What a difference the weather makes!
29 out on the usual morning run in 2 groups plus 8 (I think) in the inaugural Women's Ride that went to Long Bennington. We went to our normal Portland Fishing Lakes, taking it steady with 2 newbies out.
We found it rather warm on the way home (I'm not complaining!).
Cracking ride today, with the usual burn up to Farndon, a bit steadier on the way back south to the cafe, but a non too shabby 17mph average to the cafe. The Ladies had a good ride too. Nearly 40 riders out over the 3 groups. Not many clubs can match that.
Great first ladies ride to Long Bennington, planned by Sue R. Service at cafe, 62, agonisingly slow, but happy to sit in the sunshine at last 😎 3 non Sherwood riders out-think they might come again too 😀. Plan to have a ladies’ ride on first Saturday each month.
Ed. Are we dreaming of past times? 2013?
I second Trev's comments. A really good medium ride. A little steady at first (which wasn't a bad thing) although I did have to smash it from cold to catch the group as I arrived 'on-time' as usual. Actually drove down to the start as I had to drive somewhere after so by the time I got my helmet and gloves on they were gone!
Another small group of about 5-6 riders past me, so once I caught them at the A6097 junction with Station Road where we had to wait about a minute to get onto the main road, I had to really put the hammer down to catch the group.
It's not good for you going hard from cold! I was blasting along the A6097 at 25-29mph and just caught the medium group after they turned into Gunthorpe village. Time to recover a bit.
The ride remained steady until the old A46 after Flintham where I egged Kev Savage to put the hammer but he didn't bite but Phil Staniforth got roped in so I jump on his wheel and away we went for what seemed like an all too brief breakaway.
The effort was a little too much for me so I eased up and 'let' the group catch us. John Church flew past shouting, "Jump on!" but I couldn't respond so I just sat there and let a good number go past but then started to ramp it up ever so gently. I caught Dennis and Neil again but just couldn't make the leap to the leaders.
A breather on top of the bridge to let the tailenders catch up and away we went again. Dennis decided to head off a little early to build up a lead and a rest I think but we pulled him back gently. He wasn't trying.
Sometimes you're the hammer! Sometimes you're the nail! Normally I'm riding a nail but this time I was the nail.
Dave Trevor and I sat on the front whilst those behind readied themselves for the cafe sprint. We were left to the work. Dave started to flag ever so slightly so I was left on the front. I tried to keep it steady so I had something left in reserve for the push. HR was 163bpm. We hit the incline and still no-one had come past. Heart rate gradually started to rise. Now 173bpm and bang that was it. I sense someone saw me change up a gear and that was it, a blur of around 7 riders came past. Kev Savage, Llew Hancock, Trev as the lead-out I think?
I got to the crest of the rise and kept it going. Managed to reel Trevor back in and one other but I was spent and wasn't in the right mind to try any harder.
A brilliant run in and that's where the story generally ends - at the cafe!
Steady ride back to Lowdham. Stood around chatting to Mick Gilding, who was waiting for his wife, whilst Paul Mellors and Dave Trevor waited for their respective partners sunning themselves on the bench by the War Memorial.
A great, if not short, ride. Ride number 6 completed.