The forecast was cold and one member had already decided that a 2 hour turbo session was preferable  to braving the North wind on the roads of Cambridgeshire. Another was known to have chickened out after celebrating a certain Six Nations result. However the cold was not enough to deter the 23 riders who turned up in an array of balaclavas and hoods that could would have been perfect disguises for a heist on the Bank of England.

Our three most recent new members - Alan, Tom and Tony - were in attendance following their initation into the club from the Introductory Ride on 3rd February. It was also good to see Joanna joining us again and Stuart who went out with Group 1. Andy Mac was the Group 2 leader today and the route had been set by Mark C. Thirteen riders headed out to the Gransdens at a steady pace and we picked up Number 14 in the shape of Steve P who had clearly opted for a lie in this morning rather than do the extra few miles into St Neots. (At least he struggled out of bed, unlike some we could mention - Ed)

We decided that the group would split and nine headed out to Hardwick and then across the A14 to Dry Drayton to join the Cambridge Guided Bus route at Oakington. The cold was still intense and a few minor back wheel wobbles on patches of ice and damp ground set hearts racing but thankfully there were no falls. Mark thought that we needed to explore some new routes and now that the paths beside the CGB had tarmac this was much preferable to the previous asphalt. Certainly this is a traffic-free option and apart from a few runners we had the path to ourselves.

We came across a few minor floods to negotiate and we were soon in St Ives pushing hard against the wind.

We headed back across the A14 at Hilton and then Graveley, and then on to the Toseland straight where a few decided to stretch their legs. Steve R and Dan contested the final few yards with Steve showing that he is coming back to fitness after his leg op by taking the flag.

Steve L and Mark G claimed that they would have been in contention, however they were "hampered" by a mysterious red van going through Toseland. (Sure it wasn't aliens? - Ed)

Outside Hilton, Dan King, a club member, passed us going the other way, so questions will need to be asked as to why he was not out with the Club.

After 2.5 hours and 44 miles at a average speed of 17.1 mph we enjoyed very welcome warm drinks at the Market Square. There were three Kettering CC riders there who claimed that they had got a "bit lost" and were keeping out of the cold.

Not too long after the four in the other group joined us and they had followed the same route back to St Neots

Group 1 started with ten and headed out towards Barrington and managed 65 miles at an average of between 18 and 19 mph with Wayne showing some early season form by taking the flag for the sprint back into St Neots.