Club Runs 24th January 2016

Cat 3 ride led by Peter B
Barry saves the day!
Sixteen for a ride in the middle of January, not bad!  Continuing the theme of recent weeks we headed East  -  via Hunsdon and Much Hadham through Hatfield Broad Oak to the café stop in White Roding.  Brett’s café coped well, despite having another group of cyclists already ensconced plus assorted “civilians”. The turn for home saw us heading into the wind but it was never too bothersome.  Numbers dwindled as we passed points where various riders peeled off for home, having ridden to the start from towns near the route.  Minor panic when we got to Sawbridgeworth level crossing to find it closed down for major railway work.  The footbridge was usable but not an attractive option on cleats carrying bikes plus there was the small matter of a velomobile to consider!  A major reroute loomed but luckily Barry P knew there was another way across the line, through the back streets over a road bridge across the railway and back to the original route  -  many thanks Barry, you saved one very embarrassed ride leader!  From there on things ran to plan, still dropping riders at various points for their own routes home, in the end just two of us finished up back at Allenburys after 52 miles with no punctures and no mechanicals, also not bad for January!

Cat 6 ride led by Danny H
There was so much day glow on show at this Sundays cat 6 ride start that it looked more like a convention of highways maintenance workers than a bunch of highly toned athletes at their peak of fitness. Within about 500 metres the first of the days punctures struck, as it turned out this was just a taste of things to come. Three miles later number two was quickly followed by puncture number three. The same wheeler as number one but this time on the back wheel. One mile later punctures number four and five happened, once again to the wheeler who had number one and three but this time it was number four.( Are you following so far?)  Number five happened to Captain Bob, who rode through what he thought was a puddle but was in fact a sinkhole that swallowed him and his bike. Only his cat like reflexes saved him from certain death, unfortunately his wheel and tyre didn't survive the impact. At this juncture the group decided to split into two, Mike leading the first group on a slightly longer route to our cafe stop, while the remaining four of us took a more direct route. Thankfully the first group didn't have to wait to long for us to arrive and after some refreshments we all headed back home. The return journey was going along swimmingly until someone mentioned that return journey was going along swimmingly......(.you know who you are!)... and then of course the gods of cycling got offended and BOOM! Martins chain took the full force of their vengeance. Once more the group split and made our separate ways back to base. An eventful ride to say the least but really good fun too. Also a special mention to Martin for his bespoke hand crafted piece of cycling kit, Bentley cars have been in touch with a job offer. British Craftsmanship of the highest caliber. Respect..