Still conditions, sunshine and warmth made a marvellous day for a club run. Many regulars were missing as it's the middle of the holiday season, so we had fewer turn up than in recent weeks.
Welcome to Andrew Maple who hails from Buckden and rides with St Ives CC. Looks like he's beginning to see the light and perhaps expand the ranks of the BOBs.
Twelve riders left the Market Square, and as we were a smaller group than we have been recently we decided to ride as one group. The wind was south-easterly, so we set off towards Abbotsley with Tim and Joe doing a sterling job of pulling us along. We headed out past the Gransdens to Bourn and Toft where we turned north. The ride was particularly enjoyable as the discipline in the group was good . Even when Alec, Tim and Joe decided that they would sprint to catch the draft of a huge tractor and trailer that passed us on the road into Dry Drayton, the group soon formed up again and headed on to Cottenham and Willingham. We bumped into a rider on a road bike near Over who decided to ride with us all the way back to St Neots. With various people pulling on the front we made our way back via Fenstanton and Hilton to Graveley and from there to the top of Paxton Hill.
Something of a sprint ensued coming down Paxton Hill to the St Neots sign - a certain diabolical figure who hadn't been seen on the front all day suddenly woke up and pipped Tim at the sign. Experience counts. Really enjoyable ride, despite lacking hills, and we met in the Market Square after for the usual coffee - about 50 miles at a reasonable pace.
