7 of us set off on Sunday at 8.30 from the usual meeting point.  Martin, Jean, Greg, Fiona, John, Taran and myself.

It was a fairly grey and misty morning compared with the sunshine we’d enjoyed on the previous day and there was a cold bite in the air, I immediately regretted not putting my over shoes on but too late to go back! At least I had decided on long gloves, thermal arm and leg warmers on and of course my club Gillet, to keep me warm.   

Martin set the route keeping it fairly flat and on the shorter side at 33 miles, with it being the first time out in a while for some of us, only my 3^rd time out this year due to Covid and bad weather. We set off up Gringer Hill to Furze Platt, through Pinkneys Drive, along the Henley Road then Burchetts Green Road taking on the never ending speed bumps, relieved I’d reduced my psi this week to 100, thanks to advice from the Andrew P and the others in the group the previous week when I was riding with 120psi in them and had commented it felt like I was riding a penny farthing.  Next making a right at Knowel Hill into Butchers Lane, through Shottesbrooke, Hurst heading to Dinton for coffee.  

There was nice tailwind on the way out and we were cycling in a neat 2x2 formation with either myself at the back and switching to Martin at the front, this worked well, Andrew P would have been proud I think!  Rather unfortunately, just as we could smell the coffee Martin got a puncture, a staple of all things, but being just around the corner from the Dragon fly café we gingerly continued so that he could safely stop to change his inner tube with a warm coffee in hand, as it turned out keen coffee bean John arrived at the table with some mystery goods, not ordered by any of us and after checking no-one seemed to be missing them se we ended up with some bonus coffees and a hot sausage roll much to Taran’s delight!

Even though Martin had a new fancy tool to get his tyre off quickly, which was very impressive, it didn’t help when despite several attempts with different pumps the air failed to stay in the new pink inner tube, but with Jeans spare thinner inner tube as a back-up and Greg whipping out his CO2 inflator we were set to go in no time.  

We were starting to get a cold outside so quickly headed off on the home stretch along Forest Road left at Binfield up Church hill to Paley Street, Greg and Fiona peeled off to head home and the remaining 5 carried on through Bray and finally back into Maidenhead, hoping martins tiny inner tube would get him and us back safely.  There was a blustery headwind on the way back, brrrr, which made it quite hard to warm up after the stop, but knowing there was not far to go and sticking close together and behind Martin an John made it easier.

It was a busy morning on the roads and great to see lots of other groups out enjoying a ride.  There were a few minor hold ups along the way home, including my chain coming off but we still managed an average speed of just shy of 14 miles/hour.  

It was a great route, thank you Martin, despite the cold bite and grey mist there was an abundance of beautiful daffodils out in force and blossoms starting to bloom everywhere which definitely put a smile on my face, it felt great to be out on my bike again zooming through the countryside filling my lungs with the fresh crisp air, hearing the birds and smelling spring in the air, it’s always fun riding with the oranges, we all encourage each other and stick together as a group.  It’s a feel good Sunday for me after a club ride and I’m looking forward to lots more cycling and improving strength speed and technique with the warmer weather.