his super fandango electric gears, and that he had done a firmware update the night before. He was just about to ride home, when the changers sprang to life. Excellent, nine riders. Peter B, turned up with arm warmers on and full winter clothing (OK, that’s a total lie). 

We ride off a tad late, but who cares,eh. It was a lovely day and the weather was forecast for 20°C without a cloud in sight. Everyone had loaded the route on their devices and realised the route I had planned was up Hadham Ford hill; I know, I know, I’m a taskmaster aren’t I?

We got to “the hill” and everyone flew up, with exception to yours truly. Oh well. We got to the top and all were tapping their feet waiting for me! Riding along, Daniel advises he hadn’t changed the lever batteries (you know the CR2032 ones) for two years. So, once again, Daniel and user error spring to mind! Maybe, a couple of weeks ago, his levers thought a barrier pad accessed batteries and they wanted a closer look! :-). 

After that debacle, nothing could go wrong. We rode into a headwind all the way to the polo club. Great banter as normal. It was 23 miles to the scheduled stop, but only 13 miles back. Everyone was in fine form. Peter Bloomfield thought we were on the category 3 ride and was blasting along at like 200 mph  (no exaggeration :-)). We then saw the category 2s coming towards us at breakneck speed and we all had to get out the way! 

We got to the polo club at 11.15 and they stopped serving until midday; all we could have was cake. Let’s blame Daniel, shall we! :-). On the up side, I had a nice beef baguette, so I didn’t complain. Actually no one complained. It was such a glorious day, that we sat outside. Everyone was on a big table, except myself and Leigh, who shunned on the “kiddies table”! The temperature had reached a heady 28°C. 

When we left we obviously we had to guide Daniel past the posts and fences! A quick and speedy ride back to Much Hadham and the ride was done. 

After the ride, myself, Leigh and Arron started to ride home when Leigh endured the dreaded puncture. As we were fixing it, who did we see, yes, it was the mad category 2s AGAIN. Puncture all fixed, we rode to Hoddesdon and said our goodbyes to Leigh. Only Arron and I were left now. We got to Broxbourne and we saw the cat 2s again! Three times in one day! 

We said our goodbyes to category 2 Chris, Kev, Laura and set off for Cheshunt. Arron had recorded 64 miles, breaking his record. Amazing, and we still had a couple of miles to go. I said my goodbyes to Arron, who had smashed his record out of the water. 

Only one puncture today (but not on the official ride) and no mechanicals that I can think of. 

Obviously, written on the throne. Love and kisses, over and out.