Pippa, Julia, Rita, Karen and Sue
Distance - 30 to 40 miles.
This is the first time I have written the blog for a while so having been berated by the group will do a summary of our last rides:
Some time in late April/ early May:
Big bike ride to Minsmere. I did not go on this one (well I managed a whole 20 miles) but everyone else had a brilliant ride to Minsmere where I hear the cakes were very good! The majority of the group did 50 miles ish which was a great achievement, although I did notice it was getting dark by the time they got back. Only joking, great achievement as only Trish had cycled that far before.
Suffok Sunrise 11 May: 60 miles.
Only Trish, Sue W Rita and I did this as the others declined for some reason. Could it have been the truly dreadful weather, with very high winds and rain that put them off? We did set off with Andrew but he retired after puncture number 3. It was quite an eventful ride, with me nearly being responsible for Sue colliding with a car after I told her it was 'clear to cross if she was quick'. Very quick. Anyway, it resulted in her stopping suddenly to avoide the er car, falling off into Trish, with both of them gaining some interesting bruises in interesting places. Terribly sorry Sue and Trish yet another example of my poor leadership!! I do hope the bruises heal eventually!!
We got a cracking pace on, considering the wind was blowing at 22 mph, often blowing us completely sideways in the gusts, (poor Elife must have really suffered as she only weighs a few ounces) and finally said goodbye to Elife at the 33 mile point, who was doing the 45 mile route. Shortly afterwards, there was yet another pile up as we had to stop to bypass a massive fallen tree. Unfortunately the guys behind us were more interested in looking at why we were carrying our bikes into field (or was it our outstanding beauty?) than looking where they were going, resulting in an unfortunate crash. Sue mumbled 'are you ok' to the guy on the ground very quietly before moving off very quickly in true doctor fashion, just in case he said no.
A little further on Trish saw a couple of young guys repairing a puncture at the side of the road, and rather amusingly asked them if they were ok. I did ask her what she would have done had they said no, but luckily they said yes. I think she liked the look of them and was hoping to 'help them out'.
After an exceptionally nice lunch, also with Trish's friend Dostram who had helped Andrew earlier in the ride and had joined us, we got going for the final 15 mile assault. Dostram was very kind and took the front all the way across that awful Leiston/Sax/Rendham stretch, as the wind was awful. Trish and I then spied a guy ahead and literally spent about 5 miles trying to catch him and felt quite a sense of achievement that we finally did. Especially when I found out it was Pippa and Sue's favourite person.
We finally finished, having done the 60 miles in a respectable 5hrs 40, which we were very pleased with in such high winds. Elfie did really well, and was I think the 3rd fastest woman on the 45 route. Lucy of course organized the SS and it was all really well done, and we had a really fantastic day. Thanks Lucy!!
Night Ride Practise - 14 May
Av organized a night ride practise which Elife, Karen and Andrea went on. I think by the sound of it two things stood out - one was Elfie's lights, which literally blinded everyone, so she will have to go at the back on the big night ride or put a sock over the back one, and the fact that they did not get back till around 11pm!! Oh and the fact that Av forgot to wear her padded shorts. Not sure at what point she realised but it must have been a bit painful Av!! I heard they had a great ride, and it was lots of fun. Bodes well for the big night!
Pippa's Birthday Ride - May 18th, from her house looping round Fram.
Pippa, Julia, Karen, Sue W, Elfie.
Pippa kindly said she would organize this ride as from now on everyone will hopefully take a turn at leading the group, so I don't have to!!
Now Pippa used to be a professional tennis coach and I believe was rather handy at the sport. (National level?) She is not into loitering, or doing any activity which does not have any fitness benefit, so I can safely say she decided this ride would not be for the faint hearted and would have a fitness benefit for those of us on it. I actually loved it, as 1. I was not in charge, and 2. I could ride at my own speed for the first time in months! I expect everyone else preferred it too, without me constantly nagging them to hurry up as I know I am extremely bossy. Worth it though ladies, look at how much fitter you all are now, Elfie and Sue W especially!! A few months ago 15 miles would have been an effort, now you can do 40, more quickly, and quite easily! A few more rides at that faster pace with Pippa leading and we will be super fit! I definitely thought that today I used up about double the amount of calories I normally do on our ambling rides, and I am sure I will have got a little bit fitter too.
I knew it was Pippa's birthday and Pippa did very kindly volunteer to buy everyone cakes in Fram, but I had already had a little idea to make some special WWW cakes. After a nice fast ride from her house (I think I was the only one to get lost on the way there and I know where it is!!) we wound our way or rather sped to Fram. I think everyone wanted to stop there, but I knew that just a few miles further on there was a special treat. Sue W (who is living on practically no food at the moment) and Karen did look rather done in by then and alarmed by the refusal to stop, but we carried on. I took my chance to race ahead and managed to get home and sort out the treats and champagne just about before they arrived. Phew! See the blog pics for the result. The weather was fantastic too so it made it especially nice and I think we could have happily spent the afternoon there, sipping champagne!
After an entire bottle of champagne and several cakes, we wobbled on to Cretingham. By then we had all separated, so I decided to try and break my distance/ speed record, and managed to average just under 14mph over the 39 miles I did today - quite pleasing as I picked up a puncture when I was a couple of miles from home and rode home on an almost flat tyre!
So thank you Pippa for leading the ride, making us work harder than normal, not causing any accidents, not getting lost, and not losing anyone, which is a far better achievement than I manage!!
