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Despite some cretin sending out the weekly email showing a 09:30 start (ok, a correction to 09:15 was sent later), eleven riders did turn up for a very cold early morning tour of the lanes.  Unfortunately some of those lanes were pretty icy, and therefore interesting to ride on!  Fortunately there were no accidents or mishaps and all got back safely.

A very wet and windy Saturday night obviously put off many from turning up.  However over twenty did check the forecast and found that it was actually correct.  There was no rain.  The sun shone.  Yet it was still very windy and there was a lot of surface water.  This meant that the outward-bound journeys were quite quick ie wind assisted.  By the time all returned, the headwind had lost much of its strength.  

A cool, crisp, bright morning saw most riders plump for the fast\medium departure - probably the first time that the numbers on this exceeded the slower tours.  This was partly due to some indecision regarding the Pace Judging Comp.  However a total of about twentyfive in total were out and most got around without incident!

Again there was a massed start in Hertford as over 30 riders jostled for position in the peloton.  Right from the outset there was a breakaway as 13 made a move and headed Whitwellwards in order to complete the freewheeling competition and then throw themselves at the tea and cake in Emily's.  The remainder took in a more sedate trip to the goodies at the Coffee Shop in Buntingford.

A new points season kicks off and it's surprising what a little shower does to a rider's resolve.  OK- so maybe it was a few hours worth of torrentiality.  Eight riders turned up at Hertford, and three at Sawbridgeworth.  It probably took them all about a minute to realise that perhaps those that had stayed away had made a fair and reasoned choice, but once you're soaked you can't get any wetter.  So all the groups made ways to their various destinations albeit trying to avoid the many new lakes and rivers that were now littering the roads.

Despite the attraction of the Emit, there were still plenty out today.  Five took on the Hinxworth journey - would have been six except the banana disappeared.  Twelve took the easier option to Bishops Stortford.  Despite the weather forecasts the day turned out to be a good riding day.

Punctures, punctures and more punctures.  Sometimes two at a time.  Fortunately most of the riders got back before midnight!  Needless to say the lanes were still very wet from the previous night's leaking clouds.  It was chilly but not excessively cold, but got colder for those who were problem-free yet hanging around waiting for those with difficulties.  A good ride out for the fifteen to Writtle, but oh those punctures!  Meanwhile the easies created an even larger "lorry" as they had seventeen plus the one lonely fastie.  By the time the meds came back through Hatfield Heath the easies w

At 09:30 it was still a bit chilly, but quickly warmed up in the sun - especially for the hill climbers.  No talk of the cold there - as they were all just struggling to breathe at the finish.  However the various morning rides all took place, with a hotchpotch of punctures.  Again there was a lot of riders out (25-30) and it will be interesting to see the attendance figures come winter.

Tony led Alex by 17 seconds in the Out of Season BAR (Rest Gear 72”, Rest Gear 81” and Hill Climb time accumulated) going into the Hill Climb.
As you can see he did a PB and took 19 seconds back to win the Hill Climb and Out of Season BAR.
Good to see a large turn out hope everyone enjoyed it.
Thanks to Lorne you can see a video of your efforts .

What with the Restricted Gear race, and the various clubrides on offer it seems there were in excess of 30 riders out today.  For a chilly, windless and sometime sunny morning this in itself was an excellent result.

Another still but chilly Sunday morning.  81” rest gear for people who have raced and scrubbers for non racers.
Tony managed to take back time from Alex from the first out of season event, so now all will be decided on the hill climb next week.
Valdis won the scrubbers.

Another still but chilly Sunday morning.  81” rest gear for people who have raced and scrubbers for non racers.
Tony managed to take back time from Alex from the first out of season event, so now all will be decided on the hill climb next week.
Valdis won the scrubbers.

This was Nick C's last race of the season and involved four laps of a 70Km circuit around Steeple, Maylandsea and Tillingham in Essex.
With one and a half laps to go he was brought down by a large group of riders crashing - his first crash all season. By the time he had picked myself up and dusted himself down the peloton was way ahead. He worked with an Ipswich rider named Adam Keer and raced on for pride crossing the finish line joint last .

Fantastic!  With a time of 1:16:46 Merv set a time that was 6 seconds faster than the club record he established 59 years ago in 1953.  This also established an East Anglian Group VTTA Age record at 79.  Meanwhile Phil clocked 1:09:12.

Around 16 Wheelers assembled in the Six Templars in Hertford preparatory to a meal in the Baan Thitya restaurant.
The unanimous verdict was that this was an excellent evening with wonderful food and good service.
Many thanks to Danny for organising!

For the first time in many years there were two Wheelers competing in the club's "Last Chance Points Grabber" road race.

The break stayed away in the Wheelers' "Last Chance Points Grabber" road race on the Whitwell circuit on Sunday 30th September.

The break stayed away in the Wheelers' "Last Chance Points Grabber" road race on the Whitwell circuit on Sunday 30th September.

After the roadrace seven wheelers took off for the Golf Club at Wandon End.

It was very cold on the unfashionable and undulating E1 near Newport when Merv clocked 1:27:20 in this event.  He was further hampered by a strong headwind from the turn.