Club Run Reports

Well poor old Pat was dropped in it today.  With over 20 riders to manage and the obstinacy of many to accept that it's the leader task to navigate as there is always more than one route to a destination, the large group managed to disintegrate into several smaller ones.  On the other hand this was a bonus as over 20 arriving together at Clavering Lakes would have caused a hissy fit!  It seems that there was a similar situation with the easies who added another 50 miler to their repertoire, but not as one group.  However it was a pleasant day for everyone to get lost in with about 40 taking

With several of us in France, it was left to our illustrious meds to get themselves sorted.  And they managed perfectly - so what use are we?  I got one report of the day so that will have to do for now!

The 2nd Come and Try It ride of the year attracted just 2 members and 1 prospect on the warmest Sunday afternoon of the year so far. I imagine the morning riders had had a fine day also, but their cooler breezes had dropped by 2.30 pm for us.

We have had no mechanical problems for weeks on end, and then we get two.  First, the spokes on RichardH's wheel came off worse in an argument with RichardF's pedal and the minor collision at a junction proved fatal for RH's bike.  Although help was at hand as four others stayed with him, a phone call for a lift home was necessary.  In another group MartinB showed us all how to break a chain and completely wreck a deraillieur, all in one go.  The chain was so greasy (memo to MB - keep the damn thing clean) it was hard to hold, but eventually we were able to reconstitute the bike into a "get

The longer runs put nobody off.  Sixteen met at Much Hadham for a trip to Blackmore whilst twenty met at Ware with seventeen opting for the "easy" to Gt Bardfield and three opting for the unled quicker tour.

We tried to explain to Brian that it was only a toy but he did insist on trying to feed it.  That was the last we saw of him as the killer Rhea chased him down the road whilst trying to disembowel him with its six inch talons.  Lots out today despite the promised downpours which turned out to be just a two minute heavy shower.  The meds went to Hitchin with Alex whilst Bob took the easies to Buntingford.  Only one puncture and we were all home before the rains really started.

Five riders, including two guests, enjoyed a breezy but sunny ride from Ware to Puckeridge.

About 50 people took to the roads, lanes and tracks on our six rides.  There were about nineteen on the easy, thirteen on the medium and about eighteen spread over the other rides.  Would make fifty but one rider did take part in the morning and afternoon rides.  Glorious sunny day, rainless but breezy.  A couple of punctures but no major issues.  The easies went to Hatfield Heath, whilst the led meds took on a somewhat hilly route via Shenley.  The fast\med did RouteB, but no-one took on the fast from Hertford.  The offroaders were supposed to go to Hopley's but arrived too early so they w

About 16 took part in the two rides today.  The numbers were down from the usual, but as 13 others rode the TT it was still a high overall turnout on a not to bright Sunday morning.  The promised rains never materialised although the high winds did restrict the speed.  All rides went to the Codicote Garden Centre, the meds arriving after the easies had left.

With the clocks changing it was a cool morning that only really started to warm up after midday.  However at about 09:00 when it was coldish it was really only 08:00 in real money.  A dozen riders took part in the TT and about the same number went on to Wandon End as the ledmeds.  Seventeen took part in the easy to Ardeley under Chris's stewardship.  By the time everybody returned it was all quite toastie although as usual it was the ladies who were wearing short sleeved tops whilst the men still had on several layers!

At 08:30 it was bright & sunny.  At 09:30 it wasn't.  Yet over 30 turned up at Ware despite the rain and the promise of poor weather.  And it was certainly a morning for poor weather.  Seventeen rode the easy, eleven the med and four or five the faster med.  The magnificent seventeen had to sort three punctures all within a few yards of each other.  The slightly short of a dozen meds, just the one.  However it wasn't the one puncture that was the problem.  As they left the cafe there was a blinding flash and a crash of thunder.  Eschewing the sensible option of a return back inside they

Yet another fine day.  Started off warm, and got hotter.  Whilst many took part in a Ware - Cambridge sportive yet there were still over 25 out on the clubbies.  Again the largest group was the easies and although Whitwell wasn't the best choice for a large group there was Codicote Garden Centre down the road and a half-a-dozen took advantage of this option.  The meds flew from Much Hadham to Reed but found the cafe chocker due to motorcyclists.  No real incidents but when we found a bag in the middle of the road, we all knew that it had to be Jane's.

Glorious weather.  Warm, not too breezy, not a cloud on the horizon.  And over 40 riders were out, spread over the four rides.  The biggest lorry was the easy group which consisted of 20 takers.  The led med to Dunstable Downs attracted 15, seduced by the option of Bison Hill.  Not all took this fantastic opportunity to suffer from bulging eyes, muscles and whatever else with some finding excuses not to go for it.  Best excuse came from Steve who punctured about three miles short.  Of course Peter had to stay to help (?!?) him and thanks to Verulam Phil for the use of his proper pump.  Stev

About 40 out.  A few newcomers.  Good weather, tho a bit windy.  A fair amount of standing water but no rain.  Plenty of punctures.  Fairly slow service at both stops (no criticism intended - our groups just get bigger and bigger).  A fast outward bound followed by a much slower return.

All today's rides started off in either a north or north-easterly direction, with a following gale.  So it's not difficult to imagine the conversations.  "It's a fast ride today."  "Look, I'm travelling at 25mph without putting in any effort".  "This is a great ride."  "Yea, the best we've had all year."  "We've done all these miles, and no sweat".  "So now it's time to go back."  "Bloody Nora". 

The first bit of decent weather for aeons, and we all took advantage.  A dozen good eggs took to the easy road.  No problems or punctures, just a good journey to and from Bps Stortford.  Eighteen took the high road to Thaxted.  One puncture expertly fixed by PhilT at the cafe.  We also had "Dr Who" Martin showing us his ability to time travel.  He managed to perfect the technique of falling way behind only for us to find him ahead of us.  Spooky, or what?  The med\fasts seemed to have a catalogue of misfortunes as they bounced their way from pothole to pothole with many requiring new wheels

The half a dozen easies had a fairly uneventful trip apart from one puncture and one large puddle.  The Royston bound eleven or twelve meds just found some puddles and some difficult stretches of road\lane to navigate and kept to the maxim of never leaving anybody behind, unless it's Peter.  Four others shot off on Route C.  All had a wind assisted outward bound journey, and all suffered on the return.

Back to the goodish weather with lots out.  Thirteen easies, eighteen meds and about eight med\fasts (split into two groups) and a little creative accounting makes for about forty riders.  And only two punctures!  It was a bright and breezy morning with the southerly wind making the return difficult for most.

We were promised lousy weather.  We got lousy weather.  Despite this, over twenty Wheelers took to the roads.  The rains weren't attendant at the start and we'd high hopes that everything would be ok (although we all knew that we'd be wrong).  And so it came to pass.  Only one had the misfortune to puncture.  We were lucky that it wasn't more.

Not cold, not raining, lots of sunshine and about 35 took advantage of these conditions.  Fifteen started from Hertford with fourteen travelling to Ardeley and one lonesome soul making his way north to Ashwell, Bassingbourn and then down to Royston where he turned up at the cafe at the exact same time as the led meds.  This group was also fairly vast and despite the fact that a couple had turned off en route we still managed to pack out the cafe.  Seven enjoyed the delights of Route C.