Rain. wind, cold and dirty best describe last Sunday's club run.
Or as the more restrained Blighty spirit might say: 'character building' or 'memorable'. A number of club members had obviously taken a quick peek through the curtains and made the perfectly sensible decision to retreat back under the duvet for another forty winks.
However, despite the cold, wet and generally unpleasant conditions a hardy bunch of around 20 riders gathered at the appointed time ready for action. What an excellent turnout on a genuinely vile day.
Group 2
Unbeknown to the 13 plucky participants of Group 2, the fickle lottery that is the Group 2 Leaders Rota had, by some ill chance, selected a Group Leader with dubious leadership qualities and an inability to navigate himself from his garden shed to his own back door on the worst day that such a misfortune could befall them. Fortunately salvation was at hand in the unmistakeable form of Chris Preston (plus trusty Garmin), ably assisted by Andy Mc who had assumed Lieutenant duties for the day. As Chris and Andy shepherded the peloton out of the Market Square in the appropriate direction, Group Leader was heard to utter “Well at least it’s not windy”: some people never learn.
And so to the open road, as the bunch headed out towards Gamlingay, Potton and onto Biggleswade the cheery social chitter chatter that so often begins any group ride continued unabated. For Steve, born and bred in the west of Ireland, the conditions were virtually akin to a summer morning's ride, and as such he happily went to the front of the bunch and pedalled remorselessly into the wind and rain. The miles passed and still the rain came down, but Group 2 were not to be cowed; everyone did their bit either by taking turns on the front (good work Gary despite Chris’s heckling) or making sure that the group remained as one in the testing elements. By common consent the beautiful section through Southill towards Old Warden offered some much needed respite and spirits remained high.
As the pace quickened down the Cardington Hill the bunch became a little fractured and a quick re-group was required at Cople before negotiating the tricky junction at Willington and on towards Great Barford. With two thirds of the ride now under our belts and with no let-up in the dire conditions, all thoughts turned towards the home stretch and the shimmering oasis of a cup of tea and a hot bath. By this time the Group Leader was mewling like a kitten and cursing the inability of two pairs of gloves plus overshoes to keep his hands and feet warm. It should be noted that Ed (soldiering on in a pair of shorts) and Yvonne (making do with just a pair of wooly gloves to keep her hands toasty) cycled gamely on without complaint. Never let it be said that Group 2 are anything but hardcore. With every hill and undulation seeming to loom up like Mount Ventoux, the weary band headed through Wilden, Bolnhurst and, mercy be, back to St Neots via the Bushmead Road.
Well done to Gareth for battling on after a weekend racking up the miles after his recent injury and special thanks once again to Chris for technical support and on the road route guidance. Group Leader was pleasantly surprised by some of the roads that he had carefully selected for the club run, despite being unaware that they even existed. A final chapeau to all of group 2 for doing their duty. As one wag put it en route, our speed would best be described as ‘winter training pace’, but given the prevailing awfulness completing a 3 hour ride was an achievement in itself.
Group 1
Mark C set off ahead of the group hoping to get a head start over the other six riders leaving St Neots. The six became eight in the Offords where they picked up Steve B and Richard. However, things soon went pear-shaped around Huntingdon. David had a mechanical and ended up doing a shorter solo circuit, while Mark B punctured.
Unfortunately the group split and despite waits and short-cuts (or perhaps because of them!) we never quite managed to regroup. Ade, Tim, Joe and G1 first timer Stu formed one group while Mark B, Steve B and Richard made up the other. We had a soaking wet tour around the Huntingdonshire villages enlivened by a special excursion down, then back up Staunch Hill over at Leighton Bromswold. Neither of our two groups caught Mark C - I hope he enjoyed his solo ride! He's obviously faster than he thinks.