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Cat 6 run led by Danny H
"The sun has got his hat on, hip hip hip       hooray!!"

On what was the hottest day of the year so far,  11 wheelers set off from base camp heading for Cafe Mocha. Out through the Hadhams and up the hill to Upwick green and then down through Farnham into Bishop's stortford. Refreshments taken it was then back to HQ via the usual route of Pig Lane, Spellbrook and Widford.
Beautiful sunshine, a gentle breeze and no major mechanicals made for an extremely enjoyable ride.

Paul kicks off his circuit racing season.

Barry pips Paul to win.

The ECCA Track Championships will take place at the London Velodrome. Saturday 1st October 2016 @ 4 p.m.

Lots of enjoyment in the sunshine but an unfortunate end for Danny N.

Early on Saturday morning I drove down to Newhaven in order to catch the 10:00 ferry to Dieppe.  I got through the passport control and immediately met up with Alex, Barry & StevieG.  They had ridden down the day before and stayed at a Youth Hostel.  After an uneventful crossing we cleared Dieppe and got on the Avenue Verte - a more or less continuous cycle-path to Paris.  We got off at Neufchatel and then headed south another 6kms to the home of Valdis's little sis where we found Bruno (still sober) in the kitchen.  After a quick tour by Valdis & Anita we all hit the bottle(s).

Had I, or most of the other entrants, known of the true horrors awaiting us up the road then we would not have started.  So the ride kicked off at 06:00 from Cirencester in a very light drizzle and headed north to Alcester.  About halfway there it began to snow lightly, and then with a vengeance as we got further into the Cotswolds. 

Cat 6 run led by Bob B
Ten Wheelers set off from Allenburys for The Village Tearooms at Hatfield Heath on a pretty raw morning. Nothing eventful on the way out via Wareside, Babbs Green, Much Hadham before avoiding the flooded road at Hadham Ford and heading back towards Widford to take Bourne Lane to Perry Green, Green Tye and Spellbrook. A loop round New Barn Lane and Hatfield Broad Oak saw us arrive in good time for refreshments at café.

Clive wins riding fixed.

Cat 3 run led by Peter B
A good turnout on a sunny (but cool) day saw 15 of us set out for Saffron Walden. Out through the Hadhams, Berden, Ugley and Widdington we stuck to mostly quiet roads before arriving at a very busy Bicicletta cafe. Three made their own way back and, refreshed, the remaining 12 headed back via Arkesden (scene of a minor unseating of two riders - but no serious injuries), Clavering, Hare Street, Puckeridge, Wadesmill to Ware. A moderately hilly 53 miles with no problems.
Cat 8 (MTB) led by John Farnham

Mark rides to Lille then hits the cobbles!

Three groups enjoy themselves on a sunny day ...

A stupid o'clock start got me to Tamworth by 07:30 for an 08:00 KO.  A speedy 50 kms to Wistow was followed by a not so speedy 50kms to Upper Stow.  A welcome break at the half way point as it had got fairly lumpy by now.  At about 115kms the heavens decided to open, and remained open until about 190kms.  At this point I decided to change my gloves but this took about 5 mins as my hands were too cold to remove them.  Then a watery sun reappeared and I had 25kms of drying time!  Got back inside of eleven hours, with ten hours of riding.  PW.

Paul Stewart leads the way.

Only looked as if there were two HW riders in this, myself and SteveWh.  As yesterday it was great cycling weather.  Started about 10:35 and soon got to Thaxted via Reed.  Slowed down a bit on the return as I was navigating for another couple of riders and I knew where the dangerous & tricky bits of the road were.  (I had ridden some parts of the course on the previous day).  A welcome stop at Hare St before the final 25kms to the Arrivee.  PW.

What a glorious day!  A wind assisted trip from the 'Uts (at Ugley) to St Neots and a not-much-of-a-struggle return.  125kms done.  Then another loop of 75kms down to Chelmsford & back.  Not too cold.  Not too windy.  Not too cloudy.  Not too hilly.  PW.

Picked up Alex and drove to Swaffham for an 08:00 start.  Got there with plenty of time to spare and we soon set off towards Holt.  It was a fast journey to the North Norfolk coast, although it slowed down quite a bit in the strong crosswinds on the road to Wells.  Just after Wells we turned left into the grounds of Holkham Hall.  At this point it became apparent just how strong the wind from the South was blowing.  At one point I was blown to a standstill.  Fortunately the route meandered a bit so that it wasn't a total battle.  I was also lucky that a branch the size of my arm, that came

Cat 3 run led by Barry P
Port Hill was the warm up for ten wheelers on a ride out to Baldock Garden Centre via Dane End, Ardeley, Rushden, Wallington and Returning via Weston, Halls Green, Walkern and Watton. A sunny day with no breakdowns meant we could all get home in time for the Tour of Flanders and watch some "real pain" (no cakes!).
Cat 6 run led by Mike E

Hatfield Cycles have added a café and craft beer.

Cat 3/5 run led by Barry P
Only four riders of which only one raced left Cole green for a shortened ride through the sunny lanes of Herts, without a stop as nowhere was open . Within 5miles of home the threatened rain and gales caught up with us and gave us a free jet wash -  40miles.