For the second time in recent weeks somebody (Richard B?) lost a light outside Redbourn School. This is, perhaps, as much to do with the appalling state of the road as it is with any lack of maintenance. The vibration's enough to shake your teeth lose (Older members beware!)
Though calmer than last week, there was still a stiff headwind for the first half of the ride. This had little impact on the speed merchants as Everton & the Tandem Boys, assisted by Blunty( fresh back from the Alps) and Andrew (our resident timetrialist) set a blistering early pace. We were soon well strung out and stopped to regroup in Ridgmont. After a mass sprint along the back wall of Woburn park, we snaked our way through Aspley Guise & Salford to begin the long steady climb up to Cranfield.
The guys at the front must have been feeling pretty good about their speed and fitness until Andrew decided to show how real cyclists do it. Without breaking sweat, he powered to the front- over taking the tandem at such a pace I'm sure saw CP try to dismount in the mistaken belief that they'd stopped.
After re-grouping again in the village, there was another cavalry charge down Cranfield Hill towards the Sheltons. This hill feels a lot longer and steeper when going the other way but Richard B still managed to top out at over 40 mph. Others may have been faster but were not brave enough to look at their speedos. Once through the newly refurbished under-pass ( yet to regain the stink of stale piss) we picked up the Sustrans route through Marston Country Park and out through Stewartby. It's hard to believe that the area around the lake was desolate waste land less than 10 years ago.
A change to the planned route took us through How End, past one of Joe's old houses- Last week it was his grandad's house in Potsgrove - no wonder he knows half the county. We had a brief look for a blue plaque as we rode past Simmo's house- founder member and original Chairman of our fine club- before the grind up London Lane. The debate about whether the maggot farm'still open was settled as we were greeted by the acrid stench halfway up the hill.
It was every man for himself as we dashed down Limersey Lane to the White Hart where a fine pint of Tim Taylor's Landlord convinced us to stay for the rest of the evening. The service was friendly, even if the barmaid did think that Tim Taylor was related to Banks & Taylor and brewed in Shefford! Several of the older clientele were keen to regale us with tails of their past cycling exploits- Shame Ken wasn't there to provide a counter.
Approx 28 miles at an average 14.6 mph.
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