This Sunday’s ride will last in the memories for a long time for all sorts of reasons …. but primarily the rain. It was a new route and a new cafe destination, both were good and will be revisited in warmer climes …. which neatly brings us on to the weather:

The terrential rainfall was pretty awful, but the majority of riders managed to stake out some of the worst bits at the cafe stop … in fact we all stayed at the cafe longer than planned hoping the rain would die down a bit. Eventually it did, and there was even momentary sun on the way back and a rainbow at Chobham Common. But let’s be honest, we were all racing back, incentivised with the prospect of a warm bath/shower and dry clothes when we got home. Groups split into smaller groups in the interests of fast riding with similar speed club-mates.

Sympathy has to go to (in no particular order) Hang Pang whose crank came off, Conor O’Brien who missed a turn and, therefore, missed the cafe and endured the worst rain. Similarly, Tony McEvoy and Keith Dowsett who sufferred a techanical (Garmin related) and got delayed which meant, yes you’ve guessed it, they sufferred in the worst rain, and finally Ray King who had a couple of visits from the puncture witch.

In actual fact, this was quite an enjoyable ride despite the weather and problems, and will be remembered positively overall we suggest.