showmethecakes Sun Jul 10, 2016 11:22 pm
The big question was "Will it rain because the forecast keeps changing every few minutes depending on which website you look at?".
The little answer is "No".
Despite thick cloud the new bikes were out for the ride to....Okay, it still hadn't been decided other than to head off towards Jeannie's bog stop. After about 15 miles of riding Keith approached the front of the bunch to ask for the ride to be neutralised as Bernie had dropped off the back. We stopped at Red Road and asked how far back he had dropped off. About 15 miles. Only joking, it was about 3 miles, so we waited and regrouped and then left him behind again!
Meanwhile, bullet Baxter had gone AWOL towards Brent Knoll and was never seen again. Whoever said this group was a shambles!
At the Apex in Burnham there were signs that a running event had taken place. The sight of runners, water and bicycles prompted the tri lot to start stripping ready for transition. Eventually all set off again with some heading to Sweets while the others finally decided to head for Doniford.
A steady ride through Bridger was uneventful. There was no sign of the Bridger National Anthem as the bunch rolled through and out towards Cannington.
Shortly after Ivan called for a left, left, left LEFT which everyone heard apart from Queenie Jeannie who went straight on. Like a lot of men with maps we all refused to accept it was the wrong turn and that Jeannie was correct to go straight on. There were various mutterings of "I always wondered what was down that road" and "needed a few extra miles".
At the A39 Ivan pointed out a shortcut immediately after everyone except him had passed it. So we all slogged down the A39 while Ivan gained several minutes on the bunch. Not to worry, we all blasted past him again anyway.
At Doniford the more sophisticated among us had afternoon tea while the commoners tucked into their bacon sanwhiches and full English breakfasts. The cocks were out in the yard much to the ladies delight.
Breakfast repeated itself on the climb out of Donny and we retraced our route back to Bridger. The steady 22's on the Expressway gradually escalated to 27's by Dunball Wharf. After a blast up Pawlett Hill the speed went up again to 30 mph and then nudged up again to just under 35 mph before easing back again on the run in to Highbridge. We regrouped and then realised Rugby Shorts was nowhere to be seen. Phil limped in a few minutes later complaining about cramp or something. Don't know why. Should be able to keep up at that pace!
Ivan had clearly sniffed out the chance for a sneaky burger at the Lympsham school fete as he shot straight through Brent Knoll while the rest of us paused for a 'comfort' break as they say on the TV. In my book it was always called a piss stop. We never saw Ivan again so assume he was tucking into a hot dog or something.
Hot but enjoyable ride. OJC: 5?, TTCR: 8/10, Knacker Factor: 7/10 (3/10 for those of us with new bikes)