Look a team photo! Some lad at Holt took it for us.
Sunshine and barmy temperatures greeted everyone at the Legion this morning. A strong turnout with a good 30 strong riders looking to take on rides to Malpas or Prees. With no people jumping up and down to take up the lead to Prees we all headed out together before a breakaway group formed just before Oulton Park. That group, as they sped off, was deemed to be the long group and were not to be seen again.
A remaining group of 16 pottered over to Malpas. Today’s route was an Al Silver classic, taking on roads around Bunbury which we would normally cover during the Winter when they are wet and mud covered. It was along here (as we were waiting to cross at a junction), that today’s funniest and most random piece of abuse occured. It was in the form of some butch guy giving us the finger but whizzing past driving a battered mini-van with the livery “dance troupe”.
As we neared Malpas a group containing Me, Spanish Jed, Derek and Jack & Kev Campbell broke away. I lost the legs following Saturday’s exploits but from what I could see Jack Campbell took the sign just ahead of Spanish Jed.
Unfortunately Malpas cafe have now decided not to be open on Sundays. Quick as a flash Derek Hinde’s vast knowledge of the North West’s cafe and cycling route network came in handy and a 5 mile detour to Holt was arranged.
We’d been fortunate to escape the rain on the way to Holt but as we came out it was raining. Predicting the worse we caped up, prompting Jimmy to have a dig at those without a £20 cape. I think they may have been better off as eventually 10 miles later we were all taking them off again! Better to be wet than boil to death!
The ride home took in now less than 2 intermediate sprints and a hill climb. The first intermediate sprint was at the Ice Cream Farm. A hunting ground for Al Silver, who Weaver Valley fans may remember picked up a win here only a couple of weeks ago. Once again he was victorious today. Wood taking up the lead out, with only Spanish Jed able to go with Silver. Afterwards came numerous complaints especially from the Wrinkly Division, Dave “El Presidente” Daynes complaining at first he wasn’t ready but as that fell on deaf ears he pulled out the age card along with Spanish Jed and Andy Hammond who pointed out that he too was sharing a 50th anniversary with the club this year!
The next intermediate sprint came for the sign before the Winsford bypass which was picked up by Wood, before this point there had been numerous attacks mainly by Hammond & Spanish Jed; the old trick of attacking on the climb but then backing off to stir up the pot. Al Silver also dipped his toes in at the front alongside Elaine Mossman pushing out her infamous big gear.
Everyone had stayed together so we pushed on for the final fling of the day, Whitegate Alps. So close previously, this was Spanish Jed’s one last effort to take a win before heading back to Spain. And that he did, attacking all the way from the bottom of the climb to hold off Wood for a well deserved win.
Cheers to Al for yet another cracking run. Another 60 in the bank for me!