So where was the team support car with a spare wheel for Danuta as she arrived at the golf club with green slime oozing from a tire?  Luckily, Mike had just presented Stuart with a late Christmas present of an adjustable gas tire refill kit.  This was used to great affect before the group escorted Danuta back to Danuta Towers for a complete wheel change.

With damp roads, caution was the key word descending QuaryWood into Marlow.  Stuart set an initial hard pace (my SRM showed harder than 10tt effort) up towards Frieth with myself, James and Brett all keen not to loose contact.  After about 1 mile Stuart dramatically slowed (the group later found he’d had a front derailleur problem and couldn’t engage the small chain ring) leaving me to continue the pace along with the other 2.  We pressed on to the top doing nearly 20mph on the last rise as we shot past other riders who must have found that demoralising as they appeared to be working hard.

After a regrouping we had a gentle decent down to Fingest before another race up Dolesden. Someone who completed the Christmas 500km challenge was feeling extra strong today and the group again fragmented heading on to Christmas Common.

The group now headed back on the usual route to Sonning at a brisk pace with a period of through and off which improved as time went on.  Especially once Stuart learnt the idea wasn’t to keep accelerating while on the front.  Mike and Colin at times both struggles to get past the flying Stu.  Entering Nettlebed we past the Clock Tower group going in the opposite direction.

Approaching Sonning, Danuta wanted to ensure the floods had subsided from the previous week, when the water was 8-10inches deep.  I don’t think she appreciated pedalling with her feet under water.  Oh, Stuart got to try out this pump again approaching Dunsden to help out Brett.

Crossing Sonning bridge, Brett went flying off and successfully improved his time on the Strava sector up the rise leaving Sonning.  For someone who’d not ridden since mid December he was looking strong despite complaining of being unfit.  The sprint past to the winery sign was uncontested before a more subdued pace back to the golf club.

Myself, Colin and Danuta left the party for home near the Shurlock Row TT start. So I don’t know if Mike won this third sprint in a row to the bend approaching the golf club.

Up to leaving the group, we completed around 42 miles at approximately 18.5mph.