Sunday was a fine dry day with light winds and ample sunshine. Twenty three riders turned up to the Market Square. Yet again we had a new rider join us so it’s a big club welcome to Andy from Grafham.
We planned the Group 1 ride this week to be a bit longer than normal by doing a recce of the sportive route so that Geoff could ride it before he goes back to warmer climes. Mark had planned a normal length Group 2 ride.
Group 1
Thirteen riders set off on the sportive route and headed out through Kimbolton at a relaxed steady pace. The first part of the ride was uneventful apart from a few wrong turnings, that slowed us down a bit. We didn't actually follow the exact route for a few miles, although we were very close to it. The sportive is not hugely hilly, but there are enough lumps to keep the interest up and some of the Northamptonshire countryside and the villages are very beautiful. Andy Kinglake and Phil left us to go home early. After the fun of the gated road, we carried out a deliberate diversion to Oundle where the cafe did a good trade in bacon and egg rolls.
After Oundle, we made our way back to the sportive route with a little more urgency in the pace. As the ride back to Kimbolton carried on the pace continued to climb, especially when Bomber and Bloxham got together on the front. David won the sprint up Catworth Hill for the village sign. After Catworth, Geoff really put the hammer down and we were singled out and hanging on all the way to Kimbolton. Most carried on following the route back to St Neots which included the Bushmead sprint, taken by Geoff, while Alec headed back to Buckden. About 80 miles at a reasonable pace.
Group 2
Question – What starts with 10 and ends with 12?
Answer – A Group 2 Club Ride, read on.
This week, 10 Group 2 riders took to the road and these included Andrew Poodle with his helmet mounted camera, and John and Gareth on their mountain bikes. From St Neots we headed out to Huntingdon then onto Abbots Ripton on the B1090 towards Sawtry. I must admit that I was somewhat surprised that after shouting to our front riders to go straight over the roundabout (just prior to the bridge over the A1), to actually see John on his mountain bike, do exactly what I said!
From Coppingford we continued onto Winwick and Old Weston. Some of our riders found Catworth Hill a challenge and so we regrouped in Catworth village. We continued on to Kimbolton and as we were going through Little Staughton we met up with Andy Kinglake, fugitive from Group 1, who joined our motley ranks. As we were heading up to the Bushmead crossroads we could see yet another St Neots rider approaching from Bolnhurst. This turned out to be Leon Bradford who joined us for the ‘Bushmead Sprint’ which again was won by Andy Kinglake.
Then it was back to the Market Square for a much needed coffee and a humorous debrief. This week we covered just over 44 miles at a very sociable pace.
