24 February 2010. Oh Alright then, Ipswich it is

Woken by wife at 0700; "you might want to go on the ride today, it's not raining and the temperature is above freezing". I don't need asking twice, when it comes to this sort of suggestion. It is on a par with "shall we open another bottle?" "fancy lunch at [fill in name of restaurant here]?" and "How about an early night?"

Down at the Bus Shelter, there was a decent group of eager bikies, and the usual discussion of destination. Justin wanted to call in at his Cycling Tailor, at Elmy Cycles in Ipswich; Tom-Tom had the route. Decision made. Wind not quite in the ideal quarter, but nothing we hard riders couldn't cope with.

Those setting out were Peter H, Justin, Tom-Tom, Ed Bucknell, Richard Balaam, Sharon, Simon Bourne, Ron Fisher, and SJH, the weather, though dry and warm-er (or -ish) was very definitely grey (or gray). The route was straightforward, via Tostock and Elmswell, then Haughley New Street and the 'old' A14. No deviation, in fact, from roads that had, in their heyday been trunk roads that still were wide but now largely quiet, and the surface not as robust as it had been in their youth. At the junction with the A140 (in fact its inception) we negotiate the huge traffic island, and take the A14 slip road - but nip off left before the big road begins. T-T leads us, as before, on a complicated route first made up of run-down suburbia, then mean-looking streets (Policeman Simon reassured us that theses areas were absolutely fine, so long as we kept moving) followed by the more prosperous areas near to whichever Park we passed, and finally bringing us out a few yards from Elmy Cycles, where I took the "does my bum look big in this?" photo of Justin. After a short while considering various alternative garments, and ordering another (it may have been only half an hour) we repaired to the Café at DanceEast (called DanceEats - geddit?). Here Ron and I had bacon baguettes (Ron reminded me that this was what we had so much enjoyed on our last visit). T-T was dismayed that he'd forgotten, and ordered only a scone. My Cappuccino was so finely presented that I just had to record it .

As we left the café, it had begun to drizzle - which accentuated the usual impact of leaving the warmth and security of tea stop. We set off on the same, complex, T-T route home that we used the last time that I came to Dance Eats, including the set of steps leading down to an underpass beneath the A14 that leads to Sproughton. Apparently, long, long ago, T-T lived in Sproughton , and this was his commute route (in reverse, obviously). Conquered personal demons and rode down the steps. Wasn't noticeably quicker than walking, but way more thrilling. A straightforward journey via Needham and Stow Markets, Onehouse and Woolpit (except that I took a left at Borley Green to join my short cut home) produced a 52 mile total which, added to my (frighteningly low) total for Feb so far of a mere 80 means a huge leap forward; and considerable fatigue. Well OK, "tired but happy" probably covers it -or "you look dreadful" as Susan put it. SJH

21 February 2010. In the Snow Julian shows Leadership. Tricia has the Story

Hummed & hahed about going on the club run today. It looked pretty icy & I'd had a late night. Decided to go for it. Road (A134) was ok, very little traffic & I was suitably dressed & comfortably warm. The drizzle started about Ingham. The roads looked pretty wet when I reached B St E so possibly Bury had had more. Astonishment of the day was there were 4 other nutters hiding from the rain in the shop alcove. Barry Denny,Ron F, Peter Stephenson-Wall(who was on the Cappucccino ride last week on a mountain bike & this week appeared on a roadbike newly purchased frm Madgett's) & Richard Stiff. Then Pauls Barry & Callow & Julian Colman arrived. Everyone expressing their amazement to see anyone else out.

Julian was the only one who showed any leadership potential. The rest of us were just waiting to follow. He announced that we were to go to Long Melford via Lavenham & something about Stowmarket on the way back. All a complete mystery to me but Julian seemed confident of the route so we all tootled off. I think it was just starting to snow as we left. By the time we reached the Hawstead Road it was coming down thick & fast. I actually identified which road we were on but only after I'd removed my cycling glasses as they'd fogged up & were covered in snow & I couldn't actually see the road let alone it's location until I removed them. I tried for about 2 miles to keep them on. The snow was painful on the eyes but no matter how much I tried to wipe & replace them visibilty was zero. It was then announced we were abandoning ship, calling it a day, snow stopped play & were going home. I think my main concern at that point was a) do I abandon the specs & take the pain of frozen water on the eyeballs or b) which would be the least life-threatening route home - A134 or Livermere, Richard S recommended A134 & I was inclined to agree.

