The morning started gray and wasn’t forecast to brighten up till after the time we all expected to be back home.  This didn’t put off 9 riders meeting up at the golf club for the usual brisk ride.  This week a new rider Alistair turned up for what turned out to be a baptism by cycling fire.  Others in attendance along with myself were Les, Mike, Matt, Rob, Simon with Dan and Mark stepping up from the Clock Tower group.

After a short discussion it was agreed for a trip round Reading. As has become the norm in the recent weeks, Les set the initial pace to Hurst.  Simon was heard making a comment along the lines of ‘this feels like we’re in the break’.  I believe we had a tail wind which partially accounted for speeds around 21mph through Hurst and onto the lights at the junction with the A329.  Someone called Andrew then did most of the pace setting onto Arborfield Cross with an increased speed.  I wanted to make sure everyone was warm.

With continued high speeds except for slowing for the occasional junction, Simon came to the front entering Swallowfield and demonstrated how to take sharp bends at speed and easily gained 75m on the chasing pack.  As the group pressed on towards Theale, myself and Les had a short discussion about taking a diversion up the switchback hill (Hose Hill).  So with short notice and heavy breaking the group safely negotiated an extremely sharp left turn before a short pause at the traffic lights at the base of the hill.  The hill showed who was now fully warmed up, before we did a gentle loop with no one know exactly where we were.  The loop took us back to Hose hill for a decent and on to Theale.

The group left Theale at a steady pace with Mike requesting a pause in Pangbourne for gels and energy bars etc.  However, before getting there we needed to traverse the A340 with a head wind.  Dan recalled being dropped on this road last time he came out with this group.  He’s been training hard to ensure this didn’t happen again.  Despite the head wind the group still maintained speeds on excess of 22mph.  While taking refreshments it was agreed to take the right having crossed the river to go past the lama farm and on to Goring Heath. 

At the top of the some hill, Dan disappeared behind a bus stop to look at wild life with Alastair looking shell shocked at the pace of the ride.  He appeared slightly reassured that we wont allow him to get dropped and hence lost!  From here the route is generally down hill so should have been easier.  Don’t believe that!

Sonning Common swiftly arrived along with the warning of a blind left turn required taking us towards Dunsden Green.  Heading towards Sonning, Dan and Rob started taking up the pace setting and wanted to prove they weren’t afraid of hard work.  At Sonning bridge Simon and Alistair missed the lights.  The group reformed in Twyford for the final push to the golf club.  This included the winery and final sprint.  I led out the winery sprint before my poor road position allowed Rob and Mike through at the bridge.  As they disappeared up the road I couldn’t tell who took the win.

Heading back through Shurlock Row the pace remained high to ensure no sole break got away.  Crossing Howe Lane I again led the sprint out with Rob, Mike and Matt waiting for the moment to take up the final sprint.  Again I’m not sure who won but Mike was expressing pleasure in taking a first sprint victory.

Simon and Alistair rolled in within a couple of minutes.  All rode extremely well to keep up with the pace.  I do hope we haven’t scared Alistair off.  Before heading home several of the group retired into the golf club for a coffee.

So we did around 52miles with an average speed approaching 20mph.