A huge turn-out today
, despite the weather men getting it completely wrong
.
With a few people joining en-route there must have been the magic ton again, the cafe was certainly groaning under the strain.
A quick chat with "iron fist "and it was all sorted at the station- a "tin" ride was on, i don't know how many were in the 18 scrum, but they were well split up into 10/12 groups.
I led out a bunch of riders all capable of 20+ mph in the summer, who are doing the sensible thing and taking it a tad easier in the colder months(OK Tokster- you and me outside -NOW!)
Finbar Green was astride
his lovely fixed and Caspar had a rather fetching blouse on- or at least that was what it looked like, sort of low cut and white
.
We stuck together fairly well, even allowing finbar to open his legs
and storm up the 3 humps
( ok enough double entendres)
Just as we came
( oops )to leigh, we decided to go straight on, fcuk that was slippery, loadsa mud on the road- if it was icy i think we would have all been off.
Anyone remember the ride out about 4 years ago- just before the bridge at leigh? There must have been 30/40 riders off on the ice!
A good pace with everyone working for about 2/3 mins rotation made for a nice vibe.
BTW, we lost a rider, just after the 3 humps
,Phil. He indicated he was going to turn right, i did not know he had a puncture, we were moving fairly fast by then-25+.
Does anyone want to express an opinion as to what a group should do?
Miles from home -i say stop, CR with following broomwagon, summer stop and bask, winter? It turned out he had a bit of a problem, as he had punctured last week and not replaced the tube, tube and patches this week were wet- but luckily another rider following on lent him a tube.
Please send your opinions on a blank signed cheque to........
Some how we lost Caspar and Nigel ( I know a lovely couple
), we did wait for a few minutes at lambs green, but no show.
Paul B took the sprint honours today, i was second after getting boxed in, dopping back 3 riders to find a way thru.
A tin ride it was as well.
A quick exit from the cafe saw an early group go back via redhill. Messrs Aladdin and Thermos-AKA "the vacuum twins" set off at a blistering pace, dragging all and sundry in their very considerable wake. Absolutely no watts were required for most of the peloton, and as Huw said in a previous post " these guys have a combined BMI of treble figures, before the point".
I had a rather heated chat with a guy/winker (misprint) who was on the phone whilst driving, he was very apologetic at the time, tho when he went passed- wound the window down and questioned my parenthood, then asked if i wanted a nescafe!
Unfortunately for him the lights changed and i caught him up, not so brave then, didnt want to leave his tin box and discuss anything at all.
Very nearly a new max HR to catch him up!
Grahame had a similar incident with a driver just outside the cafe.
He came over ready to have a go at him, then saw about 30 cyclists sitting there, he gave some sad spiel(sp) about paying road tax, to which Grahame said- I have 3 cars i pay road tax for- and rock star "looky likey" complete with naff headband got in his box and drove off, tail firmly between cheeks.
All in all a great ride out today.
Well done to andrew for poking up with all my "fixie" jokes.
Nuff said