Good for the Garden !

Rain. As a cycling group we’d almost forgotten what its like to ride in wet conditions ! So; after the unfeasibly warm and dry weather we’ve had this month, the rain finally arrived. I’m sure the keen gardeners out there were offering up a silent prayer of thanks this morning as a steady downpour sprang from a heavy, grey sky. Meanwhile, sometimes keen Windmill cyclists were shaking their fists and crying into their early morning porridge. Autumn was here. At one point, there was even talk of cancelling the ride but finally rule 5 * prevailed and the ride was on.

Nine riders congregated in the Crown, Little Warden for a 9.30 start. However the ongoing steady drizzle and the offer of coffee meant that the start, by consensus, was delayed until 10.00. It was still raining as two groups started up the hill towards Hadstock common, but it wasn’t long before Simon and Chris thought “sod this for a game of soldiers” and sensibly turned back.

Ostensibly to make up lost time, various short cuts and diversions were adopted (including a sampling of the new cycle path from Linton to Abington and missing out long stretches of off road riding), en route to Graystones Cafe, Duxford where Ken was waiting for us. Inside, warming drinks and cakes were being enjoyed when in strode an extremely irate Charles, dressed head to foot it seemed as a lollipop man. Somehow he had missed us on the ride, no doubt during one of our short cuts and had only just found us. Not so stressed was Brian, who also joined us here directly.

With the rain finally abating, but time for lunch rapidly approaching, the executive decision was taken to head fairly directly to Little Walden via Coploe Hill and Chestnut Avenue and then via Audley End House (once bigger than Buckingham Palace, apparently, according to a man in the pub).

About 38km all told, which felt like an achievement in the conditions.

Back at the pub and slowly drying out, Chris rejoined and kindly stood his round for a ‘significant’ birthday celebration – many thanks and much appreciated.

* Velominati rule 5: “Harden the f%*$ up.” https://www.velominati.com/

For all or some of the ride and or lunch: Andrew, Brian, Charles, Chris, Gareth, Graham, Howard, Jeremy, Ken, Rod, Sandra, Simon, Victor.