At some point on the way back to Bury the snow changed to rain & the ride abandonment was abandoned & we carried on. I just followed Julian. The route explains all but I know we hit Lavenham & the Welnetham 8.5 TT course & we didn't stop for a coffee. At some point between somewhere & somewhere I missed my bottle cage after attempting a drink & the lid fell off as the WSW bottle fell in a puddle & my attractive purple drink flowed into the brown water it had landed in. So 52.02 miles without a coffee stop & apart frm 100mls of sports drink before the droppage no fuel.

At some point between Lawshall & Lavenham we became Paul-less. It was a bit Felixstowe revisited weatherwise & Paul B & Paul C vanished. The 6 of us soldiered on & I have to say it was a really lovely friendly cheerful ride.

I stopped at Jules Long's (member of Wheelers has a Garmin too & has been on a couple of Espresso rides) in Gt Barton as I went through for a tiddle & a glass of water & made my way home.

Schedule said I should do 3hrs 15mins on Sundays. [this is Tricia's new training schedule that will have her doing evening TTs at 25 mph averages- SJH] Did 3hrs 30min av HR 126. Not partic fast but the roads were hazardous in places & we had a fair old blast on the way home picking up the pace.Tricia

PS. Paul C has just posted on Facebook that they didn't give up. He stopped to get the ice off his rear mech & no-one waited.Oops!

17 Feb 2010. The Wheelers Seize an Opportunity for Exposure

We had only 48 hours notice that BBC Look East would want to film us as part of a story to announce a £470,000 Grant to Cycling in East Anglia. We were to assemble at the Youth Club at Moreton Hall Community Centre (standing in for our HQ?) at 10am on Wednesday 17th. Bearing in mind that around 16 of those 48 hours would be spent sleeping, the club's ability to rise to the challenge was impressive; turbos were being used inside the building, an entire Go Ride circuit of cones and limbo poles complete with youngsters weaving in and out and under - with some of us standing in as spectators (Sharon slipped effortlessly into her fitness instructor role "well done" "keep it up" "that's right, duck down") and last (but certainly not least) 13 members of Les Compagnons du Mercredi were on hand to provide the core of a pretend club run. To lend verisimilitude to proceedings, we even had a couple of tumbles - Robin Lines failed at the limbo after someone had lowered it without notice, and Jeff Agricole fell off while attached to a turbo that hadn't properly been attached to his bike. How we laughed. The BBC camera man was kind enough to miss it.

Shaun Peel turned up and interviewed the man from the sports body (who seemed very impressed with us) and then got us all to form a bunch behind Barry while he was asked obvious questions (with the odd googly thrown in. Hang on, if it was thrown it would be a no ball, surely). Then we pretended to set off for a ride; four times. With the cameraman ambushing us at various points. Finally Shaun showed good bike handling skills by holding a BBC-sized video camera in one hand, while riding a commandeered MTB in the middle of our pretend bunch. Just to make it more interesting, we went out to the traffic island on Orttewell Rd and circled it - eventually about three times - bringing the traffic to a momentary (and reluctant halt) each time.

Shaun was jokingly keen that BBC hierarchy didn't get to know about his dodgy health & safety practices with one of their video cameras. Check the still photo, then look for him in action in the early bit of the video
Thirteen of us then set off for a proper ride. Out to Nowton, and then the Suffolk Punch route but diverting to Bridge Street and up to Lavenham. At this point we separated into to two groups. Below, Peter has the story on those who went right. My group dwindled eventually to just Gareth and I - it all comes down to opinions on shortest routes, really. The choice is mine, or a longer one

You may have wondered how those 6 who opted for more miles at Lavenham actually fared.

Moi, Justin, Ron, Simon, Rich and Peter Stephenson-Wall took the undulating road through Little Waldingfield to Monks Eleigh where 4 of us opted for tea at Corncraft. Justin and Ron rode on, with the former keen to make up for lost miles this coming weekend, as he and Ann are off to Lincoln and planning to meet up with some old friends.

The tea room was heaving ( half term) and we just managed to snatch the last table for two and purloin, ( what a lovely sounding word that is) 2 extra chairs. Peter S-W was happy with his brand new Bianchi from Mick Madgetts and rode strongly, (young blood). Simon expressed delight at actually being able to get out on the road after a winter of turbo training in his shed. Yet, he too came to grief, on the road outside The Victoria pub, Thurston, recently and has several wounds to prove it.

