A highly motivated team of 8 turned up at the golf club to today’s dash around the Chilterns.  With myself, Brett and Stuart present there was concern we were in for another fast ride.  Before setting off, a round of insults / criticisms was got in with most of them aimed at Stuart.  I missed last weeks ride, but sounded likes Stuarts new BMC complete with cable operated disc brakes didn’t stop very well.  Brett turned up without water bottles, so we set of to Holyport all hoping for early bacon butties which never materialised.

For a change we had a casual ride through Bray, Maidenhead and on to Cookham.  Terry’s lane was taken at a sensible pace which kept all together without the need for a pause to re-group at Winter Hill.  The decent down Quarry Wood was a caution affair as the switch back look slippery.  We then all rolled through Marlow.

Hitting the hill up to Frieth, Brett clearly felt the pace was low and went for a break taking a number of the group with him.  Five broke free, but this slowly whittled down, with only Stuart sharing the workload for about 200m.  Brett took an uncontested and well deserved win at the top.  After a regroup at the cross roads, Fingest quickly came and went.

At the Y fork for Turville or Dolesden, Stuart clearly had problems with both gears and brakes and totally missed the left fork where we headed.  Mike and one other were setting a comfortable pace prior to the sharp right turn before the main cjavascript:void(0);limb. Brett was inching to get a move on and barged between the two leaders.  I followed taking a more orthodox overtaking route.  No one else followed us.  With a clear gap the win would be one of ours.    Brett led most of the way.  I started to come through about 600m prior to the top, but decided it was too early so dropped back.  With about 200m to go, Brett shifted to his smallest gear, so I felt now was the time for the final attack.  I broke clear for a win.

We then rolled on to Christmas Common where confusion on the route set in.  The leaders turned right heading towards Stokenchurch, but Mike swung left for Pishill.  Once the confusion settled we all set chase after Mike with Stuart leading the charge.  He was caught at the top of Pishill. 

From Pishill we took the standard route home with a general sense of urgency in the riding.  The uphill sprint into Sonning Common was well contested with Stuart taking the win.  I’m not sure who came a close 2^nd.   Dropping into Sonning it’s good to see the road has finally been repaired from the winter’s floods.

We paused in Twyford for the lights allowing riders to consider the options for the sprint past the winery.  I led up out of Twyford and lifted the pace down the hill to the bridge, when Stuart, Brett and one other took up the running.    Going up the rise it was a 3 way sprint with Brett on the wrong side of the road.  Brett had to yield for on coming traffic allowing Stuart a 2^nd sprint win.

Moving on through Shurlock Row the pace was wound up for the final sprint to the golf club.  We cross the roundabout at Howe Lane with a pause again withme on point leading the sprint.  With around 300m to go the main sprint opened up and I believe Stuart took a clean sweep with me rolling across the line last.

A number of us then retired to the Golf Club bar and had drinks and biscuits for around £10.  While at the bar we established Stuart is employed by a large privatised  telco, hence will have plenty of time for riding over Christmas  / New Year despite being on duty.  Brett enlightened us on the benefits of micro-services for cloud applications and Mike spoke positively about Salesforce and the Financials Force accounting system.

Today’s ride was around 45miles with a possible speeds between 18.3 and 19.3 mph depending on who’s computer you chose to believe.