Club Run Report - Sunday 5th January
Another cold winter's day awaited today's visitors to the Market Square for the first club run of the year. We initially decided to use Richard's routes from the previous week but as there was ice on the roads again, we approached them with a 'wait-and-see' attitude. Two groups went out on the 42 mile medium length route, one went out for a longer run while another group decided to take the shorter run. Overall we had about 30 riders - not bad for a Sunday in the depths of winter.
Medium Route Group 1
I was charged with taking out nine riders which swelled to 10 with the arrival of Trevor outside Hail Weston, and off we went towards Great Staughton at a steady pace. We were soon overtaken by a quicker group which was to our benefit as the route took us off the B645 towards Little Staughton, but as we approached the turn, Mark waved us round as the ice on the road made it too hazardous for cyclists. I understand both Joe & Gary took a tumble here so we carried on towards Kimbolton as the route re-joined the road so we weren't following our noses, yet.
Out through Kimbolton and onto the B660 for an ascent of Bustard Hill (sound familiar?) and all was well until our planned route would have taken us left down to Covington and Mickle Hill. The ice on the road made us re-think our commitment to the route and after a quick conflab, we decided to follow the B660 to Glatton, then head towards Sawtry and southwards towards home. So off we went but one of our group caught a puncture (beware taking the p***** word in vain - ed) just before Old Weston, then repeated the trick before Winwick. Luckily though, he got rid of the flint in the tyre the second time but already the 2014 puncture trophy is shaping up (It was noted that whilst one group of our riders was passing during the second tube change, Simon was holding a wheel. He was only helping, honest!).
Onwards through Glatton and south towards Sawtry, over and down alongside the A1(M). At this point, traffic and noise from wind & traffic split the group so while one group went home through Abbots Ripton and Hartford, towards the Offords and home another took a more direct route through the Stukeleys, Huntingdon and home.
Overall despite the adverse conditions, we all got back in one piece and live to ride another day. Maybe this Sunday we'll actually do this route!
Tony
Medium Route Group 2
Like Tony’s group, we left the market square with nine riders but we picked up Richard Ostler along the B645. We had planned to follow the pre-arranged route but as soon as we turned off at Gt Staughton on to the Causeway, the road conditions rapidly deteriorated with vast areas of black ice. We quickly decided to head back to the main road and head on to Kimbolton.
But just before we reached Stonely the shout went up ‘Puncture’, which was Wayne’s first of the year (there you go again -ed). On our way to Catworth Wayne got his 2nd blow out and now tops the puncture league for 2014. From Old Weston, we continued along the B660 and turned off at Glatton to Sawtry then it was on to Hamerton. Somewhere along the Gidding Road we lost Richard Ostler who went off to investigate an ‘off road’ route for the ‘Homage to the Roubaix’ ride which the club hopes to host later in the year. Richard soon picked us up again on our way to Spaldwick then through Stow Longa we went on to Stonely then it was back to the Market Square for a much needed cup of coffee.
