CLUB RIDERS BEAT THE WEATHER
03/04/2010

Waking up to hear rain hitting my bedroom window early on the Sunday morning of the club’s regular ride wasn’t very inspiring but when the group of a dozen others met in the Chalfont St Giles car park there was no turning back writes Russ Watts.

We started with a steady tarmac climb out of Chalfont St Giles – then into Hodgemoor Woods for some muddy single track. It flows here and there but is way too boggy for much fun. I’m looking for clean lines where no bike has been before and this takes much concentration. The next thing there’s a tricky climb in the mud and I keep spinning to save energy. At the top I look back and we are still a pack –  we have a decent group on our hands.

There are a few obstacles like trees and water on the trail but this only helps us re-group occasionally. We hit some tarmac – it’s so nice, just for a break. Then off to Penn Woods for more of the same. We’re all nicely warmed up. Steve C has a puncture and a dramatic over the handle bars. It could have been any of us but I’m glad it wasn’t me as I would have taken a lot longer faffing about as my hands are now numb with cold. We gave some moral support, a few shivers (from me at least) and we’re off again. 

James, our ride leader, seems stonger than usual on his single speed. It’s very slippy everywhere and reminds me of the Yorkshire Moors two weeks ago. After two hours I cannot feel my fingers or toes but in-spite of several puncture stops it’s going well.

We head back to Old Amersham (the long way round) and then its decision time to cut short or carry on. There’s a split and the sensible ones head off. That leaves five of us to do another forty minutes. I cannot feel my hands, feet and various other parts, but off we go up a big climb but at the top I am warm and the sun comes out at last. I can feel a smile on my face as I’ve made it from bed to bike shed and beaten the weather.