After last week’s freezing conditions today was nearly spring like if a little breezy.  10 riders turned out today being Simon, Gray, Mike, Danuta, Callum, Matthew, Andrew, Dominic, Rob and myself.  After discussions about the relative warmth of the day several riders proceed to remove layers of clothes.   Mike was very forceful in the way he suggested we do the normal route, so that was now sorted.

Rob and Mike lead the group through Shurlock Row and onto the Twyford Road.  Here the group split due to traffic conditions, but the lead group kept pace low allowing all to reform.  The pace picked up past the winery for a minor sprint up the hill into Twyford.  This was treated as a testing session between the Andrew’s as they charged up the hill side by side.   Luckily the group was back together as we approached the lights in Twyford as they were green, so a left turn and on to Sonning.

Again the lights at Sonning bridge turned green so again no time for a few moments recovery.   A tail wind leaving Sonning quickly took the group to the hill at Playhatch.  Andrew led at the base of the hill, only for Mike to then take up the pace setting.  Mike no sooner got to the front than to see Callum come flying by on the outside making a serious attack on the group. Callum easily took a 4 bike length lead before I had chance to respond.  Catching Callum’s wheel was extremely hard work.  The pace stayed high for around 400m, then to the chasers relief Callum back off.  The small elite group past Callum and continued to the top.  At the junction the group paused for a regroup and checkout who was still in the group.  This consisted of myself, Rob, Mike and to the surprise of the others Dominic, who also had surprised himself.  Callum rolled in a minute or so later complaining of a soft tyre. 

Leaving Dunsden we heading toward Henley taking a left turn at Shiplake Infants School.  The lights in Henley arrived quickly for a short pass and a head count.  The missing person was Callum.  He turned up having got caught by an earlier set of lights.  Leaving Henley along with Fairmile felt relatively easy again with a tail wind.  We turned right at the dual carriageway and headed for Lower Assindon and Pishill. Another quick head count identified Gray was now missing.  He was visible down the Fairmile being chased down by another group of riders.

Heading through Middle Assindon Julian Fairly from the other group came flying to the front and helped lift the pace to 21+mph.  Julian was out riding with some mates including Mike Trees.  The road approach Stoner was covered in thick mud so care was required.  Leaving Stoner heading towards Pishill my rear wheel went flat (my 1^stpuncture since August 2010).  Calcum and Dominic remained with my while I repaired the puncture.  Back on the bike as we approach the steeper top of Pishill we were greeted by the rest of the group heading back down the hill to find us.   To their announce they had to turn around and go back up the hill again!  All safely at the top, Danuta decided to head home through Christmas Common. The remaining 9 headed off at speed for Nettlebed with some through and off.

Nettlebed arrived 8 minutes later for us to find Matthew and Callum were missing.  Now Gary decided to continue on alone using a direct route home while the other waited.  After a few minutes waiting the Andrew’s decide to turn back and look for the missing riders.  About half way back at Parks Corner, I turned back to join the main group, with Andrew going back to Pishill to look for the others.  So back at Nettlebed the group was now down to 5 riders.

Mike put pay any discussion about the route again in a forceful way so we headed for Sonning Common.  With more through and off with 4 riders taking turns on the front, Sonning Common arrived quickly only for another pause as Dominic now had a puncture in the front.  While the puncture was repaired the group discussed the pros and cons of cycling / rowing with Rob.  Heading off again we got to Twyford in under 20mins despite a head wind in places and the golf club only took another 16minutes at an average speed of 21.6mph.

I hope Callum and Matthew got home safely.

The complete route today was around 46miles and covered at an average speed on 19mph.  Not bad for a mid-winters gentle ride!