On a sunny but slightly cooler Sunday morning 5 regulars turned up (Simon, Colin, Brett, Les along with me) and 3 new(ish) faces.  Andrew totally new to us, Simon who occasionally comes out and James from the Clock Tower group who experienced the combined ride the previous week.  With Les well warmed up from an extended ride to the golf club, he made some comment about heading out to Bourne End and up and down around High Wycombe.

So off we set at the now common brisk starting pace with Les pulling the group along through Holyport, Bray and into Maidenhead.  From Bray you can’t turn right on the A4, so we went left then right and headed towards the rivers.  Confusion set in at the cross roads at Ray Park Road and Ray Park Avenue (not in the similar road names).  Being still in pairs the left side thought we were going straight across to the river with the right side thinking a left was in order towards Cookham and Bourne End.  Simon G and Brett leading had a couple of goes at taking each other out, with me looking to join.  I'm not sure what happened behind, but riders went all ways and luckily no one came off.  Myself and some heard we were heading for Bourne End and missed the comment which others heard about going to Taplow and Cliveden first.

At the river the entire group managed to turn right (you really don’t want to go straight on here).  We crossed the river and headed up past the old paper mill through Taplow and Cliveden.  On the final approach to Odds Farm Simon managed to get a puncture in a new tire that he fitted the previous evening.  This gave a period to recover from what was proving to be a brisk ride.  James commented about the pace being more intense than the Clock Tower ride with Andrew looking pleased to still be with us – no gain without pain.

From Odds Farm we continued to climb up to the A40 for the fast descent down Holtspur Hill and on through Bourne End for a right turn up Sheepridge Hill.  This hill is much like Pishill with the gradient slowing increasing as you climb.  From the top, Brett set a strong pace along to the A404 where the lead 3 riders got through the lights.  After a short pause we continued on through Cressex Industrial Estate round to the A4010, where Simon G turned for home.  The group then headed down the smooth tarmac towards the A40.  We need to brush up on the speed limit on this road!!

At the A40 it was then up hill all the way to Stokenchurch.  I’m not sure when it happened but this stint on the A40 splintered the entire group. Sorry guys.  Leaving West Wycombe I was aware of 3 behind me (Colin, Brett and James), but somewhere near Piddington, Colin or Brett point out the rest where well off the back.  We eased for a few moment then picked up the pace after I suggested regrouping at the top?  Brett took this to mean at the short levelling off about 1/2 of the way to Stokenchurch.  I wasn’t happy with this and suggested pushing on to the full top just before the M40 junction.

All getting back together, Simon realised he let the gap get to big before attempting to get over and James was slowing losing ground the whole way up, but was keen not to get caught by the tail including Less and Andrew.  I needed to get back early today, so headed back down towards Marlow along with James and Andrew, leaving the remainder of the group to complete the ride via Nettlebed, Sonning Common and Twyford back to the golf club.

As my group descended down the B482 into Marlow, the police had set up a mobile speed trap.  I’m sure as I past the police my speedo read 30.5mph, but the police man didn’t have his gun up.  They must have been interested in our speed, as Andrew bring up the rear reported he needed to break as the police where actually checking his speed.

Those completing todays full 55mile loop did so at a pace just over 20pmh.  Another good ride.