Club Run Reports

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

We all knew today was going to be a hot one, hitting a heady 30°C that was predicted. So I decided to meet Hanif at his house and he said “let’s go round the lanes”! 16 miles later and lots of hills, we arrived late! 

Everybody was waiting tapping their feet. Sorry I was late all. 

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

The occasional appearance of summer in recent days had inspired a wish to visit the sunny uplands of Dunstable downs and enjoy the glorious views across the Bedfordshire plane. Sadly, perhaps predictably, the weather did not cooperate and wall to wall cloud was the order of the day. The Chilterns Gateway Centre went one better by actually being in the cloud so that visibility was restricted to about 20 m.

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

On Wednesday the forecast was for thunder showers, on Friday it was for constant rain, on Saturday it was for cloud but dry. With this improving trend could we hope for bright sunshine on Sunday? No - but it was dry throughout, so the pessimists who had disinterred their winter bikes and water-proofs were confounded. 

Category 2 ride led by Chris Boulton

Great ride today on a tweaked version of the HW Centenary Ride.

It was an earlier start than usual in an effort to beat the heat that was forecast – the Garmin recorded temperatures from 15c to 45c.
The ride was steady, with a drink stop at Saffron Walden, a lunch stop at Finchingfield and a pub stop at Stanstead Abbotts.
 
Apart from a rubbing disc and two punctures there were no other mechanical issues.

Centenary ride involving other categories

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Category 2 ride led by Chris Boulton

Great ride today to a new café for the Cat 2s. El Cafecito, was not planned, but it had plenty of space, was bike friendly and is 5 minutes from Shepreth.

Category 3 ride led by Paul Henderson

A loss of three, a gain of one and a crash. Not my recent investment record, but the number of Wheelers on the category 3 ride to The Hay Barn on Sunday.

Category 6 ride led by Kate D’Arcy

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.

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

Only four at the start! Still, it's quality not quantity that you want in a ride, so it was good to welcome Barry back after a long absence. Despite declaring a lack of long-distance rides he outlasted us all. The others were Richard, who did sterling work pulling us along between challenging himself on all the hills and Denis, who finally enjoyed a ride devoid of mechanical misfortunes.

Category 6 ride led by Lisa Ridoutt

I thought it was about time I stepped up and lead my first Cat 6 club run.

Having studied a few of the previous leaders in action, I knew what was required of me.
I had to find the quietest of lanes (Mike), I had to continuously float effortlessly from the back to the front of the ride (Danny), whilst chatting and laughing as I climbed every steep hill (Tony DS).

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Eldon does it AGAIN! 

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Category 3 led by Graham Knight

What a difference a week makes! No more sunshine in our lives but plenty of wind, especially true for the first 10 miles as we headed north to Clavering in the teeth of the gale. Despite being Wheelers we did manage at times to make a passible impression of a pace line; needs must when the devil drives. Thankfully the route to Bardfield then took us east which improved our rather glacial pace somewhat though a steady and un-advertised drizzle dampened enthusiasm a little.

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Well we all woke excited for the first Tour de Hertswheelers, six thoroughbred riders ready and raring to go. No, wait, Kate decides to turn up at 9:02am! There’s always one eh, normally Mr Eldon, but this time he was early! I know, shock horror! No one was out on the lash last night, probably because Marcia couldn’t make it!

Post TT ride led by Graham Knight

A group of 8 set off from Cole Green variously stimulated or exhausted by their TT exertions. A fairly direct route was taken to Mill End Plants at Rushden but we were shedding riders along the way so that only three made it to the tea and cakes. Mill End were busy so we had plenty of time to enjoy the late summer sunshine before heading home via Sandon and Buntingford.

Category 6 ride led by Graham Rogers

In lovely sunshine five happy Wheelers set off for Whitwell at a nice steady  pace.

Category 3 led by Graham Knight