Club run reports - 13th May

Category 6 ride led by Mike East

This was a routine ride out west to Codicote for eight members not enticed by the prospect of garlic eclairs and trenches over in northern France. The destination was Vanstones Garden Centre, which appears to have got its catering act together again after some uncertain lapses on previous visits. It was Cole Green, Datchworth and Knebworth out, a loop around the back of Codicote, then Woolmer Green and Bramfield back. There was one puncture and a number of slipped chains. Great to see Mark W out again. 31 miles, back just after 1. After solving all the world's problems, just one unanswered question - who is going to organise the club "Not the royal wedding ride" on Saturday?

Category 5 ride led by John Farnham

The heavy overnight rain cleared to leave a cloudy overcast and rather chilly day for our mini tour of West Suffolk. Six Wheelers set out from Thaxted through Great Sampford, Radwinter, Ashdon, Bartlow, West Wickham, Carlton, Great Bradley, Cowlinge to Café 33 next to Highpoint Prison. A café also popular with motor bikers and prisoner's wives, although none of the latter apparent on this occasion. Return via Stradishall village, Hundon, Kedington, Sturmer, Steeple Bumpstead, Little Sampford back to Thaxted. Coffee and cake was consumed in Parrishes to round off the day. 51 miles, no punctures or mechanicals and we all managed to avoid the monstrous potholes on the return leg.

Category 3 ride led by Tony Howard

After looking at the forecast for Sunday, wet, wet, wet for the first couple of hours, or at least to the cafe at Ickleton, Saturday afternoon saw me taking the winter bike off the wall ready! And then surprise, surprise (as Cilla used to say) there wasn’t a drop of rain to be seen, roads were a tad damp so the winter bike went back on the wall, and my contingency plan of a shorter route wasn’t required!

So the six cyclists set off from Ware for a round trip of 55 miles to Ickleton, 29 Miles out and 26 Miles on the return leg. The outward leg saw us through Stanstead Abbotts up through Hunsdon, Much Hadham heading for Clavering and Arkesden. I think it was about here that we were stopped by an official on a motor bike who asked us to wait at the junction as there was a cycle race coming round the bend, and in a flash two riders shot past followed by some support vehicles and another motor bike. Apparently they had broken away from the peloton by quite a margin so we continued on our way! I think we got to Audley End before the peloton whizzed passed, at this time we thought we had stopped! So we carried on our merry way to the cafe by the lake at Ickleton. This is where Richard said I looked beautiful, so I thanked him and then he pointed to the peacock!

So after some much needed calories served in a flash we cycled through Ickleton and found some beautiful hills at Elmdon; well I thought they were beautiful! After a few moans and groans we then returned to Ware via Barkway, Hare Street and Braughing. A lovely ride, great company and the weather was pretty good. I’m glad the early forecast was hopeless!