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Richard Clark won the first TT with a dominating performance.

Richard Clark won the first TT with a dominating performance.

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!

Alex spins to a clear win.

Alex spins to a clear win.

Due to roadworks this event, although scheduled for the E2, had to be moved to the slower more difficult E33.  However with the strength of the SW wind it probably made no difference!  The most overheard comment afterwards at HQ was "that's the slowest 10 I've ever done".  The course started with a following wind but uphill.  Then there was nearly five miles straight at the gale.  The last 3-4 was spent trying to control the bike against the crosswinds.  So there were no fringe benefits anywhere.  Predictably Peter's time did mean that he got just back before lighting up time whilst Merv's

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

Tony Marriott began his season with an improvement in last year's time in the "Malden Hilly".

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.

Pretty scary to start with and a lot of care and attention was needed to circumvent the slippy bits.  Most succeeded in this respect.  But there's always one or two!  The easy group (of 18) had a fairly uneventful, careful journey to Bishop's Stortford, with many taking this option as opposed to any of the faster options.  Alex led a group of nine to Hitchin, mainly along A & B roads that had already been slightly warmed by traffic use.  Five took on the option of Route B with only one tumble.  After about an hour, most of the roads were free from ice and although it was cold it actuall

There wasn't far short of forty riders out on the wet and sometimes slippery routes on offer.  Early on the main aim was not to slip on the ice but this peril soon cleared and the emphasis changed so that the target was to return home before being drowned by the promised rain.  At the time of writing this (15:30) that rain still hadn't materialised.  The largest group was the easies, with nine off to Baldock and a dozen sampling Route A.  Two even took part in the fastie!

Brian may have seen the G in Wales, and that may or may not be better than Richard's sighting of the Millerman in Spain but nothing can compare to Amanda getting close up and personal with the big Liggett at the exciting venue of Codicote Garden Centre.  Will we ever see her again after her launch into the stratosphere?  Not a good day for riding though.  The first ice of the winter took many by surprise and caused several mishaps.  Five took a tumble, three within 100yards of each other.  Fortunately most damage was caused to egos, with most taking the grin and bear it attitude.  Whilst th