Leopards Chill or was it Chilly Leopards
By ‘Cold, but getting warmer Leopard’ aka Simon K
JPS was our leader and did an excellent job setting a fine course to keep us warm. He also scored a first by hacking Strava to make it look like we were going further than we were with a hidden loopback between Mill End and Middle Assendon. It enabled us to get back first to grab the best cakes, but it did have everyone looking at their bike computers and scratching their heads back at the clubhouse. JPS - it was a nice touch and if we don’t tell anyone we can pull the same stunt again next time.
On the route we had the excitement from the never ending Pishill that went on forever, or felt like it. But it did give us the reward of a nice coast down the far side that made up for it.
At the three-quarter mark there was a quick stop at the top of the hill so that JPS could ditch his helmet and pose for the camera with his hachimaki (samurai bandana) and mighty fine he looked with it too. Apparently, legend states that hachimaki strengthen the spirit and keep the wearer safe from evil spirits and demons, although we were not too sure if he was thinking of the car drivers or the other Leopards.
On the final home stretch at Bovington Green when we thought we had made it without anyone having kit failure, Patrice decided to have a puncture, which everyone thought was pretty selfish. Neil was the only person who stopped to give him useful help with everyone else arriving back at the club coming up with excuses from: 'I didn't know he had stopped' to 'we were only 2km from the cakes' to 'we had gone a different way and were not even there'. But Patrice claimed he did not bear a grudge against anyone, although he did seem to spend a long time writing down people’s names when he got back.
What we learnt today: Tim has a love of squirrels and is opening a squirrel sanctuary in his garden, so if anyone has any squirrels that need a home, please feel free to drop them off at his house. Any time of the day is fine.
Finally, top marks go to Graeme who decided it was not cold enough yet and so came out with his shorts on - he is obviously made of stronger stuff than the rest of us mortals who had decided there was no need to expose any flesh.
All in all, a great ride.