Just for Martin - we had fabulous weather, a free breakfast, no competition up the hills and to cap it all an all female group of cyclists joined us in the cafe!
For those of us that were there (about 15 riders) it promised to be a nice day but in reality it was close to freezing first thing and we quickly ran into fog. It was so bad I couldn't see a thing. Then I cleared my glasses and realised that I could actually see something - it was more fog.
The fog persisted all the way to High Ham where Ivan tried to pull a fast one by belting across to the bottom of the hill in the fog hoping no one could see him. I assumed it was a deliberate attempt to get to the top of High Ham first so we set off in hot persuit with Stubble07 and Nick passing him before the top. Ivan then claimed he was going to hide in the bushes and spring a surprise on us. I dread to think what the surprise was going to be!
Having re-grouped at the top we took pity on the slower riders and kept the pace at a steady 25-26 mph across the top! Ivan had warned of a dangerous corner on the way to Langport but I couldn't exactly remember where this was until Ivan came past me approaching a sharp left hander. At the same time Stubble07 and a couple of others joined the party and not wishing to slow down for a mere bend in the road swung wide around the corner. We were all a little surprised to find an articulated lorry occupying most of the road right on the bend and after some drastic evasive action we all scrapped by with no harm done.
After elevenses (don't mention the toast to Keith) the group split with a few lightweights going back the more direct route while the rest of us set of home via Somerton, Butleigh, Glastonbury, Westhay, Mudgely Hill, Wedmore, Cheddar, Sidcott, Winscombe and Banwell. Thought we were doing well taking into account the speed and distance until we caught some old duffer out on a 200 mile ride who then matched our pace from Mudgely to Cheddar!
Within sight of home and looking forward to the pace slacking off Ivan cranked it up to 25's through Locking. Thanks Ivan!
Really enjoyable ride, no mishaps, in total for me that was 78 miles at an average of 17.5.
Rate the cake: 0/10 (didn't have any - went healthy with a big fat panini full of cheese) and Knacker Factor of 8/10.
For those of us that were there (about 15 riders) it promised to be a nice day but in reality it was close to freezing first thing and we quickly ran into fog. It was so bad I couldn't see a thing. Then I cleared my glasses and realised that I could actually see something - it was more fog.
The fog persisted all the way to High Ham where Ivan tried to pull a fast one by belting across to the bottom of the hill in the fog hoping no one could see him. I assumed it was a deliberate attempt to get to the top of High Ham first so we set off in hot persuit with Stubble07 and Nick passing him before the top. Ivan then claimed he was going to hide in the bushes and spring a surprise on us. I dread to think what the surprise was going to be!
Having re-grouped at the top we took pity on the slower riders and kept the pace at a steady 25-26 mph across the top! Ivan had warned of a dangerous corner on the way to Langport but I couldn't exactly remember where this was until Ivan came past me approaching a sharp left hander. At the same time Stubble07 and a couple of others joined the party and not wishing to slow down for a mere bend in the road swung wide around the corner. We were all a little surprised to find an articulated lorry occupying most of the road right on the bend and after some drastic evasive action we all scrapped by with no harm done.
After elevenses (don't mention the toast to Keith) the group split with a few lightweights going back the more direct route while the rest of us set of home via Somerton, Butleigh, Glastonbury, Westhay, Mudgely Hill, Wedmore, Cheddar, Sidcott, Winscombe and Banwell. Thought we were doing well taking into account the speed and distance until we caught some old duffer out on a 200 mile ride who then matched our pace from Mudgely to Cheddar!
Within sight of home and looking forward to the pace slacking off Ivan cranked it up to 25's through Locking. Thanks Ivan!
Really enjoyable ride, no mishaps, in total for me that was 78 miles at an average of 17.5.
Rate the cake: 0/10 (didn't have any - went healthy with a big fat panini full of cheese) and Knacker Factor of 8/10.