Route - Ufford Crown/ Pettistree/ Bredfield/Debach/ Charsfield/Cretingham/ kettleburgh/Easton/Ufford
Distance 32 Miles in very windy conditions!
Julia, Averill, Rita, Di and Andrew our guest man! (I wonder who the guest man will be next week?)
Another weekend, another WOW Ride. As I put on my cycling shoes a smile crossed my face - knowing that however far we went, and whatever happened, we would have a really enjoyable time - whilst getting fit! Our growing WOW group of ladies is such a brilliant friendly group I hope it goes on for a long time.
So inspired by the recent Para Downhill Skiers, I decided it would be a good idea to bring a guide. I was assured by Andrew ('the guide') that he would not need a map, until he declared that the way she was going was unknown to him...... this was whilst on the way to Ufford...... On arrival at Ufford Trish phoned to say something about logs/punctures/could not lift her hybrid/the end of the world was nigh (or words to that effect) so she was not able to come. Di turned up for the first time on her road bike - a rather nice Trek Lexi. She had been keeping this at home for weeks, so we were honoured she brought it along. As with all Road Bike Newbies, she was rather heavy handed with the brakes on any sort of downhill, but she will soon be whizzing down them at high speed.
Elfie let slip that last week she had sweated so much the sweat had run down her arms, (gross) but maybe as you get to that age when SAGA holidays suddenly seem exciting, your sweat glands don't work as well.
It was really windy so we decided to keep 'inland'. Despite having no map, by some miracle we did not get lost on the fiddly but very pretty little route through tiny lanes. Averill 'Curtain Call' was totally refreshed from her Jamaican escape, and must have been training every night, as she was surging ahead at high speed (or maybe she just wanted to get back quickly). Andrew slowed down to his idea of a snail pace to keep with the group, and politely announced that the pace was 'fine' and that he was not used to 'talking non stop as well as riding'. Clearly he was not used to the non stop talking that went on within the group.
After quite a while, we stopped at my house for coffee and teacakes. Averill threw hers on the floor which was a bit rude, maybe because she got the burnt one (which she fed to Rollo who was not pleased that he got the burnt bit - see photo gallery for evidence). Elfie managed to devour two. I have decided that she must be like a cow with 2 stomachs as no one that tiny could possibly eat SO MUCH. There was more chat also about the new jerseys, and with 10 ladies wanting one, it has become viable. Now it is just a case of naming each member of the group.Averill suggested to me that I should have the initials 'JCB' on mine - Julia Chunky Bum I believe it stands for. I am thinking of a suitable name for Averill.........
On the way back to Ufford we came across a lone woman cyclist. After checking that she looked 'normal' we swept her up into the group, despite her being about half our ages. She has been invited to become a member although the poor woman really has no idea what she is letting herself into. She has a novel way of repairing punctures - she calls her husband to rescue her - an excellent idea of course, especially if one has just had a manicure. This is an idea I think we should all adhere to at all times, and it probably should be written into the groups constitution. (Other rules tbd).
Till next time..........
Julia JCB
Distance 32 Miles in very windy conditions!
Julia, Averill, Rita, Di and Andrew our guest man! (I wonder who the guest man will be next week?)
Another weekend, another WOW Ride. As I put on my cycling shoes a smile crossed my face - knowing that however far we went, and whatever happened, we would have a really enjoyable time - whilst getting fit! Our growing WOW group of ladies is such a brilliant friendly group I hope it goes on for a long time.
So inspired by the recent Para Downhill Skiers, I decided it would be a good idea to bring a guide. I was assured by Andrew ('the guide') that he would not need a map, until he declared that the way she was going was unknown to him...... this was whilst on the way to Ufford...... On arrival at Ufford Trish phoned to say something about logs/punctures/could not lift her hybrid/the end of the world was nigh (or words to that effect) so she was not able to come. Di turned up for the first time on her road bike - a rather nice Trek Lexi. She had been keeping this at home for weeks, so we were honoured she brought it along. As with all Road Bike Newbies, she was rather heavy handed with the brakes on any sort of downhill, but she will soon be whizzing down them at high speed.
Elfie let slip that last week she had sweated so much the sweat had run down her arms, (gross) but maybe as you get to that age when SAGA holidays suddenly seem exciting, your sweat glands don't work as well.
It was really windy so we decided to keep 'inland'. Despite having no map, by some miracle we did not get lost on the fiddly but very pretty little route through tiny lanes. Averill 'Curtain Call' was totally refreshed from her Jamaican escape, and must have been training every night, as she was surging ahead at high speed (or maybe she just wanted to get back quickly). Andrew slowed down to his idea of a snail pace to keep with the group, and politely announced that the pace was 'fine' and that he was not used to 'talking non stop as well as riding'. Clearly he was not used to the non stop talking that went on within the group.
After quite a while, we stopped at my house for coffee and teacakes. Averill threw hers on the floor which was a bit rude, maybe because she got the burnt one (which she fed to Rollo who was not pleased that he got the burnt bit - see photo gallery for evidence). Elfie managed to devour two. I have decided that she must be like a cow with 2 stomachs as no one that tiny could possibly eat SO MUCH. There was more chat also about the new jerseys, and with 10 ladies wanting one, it has become viable. Now it is just a case of naming each member of the group.Averill suggested to me that I should have the initials 'JCB' on mine - Julia Chunky Bum I believe it stands for. I am thinking of a suitable name for Averill.........
On the way back to Ufford we came across a lone woman cyclist. After checking that she looked 'normal' we swept her up into the group, despite her being about half our ages. She has been invited to become a member although the poor woman really has no idea what she is letting herself into. She has a novel way of repairing punctures - she calls her husband to rescue her - an excellent idea of course, especially if one has just had a manicure. This is an idea I think we should all adhere to at all times, and it probably should be written into the groups constitution. (Other rules tbd).
Till next time..........
Julia JCB