Julia, Pippa, Elfie, Debbie
Route - Melton/Sudbourne/Snape (coffee)/ home
Distance - 28 to 32 miles.
Speed Not going to mention it.
Well firstly I would have loved to have added a picture here but I did not take any. Secondly, it was freezing. Literally.
So, this was our first ride for a while and we decided not to over do it, especially as it was so cold ELFIE HAD PUT SANDWICH BAGS OVER HER SOCKS. Yes readers that is the length these ladies will go to to keep warm. Apparently they did not work - I wonder if she had left her sandwiches in them? Or were they tesco value range and clearly not up to the job? I wonder if they were tie close or zip lock? Would it make a difference?
Anyway, off we trotted towards Sudbourne via Tunstall, feeling really not too bad. Pippa had probably eaten a few kilos of spinach for breakfast to keep her going and Debbie had recently returned from skiing so had muscles of steel. I wondered if we would hear Elfies sandwich bags crackling but luckily not. I have a new bike as I needed something to make me appear fitter than I actually am - and a lighter bike was the obvious option. If only I could get as light as the Elf and Pippa (we must think of a suitable nickname for Pippa - perhaps Popeye would work) - I would be a blur of speed up the hills….maybe. As it is…. well, all I can say is that you really can buy speed.
On arriving at Snape we noticed some RNLI guys having coffee. This was slightly alarming as clearly there was no sinking vessel in the Alde by Snape, so I think their navigation had failed and they were supposed to be at Aldeburgh, saving some stricken sailor, not outside the coffee shop enjoying themselves by the Alde. Deciding they could be useful, they were tasked with guarding our bikes. I felt that as a monthly subscriber to the RNLI it would be a good use of my subs.
Over coffee (inside) we all got a bit excited when we saw a tiny baby. Aaaaaah how cute we said, forgetting the hell of looking after a screaming puking needy baby. Much giggling and discussion ensued, with Debbie declaring she was becoming rather forgetful. I suggested to Elfie that she re think her vice captain choice, as perhaps Debbie was going to be a total liability? We all agreed that the only way ahead was for Debbie to have some sort of auto cue held up by Elfie (she will have to stand on a stool ) whenever she gave a speech. I fear that memory loss will become a common feature of our discussions over the next few years, as will Saga holidays, incontinence and who had 'had a fall'.
We eventually made our way back, having spent far too long giggling over coffee, and by now it was possibly the coldest I have ever been while cycling. Popeye and Debbie were passing hand warmers round (to each other anyway) and Elfie and I started to suffer badly with frozen feet. The sandwich bags had failed Elfie and my 'Merino' socks were completely useless. What do Merino sheep do when it is cold I wonder.
The rest of the ride went without incident, and we felt rather pleased we had done a good mileage on our first day out.
On arrival home my feet were literally frozen solid, so of course I had to IMMEDIATELY order yet more cycling gear, this time, overshoes. Oh and a castelli 'thingy' mainly because it was pink, on offer and I liked the look of it. Does anyone need any more of a reason to buy yet more cycling gear?
Route - Melton/Sudbourne/Snape (coffee)/ home
Distance - 28 to 32 miles.
Speed Not going to mention it.
Well firstly I would have loved to have added a picture here but I did not take any. Secondly, it was freezing. Literally.
So, this was our first ride for a while and we decided not to over do it, especially as it was so cold ELFIE HAD PUT SANDWICH BAGS OVER HER SOCKS. Yes readers that is the length these ladies will go to to keep warm. Apparently they did not work - I wonder if she had left her sandwiches in them? Or were they tesco value range and clearly not up to the job? I wonder if they were tie close or zip lock? Would it make a difference?
Anyway, off we trotted towards Sudbourne via Tunstall, feeling really not too bad. Pippa had probably eaten a few kilos of spinach for breakfast to keep her going and Debbie had recently returned from skiing so had muscles of steel. I wondered if we would hear Elfies sandwich bags crackling but luckily not. I have a new bike as I needed something to make me appear fitter than I actually am - and a lighter bike was the obvious option. If only I could get as light as the Elf and Pippa (we must think of a suitable nickname for Pippa - perhaps Popeye would work) - I would be a blur of speed up the hills….maybe. As it is…. well, all I can say is that you really can buy speed.
On arriving at Snape we noticed some RNLI guys having coffee. This was slightly alarming as clearly there was no sinking vessel in the Alde by Snape, so I think their navigation had failed and they were supposed to be at Aldeburgh, saving some stricken sailor, not outside the coffee shop enjoying themselves by the Alde. Deciding they could be useful, they were tasked with guarding our bikes. I felt that as a monthly subscriber to the RNLI it would be a good use of my subs.
Over coffee (inside) we all got a bit excited when we saw a tiny baby. Aaaaaah how cute we said, forgetting the hell of looking after a screaming puking needy baby. Much giggling and discussion ensued, with Debbie declaring she was becoming rather forgetful. I suggested to Elfie that she re think her vice captain choice, as perhaps Debbie was going to be a total liability? We all agreed that the only way ahead was for Debbie to have some sort of auto cue held up by Elfie (she will have to stand on a stool ) whenever she gave a speech. I fear that memory loss will become a common feature of our discussions over the next few years, as will Saga holidays, incontinence and who had 'had a fall'.
We eventually made our way back, having spent far too long giggling over coffee, and by now it was possibly the coldest I have ever been while cycling. Popeye and Debbie were passing hand warmers round (to each other anyway) and Elfie and I started to suffer badly with frozen feet. The sandwich bags had failed Elfie and my 'Merino' socks were completely useless. What do Merino sheep do when it is cold I wonder.
The rest of the ride went without incident, and we felt rather pleased we had done a good mileage on our first day out.
On arrival home my feet were literally frozen solid, so of course I had to IMMEDIATELY order yet more cycling gear, this time, overshoes. Oh and a castelli 'thingy' mainly because it was pink, on offer and I liked the look of it. Does anyone need any more of a reason to buy yet more cycling gear?