Distance - 30 to 40 miles.
This is the first time I have written the blog for a while so having been berated by the group will do a summary of our last rides:
Some time in late April/ early May:
Big bike ride to Minsmere. I did not go on this one (well I managed a whole 20 miles) but everyone else had a brilliant ride to Minsmere where I hear the cakes were very good! The majority of the group did 50 miles ish which was a great achievement, although I did notice it was getting dark by the time they got back. Only joking, great achievement as only Trish had cycled that far before.
Suffok Sunrise 11 May: 60 miles.
Only Trish, Sue W Rita and I did this as the others declined for some reason. Could it have been the truly dreadful weather, with very high winds and rain that put them off? We did set off with Andrew but he retired after puncture number 3. It was quite an eventful ride, with me nearly being responsible for Sue colliding with a car after I told her it was 'clear to cross if she was quick'. Very quick. Anyway, it resulted in her stopping suddenly to avoide the er car, falling off into Trish, with both of them gaining some interesting bruises in interesting places. Terribly sorry Sue and Trish yet another example of my poor leadership!! I do hope the bruises heal eventually!!
We got a cracking pace on, considering the wind was blowing at 22 mph, often blowing us completely sideways in the gusts, (poor Elife must have really suffered as she only weighs a few ounces) and finally said goodbye to Elife at the 33 mile point, who was doing the 45 mile route. Shortly afterwards, there was yet another pile up as we had to stop to bypass a massive fallen tree. Unfortunately the guys behind us were more interested in looking at why we were carrying our bikes into field (or was it our outstanding beauty?) than looking where they were going, resulting in an unfortunate crash. Sue mumbled 'are you ok' to the guy on the ground very quietly before moving off very quickly in true doctor fashion, just in case he said no.
A little further on Trish saw a couple of young guys repairing a puncture at the side of the road, and rather amusingly asked them if they were ok. I did ask her what she would have done had they said no, but luckily they said yes. I think she liked the look of them and was hoping to 'help them out'.
After an exceptionally nice lunch, also with Trish's friend Dostram who had helped Andrew earlier in the ride and had joined us, we got going for the final 15 mile assault. Dostram was very kind and took the front all the way across that awful Leiston/Sax/Rendham stretch, as the wind was awful. Trish and I then spied a guy ahead and literally spent about 5 miles trying to catch him and felt quite a sense of achievement that we finally did. Especially when I found out it was Pippa and Sue's favourite person.
We finally finished, having done the 60 miles in a respectable 5hrs 40, which we were very pleased with in such high winds. Elfie did really well, and was I think the 3rd fastest woman on the 45 route. Lucy of course organized the SS and it was all really well done, and we had a really fantastic day. Thanks Lucy!!
Night Ride Practise - 14 May
Av organized a night ride practise which Elife, Karen and Andrea went on. I think by the sound of it two things stood out - one was Elfie's lights, which literally blinded everyone, so she will have to go at the back on the big night ride or put a sock over the back one, and the fact that they did not get back till around 11pm!! Oh and the fact that Av forgot to wear her padded shorts. Not sure at what point she realised but it must have been a bit painful Av!! I heard they had a great ride, and it was lots of fun. Bodes well for the big night!
Pippa's Birthday Ride - May 18th, from her house looping round Fram.
Pippa, Julia, Karen, Sue W, Elfie.
Pippa kindly said she would organize this ride as from now on everyone will hopefully take a turn at leading the group, so I don't have to!!
Now Pippa used to be a professional tennis coach and I believe was rather handy at the sport. (National level?) She is not into loitering, or doing any activity which does not have any fitness benefit, so I can safely say she decided this ride would not be for the faint hearted and would have a fitness benefit for those of us on it. I actually loved it, as 1. I was not in charge, and 2. I could ride at my own speed for the first time in months! I expect everyone else preferred it too, without me constantly nagging them to hurry up as I know I am extremely bossy. Worth it though ladies, look at how much fitter you all are now, Elfie and Sue W especially!! A few months ago 15 miles would have been an effort, now you can do 40, more quickly, and quite easily! A few more rides at that faster pace with Pippa leading and we will be super fit! I definitely thought that today I used up about double the amount of calories I normally do on our ambling rides, and I am sure I will have got a little bit fitter too.
I knew it was Pippa's birthday and Pippa did very kindly volunteer to buy everyone cakes in Fram, but I had already had a little idea to make some special WWW cakes. After a nice fast ride from her house (I think I was the only one to get lost on the way there and I know where it is!!) we wound our way or rather sped to Fram. I think everyone wanted to stop there, but I knew that just a few miles further on there was a special treat. Sue W (who is living on practically no food at the moment) and Karen did look rather done in by then and alarmed by the refusal to stop, but we carried on. I took my chance to race ahead and managed to get home and sort out the treats and champagne just about before they arrived. Phew! See the blog pics for the result. The weather was fantastic too so it made it especially nice and I think we could have happily spent the afternoon there, sipping champagne!
After an entire bottle of champagne and several cakes, we wobbled on to Cretingham. By then we had all separated, so I decided to try and break my distance/ speed record, and managed to average just under 14mph over the 39 miles I did today - quite pleasing as I picked up a puncture when I was a couple of miles from home and rode home on an almost flat tyre!
So thank you Pippa for leading the ride, making us work harder than normal, not causing any accidents, not getting lost, and not losing anyone, which is a far better achievement than I manage!!