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Some highlights of the racing and non-racing awards to note are:

Category 4 ride led by Enzo, Elio and Ian

Despite the very real threat of rain in the air, the usual gaggle of Cat 4 riders left Ware, and a bunch of chatty Cat 6’ers, for a Sunday trek to Thremhall Park cafe.

With the scheduled ride leader indisposed , it was down to the intrepid trio of Ian Bembridge, Enzo and Elio to guide the riders through Herts and Essex.  Fortunately, Dennis Bassom had supplied the GPX file, and the three Wheelers had managed to get the route loaded up onto their GPS computers.  

Belgian riders, especially Flandrians, have a reputation for relishing foul weather - the wetter, colder and windier the better. Which Wheelers best channel their inner Flandrians?

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

The morning weather forecast advised 2°C. We all got there and it was cold, but luckily no heavy frost and no ice. Hanif turned up on his mountain bike, with 20 PSI in his tyre - he’s nuts isn’t he!  It was lovely to see Martin Buckle. 

So we set off At 9.31 and went like the clappers. Usual banter with Richard “Kev” Hann; obviously it was in the gutter. We didn’t have a single mechanical along route. 

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Category 6 ride led by Carolyn Kelleway

There was a good turn out of determined Cat 6ers ready and prompt at Much Hadham on a very foggy cold January morning.

This year's club runs points competition was intended to run from November 2020 to December 2021 inclusive - the extra months being added to align the competition year with the calendar year. However COVID intervened so that there were just 39 weeks with Sunday club runs, so a maximum of 78 points. Congratulations then to Tony and Peter who got so close to a 100% attendance!

Category 4 ride led by Peter Bloomfield

Well, if nothing happened there would be nothing to write about would there…

Category 4 ride led by Lisa Ridoutt

Cycling to the start of the Category 4 ride, with the sun shining, I was looking forward to a great morning.

Disaster struck immediately. I arrived at the same moment as Ian, we were wearing the same cycling tops (not a club jacket). It was a case of go home and get changed or spend the next few hours looking like Harold and Hilda (Google “ Ever Decreasing Circles” if you’re under 50)!

So Harold and Hilda it was…….

We rode to Essendon Golf Club, lovely surroundings but no cakes!

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

So Santos Claus was coming to town, we’ll it was at 9.15. I rocked up with Mike Spicer. 

No one was to be seen, then riders started turning up in their plenty (I was going to say a “plethora”, but I don’t know how to spell it ;-) ). More and more arrived and my co-leader decided to turn up 3 minutes before the ride off (OK, it wasn’t 3 minutes, but close!) 

Category 6 ride led by Danny Hood and Mike East

The main talking point took place before 9.30, when, on the ride to the start, the nominated leader suffered two punctures. Danny Hood kindly led the group out from Allenbury’s to Much Hadham, where the frazzled leader joined in. Thereafter the ride took in Little Hadham, Ferneux Pelham and Great Hormead, where, in the (planned) absence of a cafe stop, the full two points were gained.

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

I turned up at Allenbury’s, followed by Denis.  Then Peter Walton turned up,  Ian Bailey and Rebecca Moore. Only five of us. Carolyn Kelleway advised she would meet us at Cold Christmas Lane. 

We set off at 9.30, met Carolyn and had no real incidents. We got to Thremhall Park, as normal, and the food came out swiftly. 

On the way back, yours truly had a puncture, fixed and on our way. I had a minor altercation with a branch and crashed into the soft verge. Nothing else really happened. 

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Category 6 ride led by Mike East

On the ride to the start I noticed the wind had changed direction since yesterday. Not with the same consequences as it does in Mary Poppins - repentant parents, lots of kite flying and a jaunty  song. No, the wind was now coming from the north, bringing an icy chill. The planned ride would be headwind out.

Category 4 ride led by Lisa Ridoutt

Nine riders set off from Hertford to Mill End Plants, with two new members joining us.

All was going smoothly until Valdis got a puncture just outside of Puckeridge; after a 15 minute wait we were off again.

The anticipation had been building to see what the huge bear would be doing at the house at the top of Barwick Lane (if you know, you know)! For those that are even remotely interested, he was asleep in the bed.

Category 6 ride led by Danny Hood

Only three riders today for the cat 6 saunter out to Vanstones Garden Centre.

I'd been warned about closed roads around the Codicote area and they turned out to be accurate. Fortunately this didn't apply to bicycles, and we rode along side the many taking part in the half marathon. The garden centre was really quite as you would expect, when the roads leading to you were shut to traffic. Not very fair to a business whose busiest day is a Sunday. 

Category 6 ride led by Daniel Horn

A pleasant day was expected with a small group of seasoned riders starting from Much Hadham.

It wasn’t long before it was noted that there was some rough terrain ahead and all were required to switch to off road mode to survive the serious potholes/sinkholes along the farm track.

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

The route was compiled by Carolyn Kelleway and I was somewhat excited to lead this one. However, at the last minute, poor old Carolyn rang me to say she had the dreaded lurgy. Oh no, I thought. We all hope you feel better soon. Also poor old David Smith texted me advising he had tweaked his knee and was only going out for a short ride in the morning. 

Category 6 ride led by Carolyn Kelleway