Although he couldn’t be with us today, Al was kind enough to keep the start time of today’s club run at the usual Winter time of 10am, with the clocks going forward this was much appreciated. The other reason for keeping the time at 10am for this weekend was due to the past couple of weeks of bad weather it would give time for things to thaw out. Luckily it may have not been needed as we arrive at the legion with blue skies (yes they still do exist) and Sunshine (it’s this round thing in the sky that’s quite warm).
A good turnout saw a good group of about 20 riders head over to the Ice Cream Farm (the group was going to be split with one going to Henbury to avoid the returning head wind, eventually they realised they were being a bunch of wets and joined us instead). Jon Conboy put together a route on the fly which would take us around the hills of Bunbury, Peckforton, Bickerton, Barnhill, Harthill and around Bolesworth which was pretty unrecognisable with the mounds of snow still against the road.
It was a great, great route, quite testing while remaining manageable with quite a bit of climbing too. The group kept together pretty well only having to stop once at Peckforton for Phil to repair a broken chain. This would have been an easy job had he not lost the pin out of the broken link and having to take two links out!
Decending from a snowy Bolesworth we headed to Tattenhall. The pace picked up with riders looking to find position for the sprint at the Ice Cream Farm. As we turned into Ice Cream Farm lane the wind hit our backs and we flew along. Things started getting tastier – and just as you started to plan your point of attack – up ahead Graham Gregory had made a sneaky but big attack off the front creating a gap with Garry Brown. Gregory, obviously worried about Wood’s previous win at The Mills, had gone early. Noticing the danger Wood bridged the gap to Brown before leaping across to Gregory to take the sign. Duffy followed “only a 100 yards” later, blaming some horses earlier on!
Beans and Toast scoffed we headed direct home with the wind in our faces. It was tough going in places with some suffering from tired legs. Uni Charlotte had her obligatory puncture just outside Oulton Park (at least we got out of Northwich this time!) before the battle of Whitegate. The group was soon whittled down with Greg Lambert setting a decent pace up the hill with Big Rob (in training for the Etape Caledonia), Uni Charlotte and me in pursuit. It was fairly relentless all the way up to the final drag over the bridge where I manage to summon the last bit of energy in my body to take the sign for a back 2 back win before crawling back home.
A tough but great day in the saddle, one of those rides where you didn’t have to say anything at the end, just a breathless knowing nod did the job. I think we all deserve our Sunday dinner tonight. One of the new recruits Pete must have enjoyed it, handing over his membership form and cheque at the end of the ride. Shout out also to young Elliot Lambert, looking really good in the group today – don’t forget to have a practice using your small chain ring, get those legs spinning up those hills!
Club runs back to 9.30 next week folks!!