Not as fast or feisty as the long run, today’s ride was to got to the Candle Factory at Burwardsley. I didn’t count how many of us there were, but around 20 of us remained for the short ride at the club as the long ride departed.
It was a fine day for a ride. The roads were slightly damp, and around half of us had summer bikes out for the last time, including Carol, who had her summer bike out for the first time, having only just got it ready for the 2016 season..errr…
Anyhow, we departed via the usual route that we might take, heading out via Whitegate and Cinder Hill to get the lungs cleared out. Most were feeling reasonably fit, and it was good to see Caroline out after a long lay off due to her foot injury, where she had to take a holiday and cycle in Majorca as part of recovery (tough life).
So, the good pace continued through the lanes, with very few long stops required for re-grouping.
It felt like we had flown the Burwardsley, and the only thing that slowed the group considerably and stopped the chatting was the left turn into Higher Burwardsley Road, probably named as it does get ‘Higher’ up a nice sustained hill all the way to the cafe destination.
Puffing and panting, we arrived in a strung out fashion at the cafe, just after 11.
‘Beans on toast’, I ordered as approached the counter, as I normally do.
‘No sliced bread, only barms’ came the reply.
‘Okay’, toast one of them then!’
‘Bacon and egg barm’ came another order, followed by a reply of ‘No eggs, but you can have a sausage barm, a bacon barm, or a sausage and bacon barm’
So a sausage and bacon barm for a few!
Just the job for most of us, so we ordered and sat down for an early one.
Most of the way through our usual cafe stop, Jules and Elaine, either slightly hungover from a night out on Saturday, or having put the clocks back a week early (I think the former), walked into the cafe and also grabbed an early lunch.
After a relaxed break, we left, and shot back down the hill at a good crack, and then back along Burwardsley Road, at an equally quick pace before we turned into Birds Lane, at which point a shout went up as Geoff fell foul of the quicker pace and had a high speed lie down for a rest. Unharmed apart from his pride, he picked himself back up, and we went on, happily chatting, and only varying our route slightly until along Birds Lane/Tattenhall Lane/Wickson Lane, then down Bates Mill Lane, till we met our outward route at Huxley Lane.
We then shot on without incident until Whitegate, where again the usual sprint took place, and where the goading and banter occurred to get Steve to take up the sprint early!
He did and I think he took it, although, as this was not observed formally by a judge, cannot be confirmed until the officials, whoever they may be, have concurred!
A good, shorty-short ride out of about 40 miles for most was a good start on a beautiful autumn day.
Clocks go back next week folks and the club meeting time changes to 10:00. Don’t forget your mudguards, or incur the wrath of your club-mates!!!