Thursday 10 October 2024
So, writes Greg, the brave few did venture out after all. Brave few? Yes, anyone who had seen the forecast that morning for the Cambridge area might have baulked at the predicted windspeeds but us Village People are made of stronger stuff! Winds greater than 5000mph – pah! Mind you, Ed did take precautions as he arrived at the start in Long Trousers!
Also at Haslingfield were Avril, Adrian, Tony, Nick, Nigel and Richard. Much excitement at welcoming Nigel who had crossed over from his usual attendance with the City Mob - he wanted to see if the Village People really do have as much fun as the write-ups claim (no, more! Ed.)
Anyway, as we foregathered we had to ask Nick to turn off the radio set on which he was listening to the test so we could set off. 'Cricket?' asked Avril, 'In this?' – she cast her eyes heavenward and peered at the grey, lowering skies. 'Err, 36° in Pakistan at the moment' explained Nick. England were apparently in with a chance of a historic, unexpected win.
We set off – initially ascending Chapel Hill. Nothing like it for warming the system. Nigel raced on ahead and was lost to sight for the next few miles whilst the rest of us maintained group cohesion – even waiting for Tony to adjust his sartorial appearance and don a rain jacket.....a wise precaution, it transpired.
Nigel was waiting at the Foxton level crossing with Ian as we approached. For once the Railway Gods were smiling at us and the barrier dropped on our approach giving us an easy crossing of the A10.
The group now enlarged we set off again – once more being left in Nigel's wake.
He reappeared in Fowlmere where Uwe was waiting in the bus shelter. He had a knowing smile on his face, ' Morning all, no punctures forecast this week as I have new tyres.' We thought this somewhat tempting fate.....
We all duly slogged up the ridgeway in Nigel's wake and crested the top into Elmdon as the rain started to pick up and the temperature proceeded to drop down. By the time we had arrived at Compass Café the rain was starting to become more than slight. We sat out under cover and watched it fall. Nick resumed the cricket listening...
A surreptitious and underhand sleight of hand by Avril meant we all got to sign Adrian's birthday card. He has ridden many thousands of miles with the club. Many happy returns Adrian!
However, the persistent rain was somewhat discouraging and my confirmation that the sun would grace us with its presence later was insufficient to lure Tony and Adrian to continue for the rest of the ride. Nick also turned his radio off and 'Went home because he had to work.' Allegations that he had gone home to watch England's glorious victory are beneath the high morals of this blog...
The remainder of the group duly set off – grateful for the short sharp hill (known now as Sarah's Folly since it was here that her freewheel became omnipresent on a previous ride and she lost all power as her rear hub decided to freewheel in both forward and reverse.) Today's drama was a tardy Richard who we duly waited for at the top. He claimed he'd lost his chain and that is what had delayed him...
We now set off through the wet and muddy lanes – on through Arkesden towards Clavering. These are roads we usually seem to do going in the other direction so this was a welcome change.
Talking of change....just before Newport we turned East up Widdington Road. Ed had never been on this road before. This was a source of great excitement – at least to me – since a ride that takes our stalwart senior members on new roads is quite an achievement. That said, the reason Ed had probably never been up this way before was because it was a long, slow old drag uphill so other leaders had been better at route planning and had avoided this horror. (Note, I would usually put an exclamation mark here but the approved CTC Cambridge house style means I have used up my allowance.)
Soon we were on more recognisable roads and we approached Debden barns and thence on to Blossom Bites. Here we were able to thaw out and pass an enjoyable 45 minutes. Nigel had, of course, been there a few minutes already and was happily enjoying a cup of tea but he did also bag us a good table.
So, we left shortly before 2pm and headed off to complete the long loop around the south and east of Saffron Walden.
Soon enough we were passing through Ashdon when, as promised, the sun burst through. The mood lifted as we were warmed by the Autumn sunshine – and we sped on through Linton, for once getting through before school ended so the roads and paths were clear.
Ian left us at Hildersham whilst the remaining group wended their way back to Sawston where we all duly went our separate ways.
Just before separating Uwe had to call attention to the fact that his new tyres had been well designed, well manufactured and had exceeded our anglo-saxon doubts since they had performed marvellously well – 'Sehr gut' was the phrase he used. Something to do with where they were made but I didn't quite catch what he said.....
A good leg stretch at some 85 km53 miles and over 610m of climbing even though the wind speed never got above 32 kph20 mph. Greg