A beautiful day and a great route from Craig. We all set off at a fair lick up to Beeston Castle and to Malpas via Gallantry Bank. On the way out of Malpas Craig called a right which only four of us on the back of the bunch heard – the rest of the riders just continued on to Whitchurch and out to Prees, whilst John Keen led us three on an undulating route out via Higher Wych and Tilstock, and I set John Chrystal up for the sprint to the cafe, where we met the others already getting stuck into their beans on toast. The return route was one I’d not been on before – circuitous and enjoyable, on quiet Cheshire country roads, via Ightfield, Wynbunbury and Warmingham. We encountered pretty villages, lots of daffodils and blossom about to burst, and hazards aplenty including some horrible potholes, aggressive 4x4s, and a golden retriever who escaped from its 7 year old handler and got into our wheels, attempted to bite Kev and Chris (definitely the meatiest legs) before its owner and the 7 year old’s mother, by way of explanation, told us that it “didn’t like cyclists”. Hmmm. And so home – with a fast and furious dash down the Middlewich Road into Davenham that had Kev Campbell pipping Kev U to the sign. Out today was a rider whose name I don’t know (sorry) who left us at Malpas on the way out – plus two Kevs, Julian, Richard M, three Johns, four Chrisses of varying spellings, Nigel, two Roberts, Steve, Craig, Carol and me. If I’ve forgotten anyone, apologies! Thanks to Kris who, fresh from his Majorca trip, did lots on the front. My clock shows 71 miles at 17.3mph which was a bit stretching for me but as various people keep telling me, if it’s hurting I’m getting fitter…
Sorry I forgot to take a photo so this one will have to do – the cafe at Prees, minus about 100 bikers (the ones who have machines with engines) who were hanging around outside today comparing their throttles.
