Any follower of cricket, especially in the UK, will know that the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method (DLS) is designed to calculate the target score for a team batting second in a limited overs cricket match interrupted by weather or other circumstances. The method was devised by Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, and was formerly known as the Duckworth–Lewis method (D/L). It was introduced in 1997, and adopted officially by the ICC in 1999. After the retirements of Duckworth and Lewis, Steven Stern became the custodian of the method and it was renamed to its current title in November 2014.
All of this preamble is pertinent to Thursday’s ride for two reasons:
– The ride started and finished at the Cricketers Arms overlooking the Rickling Green cricket pitch.
– The ‘match’ was, indeed, “interrupted by weather or other circumstances”
An overnight freezing fog forecast had proved correct and a number of Windmillers decided that discretion was the better part of valour and decided to sit the day out at home with a mug of warm cocoa. Nevertheless eight hardy souls made it to the start, all with tales of icy roads and poor visibility. Over a coffee, a consensus emerged: Yes we would ride (see Rule 9, below) but a slightly delayed start would allow the fog to lift and Simon’s route would be shortened to 31km to avoid the most minor roads.
As the sun started to break through, we set off very cautiously and headed via Henham to join the Thaxted road just outside Elsenham. As we’d hoped this road had been well gritted and, as a bonus, was much quieter than we had feared and so was a real pleasure to ride on, with the sun now fully out and providing some warmth. In fact so effective was the sun that two of our number opted to sit outside Parishes cafe in Thaxted for their coffee and cake !
The second part of the ride followed pretty much Simon’s original route via Debden, picking up Martin on the way after a late start.
And so to lunch. The Woofchester’s Bark Burgers on sale at the bar were, apparently, for dogs only and so it was the more usual pub fodder for us !
Velominati rule 9: “If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.” https://www.velominati.com/
The riders were Debs, Alan, Graham, Simon, Roger, Jeremy, Brian and Rod with Martin W joining us for part of the way.
The Windmill Cycle Club 