Are we missing anyone, or anything?

Al

Bright skies were a welcome sight for all this week, though caution required due to cold with a light frost in places and mist hanging over the river.

With Mark away enjoying a mere 20c higher conditions in Tenerife, Phil D deputised superbly (TY👊) with an ACW loop up to Frieth and then Windmill Hill to Stokenchurch, and then ‘almost’ downhill all the way home (especially after Watlington Hill turn).

We split into 2 groups, Carwyn (not to be confused with David Adler!) joining for his first Cheetah outing, with one to collect at Frieth. Colin though had a ‘false start’, arriving at the club (by car) without his shoes 🤦‍♂️, so he would rush home and take a straighter line to Stokenchurch. Adi thought we had thought was a no-show as likely not wet enough for him, but actually had a poorly performing rear derailleur, so started 25mins behind us after a pit stop at Saddle Safari.

In Gp1, Chris and Fraser had finished a box of weetabix between them and dragged us up Chalk Pit at pace, where we collected Phil D, before a group (well almost) climb up Windmill, and stayed tight all the way to Ibstone and Stokenchurch, and then beyond to Nettlebed with some individual strong pulls but overall steady given the conditions.

In Gp2, some disciplined thro/offs from Stokenchurch (but not so much later) resulting in Simon H holding them back from catching Gp1, and that was the last glimpse Gp2 had of them until MSC.

From there only issue was the low sun, at one point catching us out for an oncoming horse, and then sounds of a massed bagpipe band tuning up. (Better the speed than the sound we decided).  Onwards as we tracked across and down to Sonning, and standard red light at the bridge. Here James G jumped off from Gp2 to pump up his tyre, literally racing the lights with a mini pump frantically repping (cue the Benny Hill music). 😂 Remarkably at this point, Colin, always with an eye for a mechanical chaos, caught up with Gp2. Meanwhile 25min back, Adi was bimbling along, sporting a new unwaxed moustache (ding dong). We decided he should have actually been ahead of us, and used his fine bristles to brush the road clear for us.

We did manage some smooth thro/offs after Twyford and cruised towards the finish. Riders would peel for home passing Maidenhead or Cookham, some via Flat Harry’s, though Gp1 would arrive first to MSC and switched on the TV almost straight into the Last Post and 2min silence, fab timing.

Great to be back at MSC, whether cake, bacon or both taken. JB would join us there, bikes already sent ahead of his year in Oz.

Superb colours 🍂 today and thoroughly enjoyable ride. ☀️