Club Run Reports

Bastille day, Froome on Ventoux, and given the choice of easies most chose to go with DannyH as opposed to Peter.  Still, mustn't get too upset!!!  The Cube man's obvious charm & elan convinced about fifteen others that he was the one, as they made an uneventful trip to Buntingford and back.

Very hot today and over thirty riders took to the roads over the four groups.  Whilst eight went off to Rayne from Much Hadham another sixteen came through the village a bit later to discover that two major(ish) charity rides were also passing through the village in opposite directions.  It was all too much for the bike of one of our riders and it died of a broken derailleur.  Not having been made properly aware of the easies code of conduct, she hadn't realised that the riders stop at every turning to regroup and if someone has not arrived, then they retrace their steps.  However, the lady

Again the numbers reached the thirties over the three rides on a mild sunday morning.  Only two casualties this week (ie two more than most weeks) as MarkT and his bike briefly parted company and Cube Danny's tyre exploded with a sound similar to the sonic boom of a couple of weeks ago!  Most others enjoyed a leisurely 
ride whether to Hinxworth, Whitwell or on the Royston course.

It's good to see that each week about twentyfive riders take part in the Sunday morning club runs.  This week the groups weren't split evenly as about twothirds took the easy option and a third the medium.  Only one rider turned up to do the fast but he ended up doing the medium anyway.  Fortunately it didn't rain, but the strength of the wind was the main area of difficulty.

It was good to see that the 25 or so people out were spread reasonably evenly between the three rides.  Not the best weather today although it wasn't cold.  The downside was that it was cloudy with a strong south wind.  On teletext in the evening found out that a sonic boom caused the enormous bang that occurred whilst we were at the cafe at Buntingford.  At the time we were pretty certain that it wasn't thunder!

Lots out today, probably inspired by the good weather.  A bunch of nine set out in the morning to ride the Century ride (the HW 160 Audax in preparation for next week).  Another bunch just short of twenty made their own problems at Emily's by creating the queue that caused all the holdups.  With everyone out and about in the morning, there were only two out in the afternoon.

After the 30TT today, three riders set out from Tempsford for Grafham Water.  Should have been four but one rider (nameless) neglected to check his front tyre.  Had he done so he would have had plenty of time to rectify the puncture.  As the remaining riders set off at gone 10:00, it seemed stupid to fix it and hold them up further.  So (nameless) person drove off to Arkeley where he met up with about a dozen of the easies for a chance to bask in the sun.  Meanwhile about half a dozen took part in the fastie.

Most took part in the easy pacer.  Some on the fast.  And those on the medium noted that at least all the riders in their group wore club colours.  The fine spring morning was good for cycling and most got home before the rains came. 

With fifteen of us in France it would have been easy to assume that there would not be many out on the club runs.  Wrong.  Over twentyfive took to the roads over the three rides.

The largest of the groups met at the new rendezvous at Glaxo whilst a slightly smaller group met in Hertford.  The Hertford easies had a fairly uneventful (apart from one mechanical) journey to Jack's and were pleased to be likened to the Olympic Cycling Team by a five year old!

Many got out today, seduced by the thought of the warm, dry weather.  And for a while, all was good.  Then, sadly, the wind got stronger and stronger (depending how many miles you were trying to do) and even worse, it was a headwind on the way back.  At least that how it was for the meds.  With some trying (and failing) to ride to the start at Thaxted it was always about riding a 100+ mile day.  For many it was not to be.  For one unlucky rider, her bike's tyres did not match her ambition and she got as far as Elsenham before making her way home.  Another only intended to ride to Thaxted an

The weather is improving day by day and the large numbers out are at last beginning to get the benefit of their winter training.  Ian led a group of fifteen to Buntingford utilising a mixture of our normal routes and a few variations on the theme to create a most enjoyable morning out.  Mike led a group of a dozen to Emily's, whilst the fasties did what the fasties do.  For many it was the first occasion this year when it was possible to wear shorts and not worry about whether or not the weather would close in.

Over forty out on the three rides.  A strong southerly wind made the returns difficult although it was great to feel the warmth of the sun at last.  Despite the lack of necessity for many thermal layers of clothing, the meds encountered a frosty reception at the cafe stop.  Still, can't let someone else's bad-hair day ruin a good morning's ride.  A few punctures, but nothing unmanageable.

With over twenty Herts Wheelers taking part in Audaxes, Sportives, Time Trials or going across the Channel to watch the Paris-Roubaix there would not be a great expectation for a good turnout for the club rides.  Wrong!  Thirty riders turned out including six guests.  Most took part in the easy with eighteen out.  Seven on the medium.  Six on the afternoon easy although one rider doubled up by riding the morning easy and the afternoon easy.  Compared with other days this year, today was a glorious day.  As the weather warms up it will probably be viewed (in retrospect) as a cold day.

Well that's March done with.  Despite the cold and strong wind, we have been getting good numbers out on club rides as people look to increase their winter mileage in preparation for warmer weather (it's got to come sometime).  Over twentysix took to the roads today with most supporting the easy ride.  Fourteen out on that one, with eight on the medium and four on the fast.  The only mechanical was on the fast, but they stuck together and got themselves sorted.

We were beaten by the weather.

About twenty innocent souls met in Ware not knowing what lay in front of them. Had they known, they'd have probably gone back to bed.  Everything started brightly with (for the mediums) a fairly quick, brisk journey northwards to Royston.  Lost two to a puncture, one needed to get back quickly (lucky him) and one was struggling with inner demons, illness and fatigue.  Then it was time to return - into the wind, rain and cold.  Not nice.  Meanwhile the easy was a much jollier affair with no problems reported.

Looking at the facebook page about people racing, doing sportives etc yesterday showed a common link - the cold.  And so it was with the clubriders.  Not a good day for riding enjoyment.  The medium riders had a conflab and decided that Hinxworth was too near the arctic circle to be viable so they did a shortened route.  The easy Hardriders meekly followed the Bob out to Hatfield Heath and managed to arrive before the main throng.  Tea and cake was welcome and at least on the return the wind had the dubious pleasure of chasing them back.  Fortunately there were no mechanical problems, espec

Probably due to the Redbridge visit there were not as many riders out today.  However we still managed over twenty.  A dozen took part in Mike's easy, whilst Barry decided to lead out eight others on a tortuous and circuitous tour of the home counties just to get to Wandon End, losing one and gaining two more riders for the more straightforward return.  Started off cold, warmed up, and then the sun vanished and a cold wind appeared as if from nowhere!  And of course it was a headwind.

Lots of bods at Hertford, splitting roughly equally between the medium & easy with a couple vacillating between the fast or watching the Hardriders.  The easy took its usual way to Whitwell, whilst Valdis took eleven to Redbourn.  Unfortunately he only promised to get us there........!  It was a very cold day with flurries of snow but apart from the odd puncture it was always a question of trying to keep warm - a feat in itself.