Past Ride
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Sun Nov 17th 2002
| Regular Wantage Ride |
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Leader:Laurent Chambard |
Start Time:10:00 am |
Start Location:WMS |
Description: |
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Riders:Alan Jones (dec)Andrew Moore Barbara Muritu Brian Hipwell David Newnham Edith Hipwell Eve Thornton Ginny Henderson Jan McCabe Kevin Fairs Laurent Chambard Mavis Rose Neil Warner Nick Box Pat Hurt Richard Divall Simon Dales Stephen Quartermain Steve Swanton Sue King Riders = 20 Report:I needed to look twice just before the start before realising that all those riders awaiting to set off were not just hallucination from the previous night's party. 19 starters for a November Sunday ride, it's probably a safe bet to claim that we were not far from our record!We were obviously not in fast nor hard mood though. Before starting it looked for a while as if Ginny would have to ride without saddle, but eventually the saddle agreed to stay on the seatpost. It was good also to see two riders on their first tarmac ride with us, well done Simon and Andrew. Eventually we made a move for one of the few climbs of the day, just for ensuring that nobody gets cold. Horses along the lanes through the Vale were quite intringued by this multi-coloured peloton, into which the already legendary pink and purple was not the less visible! It all went so well that the leader started to fear to be too early at the pub, so went for a bit of an extra loop. Which could only result in that a puncture just happened. Nobody quite knows why it took 25 minutes to a seasoned squad of three hardened (male) bike mechanics to change a tube, but as you might expect hypotheses of all sorts were generously displayed (essentially by ladies, no I won't name anyone and particularly not you Mavis) at the square in Hanney where the rest of the troop waited for the rearguard trio to rejoin. Continuing through Fyfield we made it on time to the Thatched Tavern in Appleton where, being lead by a Frenchman, riders could only enjoy kind of a French lunch. Jan and her brother Paul joined us also, but on four wheels. It was quarter to three when we set off again, and Boars Hill proved to be nothing more than a mere lump for so well fed riders. We then continued to Abingdon where, in best gentlemen style, Eve was escorted virtually back to her doorstep. She had obviously given some sign for dispersion, as we started to lose riders left, right and centre heading back to their respective homes. Survivors merrily climbed up Steventon Hill, cut then the A417 on the back lane by Q-gardens and eventually finished through the slippery lanes of the Lockinge estate as the sun was slowly trying to set. Back to King Alfred's statue by about 5.15pm, some controversy about the mileage (yes Ginny I do believe we did 40 miles), and overall a pleasant dry day out. | ||
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