Evans Windsor Sportive

Jmc and Alex rode the 82 mile Evans Windsor Sportive. Alex reports ...
Evans sportives are smaller scale and have a more informal atmosphere, based on the 2 I have done, compared to ukcyclingevents (aka Wiggle super series etc) organized ones.
We got to the start very early as the M25 was clear and we were first to head off in what looked like being showery weather but actually turned into fine weather. The opening 15 miles to the first feed were surprisingly quiet for larger roads that took in Windsor castle, Eton colleges, Dorneywood court (home of the foreign secretary). After the feed we got into the countryside and soon passed Clivedon House (venue for salacious upper class vice that led to the Profumo scandal, " he would say that wouldn't he ", that brought down the War Secretary of that name). After a few ups and downs to Marlow, we were again surprised at how quiet the lanes were through the best parts of the Chilterns, (which go through Turville up to Christmas common - albeit very hilly ones at times).
We had a fast descent to the flat but wind-blown B road that runs parallel with the Chilterns, from Chinnor through Wallington, before a very steep ascent back into the hills. On the way up we were dive bombed by a London Eye of buzzards taking turns to pick a dead carcass (a deer not a suffering rider). More lovely gentle, quiet descents and rolling, quiet countryside preceded a surprise sharp hill just before the second feed. This hill witnessed a narrow lane with one side blocked by walking cyclists and others riding very, very slowly up the narrow space around them.
Then it was down to Henley and what turned out to be an unpleasant final 17 miles of very busy roads, made worse by Jmc's  bottle cage with bidon attached falling off just in front me and nearly causing me to crash. Then a driver stopped to demand satisfaction from Jmc  - he having waved angrily at the driver for passing too close. This lead to me getting abuse from the driver for having disputed the driver's claim that Jmc had made more rude signals - meanwhile Jmc and the driver were kissing and making up.
The last mile went through normal Windsor which is quite ghastly, reminding me of where I live, so I thought of the scenic lanes...