Sunday March 21 - Nasty ride

Senecio [Daniel D]

It's always good to push the boundary a bit, so I set off with the nasties expecting to suffer. A wonderful day to be cycling and a fine route led by Trahern; mostly in Bedfordshire. Clifton, Maulden, Ampthill, Milton Bryan, Sharpenhoe (Clappers), Lilly's Bottom, Codicote, Letchworth. 65 miles according to my watch. Including a single mechanical/pee/remove excess clothing stop I recorded 16.6 mph. (Josh, hope you get a new spoke into that 'pringley' wheel).

As expected my fitness was tested and I am grateful to my fellow riders (Steve, Josh, Trahern, Phil A and Iain) for waiting at hill tops and being generous as I shamlessly took pace. I must admit to being a little wiery when I returned home and indeed I made a prolonged and horizontal aquaintance with the sofa.

It takes a certain kind of dude to shout 'Change' every fives minutes, and we are very grateful to Trahern for doing so. I must say good discipline in the pack on Sunday; bodes well for the CCA exhibition ride in Cheshire next week.

By the way, Geoff, how did you get on?

Daniel

geoffg

Hi Daniel...glad you enjoyed your ride.....I managed about 8 miles at club run pace, but noticed speed picking up with Carmelo and Mark Wyer on front so dropped off to do a couple more miles before turning round......noticed Bob and a couple others struggling to keep pace and Bob would have been left alone to complete HIS club ride......he decided to kindly slow a bit more and accompany me and cut his ride short...many thanks Bob.....we did 21 miles at 14.5 mph and whilst knee a little stiff today I think it bodes well....hope to be back and fit soon.........

A quick aside here........our club is in serious need of a steady 15-16 mph ride for 30-40 miles...without this there will be no opening for newcomers and unfit riders to get back into the swing........there were too many middle pace riders in this club run. Our ride had 19-20 riders and should really have been 2 groups anyway.....they either MUST ride well within themselves and keep looking back to see how others are faring or be honest and split into a slower medium ride.
Not bothered for myself as it will take ages for me to get back and don't expect anyone to drop off for me...it's more for the newcomers or those slower riders who have become disillusioned and no longer come out........