Windmillers are nothing if not eccentric. Indeed, some might say downright batty. Where else would you find a cyclist who, shunning conventional wet weather apparel, improvises using shower caps – yes, shower caps – for both headwear and footwear. And then we have another member who, having already experienced a wet weather soaking proceeds to spill not just one, but two pints of beer in his lap. Windmillers, eh? Outwardly normal, but kinda weird.
So it was on Thursday morning that some thirteen singular, strange and unique cyclists were seen gathering at The Red Lion in Preston – that’s the pretty little village in Herts rather than the dour mill town in Lancs – where Sandra had summoned the club for a 30-mile tour of the countryside around Stevenage. And it was here while sipping our pre-ride coffees that Keith, hearing rain was forecast, removed his shoes and pulled on some natty floral shower caps over his socks before putting his shoes back on. Nobody batted an eyelid.
Come 9.30 we were off, Sandra leading one group and Brian the other. The first half of the outing, which took us as far as the delightful Brewery Tearooms in Walkern, was uneventful, other than Alan having to pull over and fix a puncture.
Until the refreshment stop we had stayed dry, but it was as we exited the tearooms that the weather closed in and, sensing rain, Keith proceeded to remove his helmet, then one shoe and one shower cap which, for the remainder of the ride, he wore under his helmet. Stone the crows, Keith!
Sandra had warned us about the stiff climb on the final half mile of the ride – and there’s no doubt it was the steepest hill we’ve experienced this year; easy for the e-bikers but a real slog for the pedallers. But to my knowledge, no one got off and pushed. Well done, team.
It was in the pub that Simon, already wet from the ride, did his party piece of spilling a pint in his lap, replacing it with another, only to spill that one in exactly the same manner. Now that’s what you call a drink problem.
For the record the turnout was: Alan, Brian, Charles, Deborah, Keith, Neil, Paul, Ric, Rod, Roger, Sandra, Simon, Victor.
Thanks go to Sandra for organising a super ride (we will overlook the killer hill). Also to Deb, Simon and Charles for the many photographs.
The Windmill Cycle Club 