This week’s game appeared to be riding circles around other MR groups with a few groups having similar routes out towards Maidenhead, tracking south to Wokingham and back via White Waltham.
Two groups this week (of 8/7), and not aware of a particular selection strategy, though Eds split, Phils stayed together, Marks too, and Lewises also (eventually when we collected Scott near BE). Fraser had the earliest of mechanicals not even making the Higg car park roundabout stopping to fix a mudguard. (Not sure if it was rubbing, or just removing as few others had one). Group 2 would pass him too some minutes later…and he would not make it back on🤦♂️.
Temperatures made wardrobe selection tricky. Simon (shorts obviously) bringing colour to the greyness with a palette resembling a ‘Fruit Salad’ chew, whilst Scott (who has form here), also in shorts, but winter merino and neck buff. (Not able to remove as needed a full helmet unliding) 🤦♂️
Elsewhere the first ‘passings’ were before the Donkey, then around Chives and a further group heading towards the fire station. We would though head through BE and then straight up Kiln Lane (always a test) before then skirting
Clivedon heading to Maidenhead. Roads were largely dry but all wary of the misty film on white lines and drains, or leafy corners.
As we exited Maidenhead we again passed one of the earlier groups, us hoping that our navigation wasn’t being questioned. Another 2 groups sighted and passed, serving to ensure we were on our best behaviours and at least try and ‘look tidy’ as we trundled onwards.
Somehow group 1 appeared to want to thro/off most of the ride; group 2 less committed with 2-3 leading most of the time.
The roads beyond Binfield became muckier, where farm traffic had left some of the fields. David sporting the only mudguard in group 1, so mess evenly spread. 🤦♂️
We skirted the new housing estate near Wokingham, our maps not quite recognising the road system, with one wrong turn causing chaos. The traffic slowed behind, and several speed fines avoided as the watching speed cop pointed his gun at us, thankfully not loaded and only radar not film.
The only other notable was our melodic brakes, each a different tone and getting louder as the wet and grim increased. We would apologise to 3 horse riders as speed was the lesser of the cacophonous racket evils.
Back at MSC mega base, we were 2nd in behind one of the groups we’d passed 3 times, and enjoyed our bacon baps with a further 4 then adding a Rebellion recovery shake at the Brewery.