Club run reports - 29th April

Category 6 ride led by Mike East

Last Sunday it was all beach balls, sun cream, parasols and budgie smugglers. This Sunday it's back to soup, hot water bottles, and, the mainstay of Wheelers' rides for the past 4 months, layers. In spite of the national obsession to get prepared for the forthcoming royal wedding, a surprisingly large gaggle forsook these duties and assembled in Ware for 3 led rides.
The sixers were in disarray, having neither the scheduled leader nor a suitable destination, for Thremhall Park was facing an invasion of cars, aka Pistons at the Park. Catering, we were advised, would be limited. An amalgam of 6 and 5 rides was discussed, but as the club crowbar was not available, it would prove impossible to squeeze such a large group into the Buntingford cafe. So the cat 6 riders would head for Cammas Hall, leaving the fives, republicans all, to pursue their original plan.
A straightforward route was selected. On the way out the ride an unseemly coming together of two riders at the Spellbrook railway crossing led to one being unseated and suffering a badly grazed knee and a loss of esteem. On this occasion the request to Tracy Island for immediate assistance was quickly countermanded and Thunderbirds 1 and 2 stood down. Devoid of soft fruit, and ergo customers, service at Cammas Hall was swift and efficient. Shame about the prices though. No incidents to report on the return journey. Nine riders, 37 miles and back in time to visit our specialist cycling accessory provider, Aldi, to drool over their spring collection.

Category 3 ride led by Peter Bloomfield

I keep thinking I’ve seen the last of my winter clothing but not so fast there! Did last week really happen? A temperature drop of 21 degrees between the two Sundays saw cat 3 legs covered back up, warm jackets on and various head coverings under crash helmets.  Nonetheless ten riders turned out for the punishment and were not disappointed on the outward leg  -  we were heading for Café Mocha in Saffron Walden and fairly soon were riding in cold drizzle which persisted for much of the way.  Through Widford, Much Hadham, Stocking Pelham and Berden, then Rickling before turning south for Ugley and after passing under the M11 turned north again towards our destination.  Through the pretty village of Widdington, on past Debden Barns then a straight run in to Saffron Walden.
  
Something was amiss with the system at the café; instead of the normal efficient processing of orders we queued for ages (at least we made the acquaintance of other customers we wouldn’t normally have spoken to!).  At last the logjam seemed to clear, and we were supplied with food and drink to sustain us for the return journey.  By the time we came out the weather was slightly improved  -  it was dry and remained so all the way back to Ware and, while it was not much warmer, the wind was mostly behind us which reduced the chill factor.  The tailwind and a slightly shorter return leg meant that the second half passed comparatively pleasantly as we rode through Wendens  Ambo, Arkesden and Clavering then Brent Pelham and Hare Street where we turned for the straight run south to Ware. This was rapidly dispatched and we could all head home with a smug feeling of having turned out on an unpromising day and had a successful ride after all.