Club run reports - 16th May

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

A good turn-out on what promised to be a damp day. Several arrived fully equipped with mudguards, bullet-proof tyres, waterproof clothing and snorkels. In the event we rode on completely dry roads until we were nearly home and felt not one drop of rain. The café stop at Flint Cross was enjoyed in unbroken sunshine in the company of both the Cat 2 and Cat 4 groups.

Despite the dry roads we managed two punctures between us, so we suppose the rain earlier in the week did its worst. What do you expect when you ride to Flint Cross?

Category 2 ride led by Chris Boulton

Great ride today to a new café for the Cat 2’s and we were lucky with the weather gods. Two punctures and a road closure on the A414 bridge meant that we diverted through Roydon and Harlow.

Category 6 ride led by Daniel Horn

An uneventful ride to Saffron Walden this was not!

This was gonna be interesting with 15 riders starting out, 3 of which were new, and several were new this season.

The ride turned out to be a hilly 48 miler with a planned stop in Saffron Walden tea rooms for a hearty breakfast.

And now the saga…

One rider had four consecutive punctures, eventually using tubes donated by sympathetic parties, which made no difference as the wafer-thin tyres (more suitable for velodrome activities) were no match for the flint & shrapnel laden lanes and were later proven to be hiding some evil shards.

Finally, I came to the rescue as we reached my house and I was able to loan the poor fella a spare wheel.

By this time I think we had lost a good hour++ and 8 riders had run outta time/ lost the will to live, and trundled back home.

The rest of us hastily made our way to Saffron Walden, arriving just after breakfast menu had been retired. Fortunately we still had good food and beverage.

4000 hills later we all got back safely and the stats for the ride read 800m climbed.