Although we set off as one group from the Legion, it was soon decided that a “long group” should separate off and make their own way to Malpas, with the idea of then setting off for Prees. The minor problem was that we were without any leader, and none of us knew where we were going. Anyway we rode along happily enough towards Beeston and Peckforton, losing John Keen at Beeston because he wanted to check his ramparts were in order, and then Tony at the Bickerton Poacher because he fancied a pint (sorry broke his rear mech – hope you got back OK Tony?!) The rest of us rode at good speed to Malpas with a slight detour when we realised we’d get there before time for elevenses, let alone lunch – and ended up riding to Bangor on Dee where we had lunch in the pub, just as the heavens opened. Oh I forgot to mention the minor matter of me falling off my bike, clipped in, whilst stationery, at the top of Gallantry Bank. Editors must be objective and resist the temptation of not reporting their own incompetence. Whilst everyone else laughed, Lee proved to be a dab hand at fixing my brake hood which had twisted in the fall. Thanks Lee!
Anyway – despite the fact that the rain sort of held off on the return leg, we were still riding in jungle type humidity – Andy (who must know about these things as he’s off to Bangor Uni next month to study physical geography) told us it was reported to be 90% humidity today, but none of us were quite sure exactly what that meant. If you’re fully submerged in water is that 100% humidity?
We rode home at a good speed, and more or less kept together. Thanks to Jim, Lee, Andy, Matthew, Owen (who had come out with Kev Campbell and Jack and was surprised to find that he’d ended up on the long run on his own whilst they wimped out and rode on the short run!) and the other John K (Keegan), who did remarkably well considering he had a very dodgy knee. I forgot to take any photos, so here’s a picture of Cancellara, who bears a striking resemblance to Lee when he’s storming up a hill (he swears he didn’t have an engine hidden in his downtube).
