There were 7 of us at the Clock Tower on this misty but mild morning. We felt a bit sorry for Malcolm going off on his own - no takers for the slow group this week, although some were tempted by the idea of a ride for coffee at Dinton Pastures! The other 6 decided we would take a ride towards Beaconsfield as 3 of us are heading up that was for a 200km Audax next Saturday.

I led up the hill past Clivedon - a fairly quick pace but everyone hung on my wheel. By the time we reached the top at the A40 I decided it was someone else's turn...but 2 of our group had never been up this way before so it was all a bit new. We turned left across the motorway bridges, down through Beaconsfield and turned left down the hill to Bourne End. Dave D gave us a fright as his bike wobbled madly as we zoomed down the hill (my favourite descending hill...) which made us all think he was about to fall off - but he was as cool as a cucumber - 'oh this often happens when I reach this speed'. Glad it doesn't happen to me!

We then did the familiar route through Marlow and up to Frieth...where we saw the Birds Hill group coming down - covered in mud and grime! They really ought to get mudguards....half of our group had them today and it is so much nicer following one of the mud guarded bikes at this time of the year! Dave D had the lead here, along with John I think - I was a few wheels behind. At this point the sun had come out and it was a beautiful day.

A quick run down through Fingest and Hambledon then along the slightly improved Henley Road to Henley. They have resurfaced some of it - not the best job in the world but much better than the mess it used to be. We decided we had time to head back through Playhatch and Sonning, but Dave B put his foot down a bit too much and ended up with a broken spoke in Sonning, We left him there (his wife picked him up) and took a gentle ride through Twyford and home, We usually tank through there so it was nice to keep the pace a bit lower this week.

I ended up with an average speed of 17.4mph for the 48 miles. Comparable to Birds Hill this week, but we do stop a lot more and chat I think! So it doesn't really compare - but we are catching up slowly!