Here are some very wet riders at the Prees cafe! There were 12 of us – Richard M, Ady, Kris, Tony, Jim, three Johns, Kev, me and Carol and Woody – I think it was their first outing on the longer ride. Garry and Jed joined us en route but when the heavens opened and they heard Kev say he was heading for Marple (he meant Malpas but that’s Kev for you) they headed (very sensibly) for home. The rest of us just got very wet, the rain just didn’t let up and it was the VERY WET variety of rain – you know the sort. Glasses were useless (especially as most people didn’t have mudguards) and poor Ady ended up with a bad case of very sore eyes, thanks probably to the dilute slurry coming up off the muckier roads. Anyway we all stayed resolutely positive despite the adversity thanks to some very dodgy singing from various people and the odd motivational slogan along the “if you’re not suffering you’re not getting fitter” and “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” variety. Carol was particularly perky, somehow maintaining cheerful conversations up every hill and through every puddle!! We rode there and back at a swift pace – largely because we were all so cold we had to keep warm somehow – and the group stayed together nicely.
Four lessons learned: 1. put your waterproof on as soon as it starts raining (some of us waited too long, so got soaked) 2. waterproof socks don’t work, they just fill up with (cold) water 3. if you’ve got a waterproof, bring it (this one is aimed specifically at Kris and John K!) and 4. if it’s raining that heavily, you’re best going for a mountain bike ride under the trees, or heading for the Trafford Centre!
Waterproof socks don’t work
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Excellent review as always thank you Eleanor. Re. the singing; i particularly liked your tunes Eleanor, very uplifting. It took me ages to get warm when i got home, not helped i suppose by the fact that there was no hot water and so i took a stone cold shower. Thing is, i was so cold that i actually tried to turn the shower down as it felt so hot! I also had very strong words with my cape and told it never to be on the spare bed again when it should be on my back.
It really was a great day, loved it, wouldn't trade it for the Trafford Centre for a second.
John K
One for the story books "remember when we went to Prees when it poured down all day". The wet I can handle, the combination with chilly wind I can't! Great company, cheers for the words of support when the legs went at Peckforton!