Club Run Report - long route - Sunday 19th April

It seems to be a feature at the moment, glorious weather through the week but once Sunday is open for business a marked deterioration in conditions is almost guaranteed. A Northerly wind kept the temperatures down and also ensured that my 5 mile ride home post caffeine would be into a headwind.

Numbers appeared light at the Square resulting in only one medium group. A couple from their ranks decided to join us swelling our total into double figures.

Ahead was a 61 mile loop set to take in a fair amount (for us) of the local hills. We started with a tailwind as we headed down to Bedford, albeit not before my first wrong turn of the day which was before we’d even got off the Square. It wasn’t long before we had our first puncture just outside of Barford. On our measurement scale it was resolved relatively quickly, maybe 1.5 P’s although the brisk wind soon had everyone cold after our all too brief 5 miles or so of riding. Off we set into Bedford and lo and behold another puncture, same rider, same wheel, same time to fix. One more time and you get to keep the match ball, or buy everyone coffee.

The turn into the wind wasn’t too bad in reality and progress was swift, some of the road surfaces were showing the results of a wet winter, especially the further west we rode.

Each week I deny it’s my route we’re riding but when we turned off the B645 just to ride the climb at Agdengreen Spinney and then promptly zip back onto the B645 I was almost sure it was mine. I have to say I think it could do with revising in places, especially the route down to Bedford could be better.

The finish was Bushmead or the ego highway if you’re on Strava and although Joe raced on the Saturday we were half expecting him to be waiting at the Red House just to claim the honours. As it was he wasn’t and I could see Michael was itching to go so I made sure I had his wheel. As it was he went too early and those following were able to shelter from the crosswind in the echelon we formed. For some reason I went too early as well and quickly appreciated the strength of the wind. I could see Tom's wheels to my right as I struggled to the bridge and he was gaining. I think by the time we hit the A1 we’d subconsciously called it a draw, a fair result.

Coffee was welcome, the ride home not so but it’s made easier by sharing the workload with Mike who lives down the road from me and thinks I own a pub.

Gary