A chilly, long-sleeve-and-gilet type of start saw a reduced muster, with various excuses from rugby up North, riding the Jurassic coast, or Eurovision/Party in Park hangovers. Three too would join us at Morrisons HW after their bargain breakfasts, beautifully missing the rude Ragman’s start (esp. with Fraser ‘no legs’, jockey Jon, relentless Chris and motor JB setting the pace) and ‘close your eyes’ Handycross.
Thereafter we tracked up Hughenden Valley, still debris evidence of last week’s flash flood, up Bryant’s Bottom, inevitably with a 3-up squeeze for the summit.
Regrouping before then stringing out again on the descent towards Chequers and rolling through before the next descent to Butlers Cross.
More solid riding to Stoke Mand, Weston Turville and climb to Wendover awaiting. One half ‘just about’ made the canal lights on the steep hill, and paced themselves all the way then to Wendover Woods top, the others chasing down.
The twisty lanes, and non-headwind, wound up the pace for our return leg, and the sun was coming out. Then we spied a group of Jags emerging from our left and up a short rise. ‘From nowhere’, Mark flew off the front (a rarity that morning) jovially fresh, not lost on the group or the Jags, I think uttering the name of the segment (That Little B@stard) 😂😂
We even had time for a quick photo at the hidden RN bow figurehead. There were a few twitches but no supporting routes direction for the drop to
Penn, and internal gyros confused. Colin peeled for home before the Hazelmere drop (late start, early finish) and we then took a flatter return to Wooburn Green, Bourne End and Cookham with some strong (some might say unnecessarily) hard pulls and limpet wheel clinging required. (Jon heading straight to a football touchline).
A new cake menu was welcomed, before we made our collective ways home, with/without a sunny pint and scotch egg at the Brewery. Perfect☀️