Club run reports - 5th March

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

This ride was only going to be a short one. The club lunch was looming today. So I decided to lead the Wednesday evening twenty five miler. 

The temperature was 4° C when we turned up. Nine hardy riders, foolhardy to brave the north westerly wind as well. We set up off at 9 on the dot, as Claire and Chris weren’t there. They had made an excuse about shopping in M&S or something. Probably to get Chris to stop wearing Claire’s clothes! 

We rode through Fanhams at what felt like break neck speed. Up through more lanes, yada, yada, yada. 

Mark (font of all knowledge) Sims was on the ride; obviously, he just assumed it was a Wednesday ride, didn’t he! 

I confirmed we would stop at fifteen miles at a bench which Kate knows well - yeah that’s exactly what I thought! Nuff said! So, we pulled up to “the bench”, where everyone enjoyed their sustenance

We were about to ride off,and yes, I had a puncture. Can you actually believe it? I get to work, remove the tyre, everyone casually looking on, Carolyn “helping” as usual. Mark holding his hand out for all the bits and pieces. Everyone giving me advice lol. I get the new inner tube in, refitting the tyre using the glider. Graham was most impressed. 

I put the CO2 canister onto my valve thingy, and boom, all the air came out the back and none into the tyre. I get to work and think I’ve fixed the valve thingy, screw the CO2 in, and boom again, I lose all the CO2. Ian came to the rescue with his valve thingy and a canister, I screwed it in and success. Tyre inflated, we were off. 

We all raced back to Ware by 12.20. I then raced home. We got to the club lunch and Claire won shed loads of medals. Carolyn won a medal for 62 points, wondering why they had put her age on the back of her medal. We all laughed like drains. 

But, on the upside, the Kelleway Cup is no longer virtual and Carolyn (see image) had won it this year. Not really a club award thing, just a bit of a laugh. 

Obviously, written on the throne. P.S. Sorry it’s such a short report, but I had to put up with Claire all afternoon/evening banging on about the Dunwich Dynamo, which quite a few of us are going to do now. Bring on 1st July. 

P.P.S. It was lovely to see and chat to so many Wheelers at the club lunch and a great venue. 

P.P.P.S We’re going to do a club ride there. Carolyn told me a posh word (something about we have to take the long route round to get there), but I can’t remember what the word was. 

P.P.P.P.S The food was amazing at Essendon Country Club. 

P.P.P.P.P.S. Well done to Lisa for choosing this venue. 

Love and kisses. 

Category 4 ride led by Ian Bembridge

An early start was the order of the day as the usual three suspects, Denis, Peter and Ian, headed for Mill End. The route had been mapped by Peter, with a few suggested changes to take in roads that I had never experienced before, such as Cherry Green Lane, somewhere near Braughing Bourne, where the Dane End Tributary begins on its way towards the River Lea.

Just north of Buntingford we were overtaken by a very slick looking pack of riders in matching red tops, which turned out to be the Wheelers category 2 group leading the way to the garden centre café.

The route home had an interesting detour via Clay End, which then necessitated a bit of off road to get across to Benington -anything to avoid Walkern High Street!

A pleasant ride on a cold March day, and back in time for lunch!

Ian