Normally for the end of February setting out from the Market Square we would have expected it to be cold with low cloud and little prospect of getting warm. Today, however, was warm, blue sky and plenty of sun.

16 took to the road this morning and a very warm welcome to Joe Finucane who
joined us for the first time and a welcome back to Ian Leadbetter who has been out with us once before.

An interesting start to the ride was our exit from St Neots which took us over the new Willow Bridge to Eaton Socon and then onto the Bushmead Road.

Just over the A1 the first stop of the day was called by Tim who had a puncture.
Claimed that he had just bought the tyres!!! Soon sorted and on our way.

The plan was to split around Ravensden at which point we had our second puncture of the day with Chris the unlucky one. Again soon sorted and back on the
road.

Group 2
Group 2 set a steady pace to Keysoe, Riseley and Upper Dean before the turn back South at Lower Dean and Tilbrook home via Little Staughton and Bushmead.

At the Bushmead crossroads Group 2 decided that we would time the run back into St Neots as this is the road where the pace normally steps up at the end of a club run. So, from a standing start from the crossroads at Bushmead to the town sign
immediately over the bridge on the A1, the time set by Joe, David and Adrian L was
8m 30 secs. The distance is c3.3miles. So this is the benchmark time for 2012.

Look forward to hearing about other times set over the coming months.

In all Group 2 did about 44 miles and then basked in the Sun at the Market Square
over a welcome coffee.

Group 1
Group 1 slowly increased the pace heading to Riseley and the Deans then continued north up to Keystone and the lumpy little hills parallel to the A14. The plan was to head back to Kimbolton and home, however, perhaps buoyed up by the weather, someone (OK Justin) suggested we carry on a bit further. We pulled up talked over the plan, everyone thought it a good one so we head north to Catworth and Old Weston, then across to Spaldwick before heading back to Kimbolton.

After Kimbolton, some of the village lads split off for home while the rest headed back to St Neots. Altogether 67 miles, 10 more than planned, but it was lovely day for riding so why not!