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[Chris.L]

I hope to be available to lead a run this Sunday. 

I notice the weather forecast predicts a North West wind again, but I think I know how to deal with this. (route approx. 75 miles.)

Naturally, if some one else would like to lead, I'm only too happy to follow.

[rob g]

Great ride led by Chris - group consisted of Chris (natural born leader) L, Rob (recovery after race day) G, Simon(mr puncture)Wroxley, Adam (mr puncture)Paxton, Simon (rebuilt back wheel)George, Eric(strong on the front)Young & Jeff(part time have to get back for lunch) M.

Went NW into a blustery wind up to Princes Risborough - roads became rougher as we proceeded Adam had a puncture and then they became even rougher but we kept a nice pace being virtually the first training ride of the year but it warmed up nicely later on towards the far turn.

I somehow managed to be on the front of the group for the first 45 mins and when I moved to the back 'Where was everyone ?' good to see the riders who were in the group but most disappointing to see it was only the hard men in the group.

Ride took a full 5 hours to complete we did about 75 miles but none had any working tech to confirm all the appropriate data but it certainly felt like 75.

[Chris.L]

I’m grateful to Rob for taking some weight off my shoulders by doing this report.

I believe it’s an excellent practice to record these rides, especially since they are often etched in the memory of younger riders who may, in the future, find it interesting to be able to refer back to a contemporary account.

I’ve just a couple of points to add.

A slightly fuller account of our route: Beaconsfield, Hazlemere, Prestwood, Longdown Hill, Askett. Then left onto the Lower Icknield Way (B4009) to the A40 where left again to climb back up to Stokenchurch. Now with a tailwind we turned right to lane End and descended rapidly to Marlow, and from there we took the flat route via Bourne End and Cookham to Windsor. I think the distance from Staines Bridge and back to the Bridge was 72 miles, so Rob would have done 75 from door to door.

I can’t confirm that I’m a natural leader, but I certainly agree that Eric was the strong man of the day and did most at the front. I think Simon Wroxley might have taken the King of the Mountains prize. I can say the whole group rode well and I think pretty much to their limits; I had to sit very still in my car for a few minutes before driving off. Rob refers to this ride as ‘the first of the year’, but he means the first for him, since there have been at least three others.

Finally I hope we’ll have another training ride next Sunday (21st), but this will be the last for 2010 as the Road Race is the following week.

[Simon George]

Thanks Rob and Chris. I clocked 72.46 miles door to door, in 4 hours 41 mins, and since I live off the Causeway that can't be much different from the round trip distance from Staines bridge. I expect the rest of you finished about 10-20 mins quicker than I did.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ride despite yo-yoing off the back around Maidenhead, after which I was relieved to finish at my own pace. My lesson for future rides: bring twice as much food as you think you'll need.

Highlights for me were the nicest weather so far this year, seeing some beautiful countryside that's out of range of the normal club runs, and completing what for me at the moment was a challenging ride.