Ice slide bonanza ride Jan 9, 09:00

Senecio [Daniel D]

‘I am doing a recovery ride on Sunday so no real pressure and all welcome to come and spin legs to recover from the race......9am normal place’ Geoff Godschalk, January 6th

And so it was that six of us set off on Geoff’s ride to recovery; Theo, Cameron, Julian, Nathaniel, myself and the healer himself. We set off north and Wrestlingworth was the site of our first victim; ice took down Cameron. Shaken but thankfully not broken we headed back to Ashwell whilst Stewart came to his rescue. Well done Cameron for showing the guts to get back on your bike and get back. I hope you are not too sore now.

We resumed our ride looping north east to tackle the Baldock Alps. Soon we encountered a 4x4 performing an unusual maneuver; reversing on the LH side of the road before turning across our path. A straightforward violation of our right of way. Geoff responded with the vocal zeal he normally reserves for members of the clergy (remember that one?). No dog collars in this vehicle but dogs and ruddy raced men shouting at us. Geoff summised they were probably hare coursers. Probably armed, and, clearly angry at us. We lined out in trepidation as they came to pass us, but fortunately no shots were fired.

Having climbed Col de Crouch Hill we turned towards Kelshall and encountered a badly iced road. This claimed the second victim of the ride, which was unfortunately me. Bruised thigh and fibula top, but thankfully no more. (Mind you I do moan like an old man when getting up from my armchair.)

After this we elected to turn home.

So we are now recovering.

Daniel

andr

I arrived late after riding out from potton in the belief you were setting out at 9.30! Tagged along at the back of the slow run which headed out to reed and foxton. Whilst it was frosty there were only a few stretches of ice, I quite enjoyed it and did 30miles extra on the way home :)

tduckett

Ouch, it was a bit colder than expected on Sunday. was the 4x4 you mentioned a blue P reg Vauxhall? We encountered James Davies up near Steeple talking to the police who were apparently after some v. dodgy hare coursers. we were told to phone 999 immediately if we saw them.

Sounds like although the police didnt catch them, they did get it both barrels from Geoff! that`ll teach em.

Senecio [Daniel D]

That's the one, a blue Vauxhall! Add traffic offences to hare coursing..............

DPC

Wasn't sure whether my lad's football was on so set off on my own at 8:30 to get some miles in beforehand. Estate roads were white, and negotiated very slowly. Roundabouts were taken at about walking pace, as were any downhill stretches. As the sun came out I thought conditions were bound to get better, and so they did until going along a particularly dodgy stretch and a dog starts chasing me, gets called back by its owner, then comes back for more. I ended up standing in the middle of the road waiting for the dog to bu**?!er off, and it did when a car pulled up behind us. 25 years in the saddle and that's the first time I've ever been chased by a dog, was knocked off by a deer running across the road once though. Only other dodgy stretch was up to Milbrook where water had run across the road, frozen and thawed to slush, but not enough to take me off. Rest of the ride without incident, but not sure I'm going to risk that again. Almost 47 miles in just under 3 hours.

No football in the end so went out with Hannah in the afternoon. Had to ride an out of adjustment mountain bike as between finishing my last ride and going back into the garage I had a drive side spoke break. No way could I have been riding with it broken because the wheel just would not move, even with the blocks moved out. Anyway, riding a mountain bike with poorly adjusted gears and a horrible saddle is hard work. We did just under 20 miles and there was still frosty sections along Northfields after 2pm.

Anyway, question for the assembled masses. What are Letchworth Trisports like with wheel truing. I normally go to Dick Byers but he's not open until Wednseday and I need the wheel back for the weekend?

Darren

geoffg

not sure on a scale of 1:10 Darren, but they can do it and have trued mine before...Max usually does mine and I think Tim and some others in the club are good......Read about your ride with Hannah on another thread here....interesting...

fine report Daniel.and ditto remarks re. Cameron...hope all are recovered now..new ywist to recovery ride.....nasty moment with those guys ..we live to tell the tale..again!!

ScouseChris

sorry we slowed you down andre

learn to tell the time maybe or get your times right!

that was a club run by the way not a slow run

James D

Apparently said P Reg pickup driver is a resident of Guilden Morden so watch out when entering this territory!

andr

scouse chris, you didn't slow me down, i presumed that the 2 other groups were fast and middle....I'd done my usual 2 hours 53x12 the day before and had heavy legs so was glad of an easy pace :)