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Having decided on Saturday for the helpers’ and organisers’s  route  check and some iffy weather forecasts  it proved a good move to ride Saturday. I met a regular Auk ( jargon for audax rider) Pete Hammond at home for an 8.30 depart. We met Jim W at Hartford Co-op and picked up Syd  R shortly after Delamere. Syd wanted to find out how to put his “empty box” to use by sampling the delights of a 200. The route almost went past his house. We trundled steadily round towards Peckforton and here Jim met the first twatty motorist of the day – a red 4×4 driven by a blind woman – who tried to squeeze him off the road. Although cold, it wasn’t horrendous on fingers and toes but we did come across one stretch with a hint of ice. Pete slowed as he is holidaying Wednesday and  he wanted no road rash or worse. That obstacle passed we made good progress to Ellesmere for once the wind was not southerly or SWesterly so the drag down the main road wasn’t hard. We grabbed a coffee and munchy bar then on to Prees for a bargain lunch. After this progress slowed, rolling countryside and into the Easterly wind. This seemed to hit Pete quite hard and he yo-yoed quite a bit. Eventually the road turned more north and we got some rest bite. On this leg too Jim’s car magnet kicked again. An impatient BMW driver decided he could get through a non-existent gap, 2m before 2 passing places. Wing mirror clipped Jim. Sheepish driver met with 4 irate cyclists decided to stay in his car. It was the most stupid driving I have seen in a long while.  Eventually we made Henbury just as the clock struck 5. Cafe was shutting but offered take away coffee and cake but then relented and let us in – fair play – but not the cheapest deal. It was what Pete needed, morale boosted and the worst of  both the distance and climbing over his legs returned. Approaching Cheadle car incident no 3 Syd nearly got wiped by an overtaking left turn move as he tried to go straight on through the lights. I guess sometimes we are better riding Sundays when there is less traffic. Now you would think things come in 3s and that would be it. No- as I turned up Selstead Rd, I think, I managed to find a pothole that shook me to the bones. I stayed upright and had no flat, which was surprising, no rubbing so I thought I had got away with it. Next junction applied brakes – what the??? Serious juddering. Pulled over. I now had a “French” wheel – not round. Rim on front dynamo wheel decidedly buckled. I did ride home without too much difficulty but couldn’t use the front brake. Consolation is the wear line on the rim was going and there is play in the hub but I had hoped to get through to the end of Feb before weighing up the options – now no options -got to do something. So, all in all, an eventful day but, as usual, satisfying to complete another ride in good company. Time just under 12 hours for 132 miles but in winter does it matter?  No -job done.