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Category HC ride led by Tony Dos Santos

This was the day that Carolyn was going to pop her 100 mile cherry. The day/ night before there was the usual faffing around, getting everything ready. I met Leigh at a quarter to seven at his house, and he didn’t look best pleased :-). 

We arrived in Ware at 7 and the place was like a ghost town. We prepped our bikes and within 5 minutes we were ready! Once again Leigh was not impressed - he could have spent 15 more minutes in bed! Nonetheless it’s better to be early, isn’t it?

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

What! What! Yes, the weather gods had changed their minds and decided, for the first time this year, that the temperature was going to rise above 20°C. Whoop! whoop! I hear you say. The sun is out, the sky is blue, there’s nothing to spoil the view and it’s not raining in my heart! 

I met Leigh and Davina on the way up. Nice to have you back on the rides Davina. We got to Ware in plenty of time and the sun was shining. 

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

The weather gods decided to shine down on our ride. The BBC weather app forecast sun all day. It was a Bank Holiday, so, I kind of thought we might have shed loads of riders, but on the other hand many might be away. It was the latter. 

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

The weather forecast looked cold for today with 7°C at the beginning, rising to 12°C. However, as the clocks have rolled forwards, I wore shorts and a non-sleeved jersey with arm warmers plus a gilet. It didn’t feel that bad on the way up. I met Leigh - it was a new bike day for Leigh, an all singing and dancing 85 speed super duper bike. OK, OK, I may have exaggerated on the number of gears, but it was close to that. 

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Today was my first lead ride back from having a bad back. It was listed as the “Magical Easter Ride”, obviously because it was Easter Day. I assume by the number of riders that turned up, they thought it would be a chocolate egg hunt. It wasn’t. 

Category 6 ride led by Daniel Horn

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

Just two intrepid category three riders assembled on Sunday morning. Ian, with touching faith in the constancy of British weather, had decided that, since it wasn't raining when he left the house, it would remain dry throughout the day and had omitted to wear a waterproof. No doubt this faith was shaken by the increasing downpour that accompanied our departure from Ware but, coming as he does from north of PB, he was undaunted by trivial impediments like being cold and wet.

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

It was dry(ish), then it was wet, then I had a puncture, then it was wet and cold. However, Café Amigo did us proud with some welcome hot food.

On the way back it was dry and there was a tail wind. So it was all great really!

Category 6 ride led by Carolyn Kelleway

We woke up but the sun wasn’t shining. It was yet again a day to test the waterproofs!

Last weekend I took part in the National Track Championships at Manchester Velodrome. I raced as a pilot on a tandem bike with a visually impaired rider, Natalie Jamieson. We took part in two events which are both essentially time trials on the track of different distances. On Friday we did 1k TT which is 4 laps of the track and Saturday we did the 3k pursuit which is 12 laps of the track. Although it doesn’t sound far it is an all out effort from a standing start on a fixed gear so it takes it out of you!

Category 6 ride led by Ian Bailey

This was nearly an uneventful ride. There had been fears earlier in the morning of ice but the roads were clear. It was a little chilly and a tad foggy as eight brave and well-wrapped riders poured in formation (1:2:3:2) out of Ware and through Wadesmill to meet up with Carolyn at High Cross. 

Following their debut ride on Friday Emily and Natalie returned in the fourth session the following day They completed the grueling 3km pursuit event finishing in 4:26. Again they were third with the world champions finishing second.

Congratulations Emily!

Emily Chilton piloted Natalie Jamieson in the Women's Paracycling B TT Finals in the first session of the British Track Cycling Championships at the Manchester Velodrome. They completed the 1km event in 1:25.9 finishing third behind the current world champions who finished second.

Emily and Natalie will compete again today (Saturday) in the Women's B Pursuit final.

Category 6 ride led by Amanda Speake

Plan 1: nice and simple 35 mile route to Vanstones. But then it was pouring with rain.

Plan 2: head to Vanstones, but modified route back to avoid overflowing fords.

Would anyone even turn up? 

Yes! Myself, Carolyn and Kevin. The three of decided to put our faith in the weather App’s prediction of clearing skies and headed off to Vanstones.

Category 6 ride led by Carolyn Kelleway

As everyone gathered at the start in Hertford there was a low mumbling about length of ride but mostly about HILLS! For once I had taken the route from the ride GPS site so abdicated all responsibility.

So 7 adventurers set off for Wheathampstead on a beautiful day. 

Weather was good but the roads certainly were not. Non-stop pot holes, gravel and puddles. But amazingly not a mechanical was had. Thank goodness. 

Category 6 ride led by Carolyn Kelleway

With Tony still struggling with his back, I stepped up to lead category 6 this week to the lovely Mayfield Bakery.

I was a bit surprised to get up to a frost, but decided it would be OK and warm up quickly - I hoped!

So six hardy riders set off from Allenbury's, including Adrian with his lovely new Ribble bike and Amanda on her new Ciocc bike. New bike day!

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

There are those whose Sundays are habitually given over to self-indulgent indolence. They begin, perhaps, with a lie-in followed by a leisurely breakfast of hot buttered toast or croissants. Then it's to the pub for a couple of pints and the Sunday papers before returning to a roast and an afternoon dozing in front of the TV. The toll this repetitive, shiftless descent into torpidity has on their mental and physical health can only be imagined.

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

Category 6 Christmas ride led by Tony Dos Santos

After we had made the list of riders' food orders and checked it twice, we sent it to Santa at Mill End Plants to ensure that my beloved Bakewell tart would be there in abundance. 

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

Ah! Norton Heath Café! What a delight on a dark, damp, dismal day in Essex. The mug of tea I ordered was delivered instantly, the tea bag hand-squeezed and the customer relieved of the responsibility of deciding whether or not milk would be required. No sooner had I sat down at my table than the requested bacon sandwich was delivered. It was unencumbered by salad, encased in 1" slabs of soft white bread (no time-wasting discussions about brown or white) and contained about six rashers. What more could anyone want?

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Today’s forecast was windy and wet. Nonetheless five trusty riders turned up. Two real Kevins, one Ian, one David and one Tony. We are the famous five. Does that include Timmy the dog? Who knows!