Sunday 7th April

42 is the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything. It is also the number of riders who turned up in The Market Square to ride the various club runs and the Introductory Ride.

Though the day started cool, the north-easterly gales of the previous week had abated and the day was set fair, with low winds and sunshine. With 10 Group 1 riders, 21 Group 2, and 11 on the Introductory Ride including the ride leaders, the Market Square was a mass of expensive carbon machines, colourful lycra and athletic bodies (Ok - some exaggeration there).

Introductory Ride

As ever, the Intro Ride was led by Ruth, with support from Gareth S and Andy H.  Everyone had a good ride at nice steady Intro Ride pace (about 14mph).  It was good to see some new faces including young Jack. The group even tackled Everton Hill, so well done to all.  Apparently Jack's dreams of St Neots town sign glory were robbed by 'He who shall not be named'.  I'm sure Jack will take many more town signs in his time.

Group 1

Group 1 did a good ride, approximately 60 miles at about 18mph.  The ride included the climb to Thurleigh past Royston golf course which is always entertaining and always splits the bunch.  It did not include our illustrious chairman Richard O, who left late and did 70 miles on his own.  You can read about his exploits here. Group 2 ride was enjoyed by all, apart from the two early punctures.

Gorup 2

21 riders set off in Group 2 towards Abbotsley, but we hadn't gone very far when someone punctured. As we were waiting while the puncture was repaired, Group 1 swept past and one ot two considered jumping on, but thought better of it.  After that the ride continued in an uneventful way until we got to Potton where Mark C added several miles on the route to avoid 50 yards of closed road where a house was surrounded by scaffolding. Just after Potton, we had a planned split with 15 riders carrying on in the faster group. The faster group worked well together and continued at a good pace, eventually averaging about the same as Group 1. We headed through Biggleswade and out to Southill, down the hill to Cardington where, for once there were no side winds. We continued on through Barford and Wilden.  As we turned for home in Bolnhurst, Alec found himself drifting off the front of the group and decided to go for a long one - time trialling, he stayed away for five miles but was caught by the galloping bunch about a mile from St Neots. I think Jonathan took the sign. The ride was about 48 miles at a good pace, and several people commented that it was their most enjoyable ride of the year so far. The six who had elected to ride a little slower turned up in the Market Square not long after. An excellent day.