The ride home was uneventful as the sun shone from a clear blue sky, probably the best afternoon of the year so far. The fine show of aconites and snowdrops reminded us that new life is beginning, birds are feeling frisky, (my mating doves and your peregrinating barn owl), so the promise of warmer rides may not be too far ahead now. I logged 51 miles for the morning.

Valentine's Day 2010 not Quite a Massacre.

I nursed my knee and restricted activity to typing a plea for information from the gallant Espressi.

I had a good response, but I am under instructions to 'redact' a considerable amount of the content from my sources - all of whom were 'close to the ride'.

Young Alan Trolove turned up (a rare non-competition Sunday for him) having been advised to take the opportunity to get in some good miles, also Tricia Dennison, Paul Barry, Barry Denny and Paul Jay. We decided it best to join the Cappuccinos as there was such a surprisingly small number of us. Rode in a loop to get to Nowton at 9.30, Paul Jay puncturing as we got there - perfect timing.

Set off at 9.40 with the above riders plus John Steed, Richard Seggar, Richard Balaam, Big Roger Maddams I think, (not on the members list, very strong) Charles Coldrey (New member on MTB with skinny slicks) Peter Stephenson-Wall (MTB with very fat slicks) Mark Saunders (new member on Bianchi), Lara (regular non-member)

We went to Bressingham, with one puncture on the way. This wasn't straightforward as poor John Steed has to almost dismantle his bike to get the wheel off as he has tyres thicker than most cars and which don't fit past his brake blocks which don't have a quick release. John confessed to getting 4 punctures this week - time for major investment John?

The group didn't reach Bressingham until 11.50, by which time there was a long queue in the Café. Five riders left promptly to get back a bit quicker, (Barry had promised to be back early!) but this didn’t work as the group split and we wasted time looking for each other !

Tricia became diss-orientated at Redgrave and went home via a route of her own choosing "After coffee Barry led a breakaway group of Alan, Roger & Paul Barry with the intention of heading along the A1066 & turning off for Thelnetham. I had a hazy recollection that I could go via Thelnetham & Hopton & home & so joined them. We turned off for Redgrave. This is an unfamiliar village to me & there were no friendly signs to comfort me so when they turned right sign-posted "poultry factory" I bottled out & chugged back up & down the big hills to the 1066 to resume plan A.Looking at the Garmin printout the poultry factory road led to Thelnetham & I should have stuck with them but hey ho what's another 5 miles?"

Paul Jay, whose wife had produced their first child, Megan, ten days ago had gone home on his own via B1111 and A143 and had a sticky moment trying to change up onto a non-existent 3rd chainring, just as he was being overtaken by a truck. Nobody tell Mrs Jay, OK? Barry reached home at 2pm. Sue wasn’t impressed. I later heard that Richard Seggar didn't get home until nearly 3.

I think that the moral to be drawn from the combining of these two rides might be that, in certain circumstances, More is Less.

Tricia rode nearly 60 miles total.

10th Feb 2010. Tony & Tom-Tom Battle against the Elements

Stephen
You may or may not receive other 'resumés' about today's ride.
Here is mine

On waking late at 8 o'clock I looked out of the window to perceive a crusty white splodge outside. Bearing in mind Stephen's recent spell of kissing the tarmac I decided, in a rush of blood, to go out on my off-road bike with 'Landrover' tyres recently acquired from my cycling buddy cousin. I arrived at the bus stop where Justin, Peter H, Ed, Richard and Ron had decided to go to Hollow Trees, the long way, on 'better' roads to include Glemsford. Slowly but surely I found myself playing catchup and finding it very hard to stay with those very fit guys on their road bikes. By the time we reached the Glemsford turnoff in Horringer Road I was already knackered. Fortunately, a pee stop gave me the opportunity to declare that I would make my own way to Semer (or maybe go home) as I didn't want to become a burden. At this point Richard gallantly declared he would stay with me and take me on a short cut across to Lavenham and Semer. What he didn't say was that it meant going UP Hartest Hill !

When arriving at Bridge Street we came across really bad ice over the top to Lavenham and had to take it very easy. Richard discovered he had a 'slow' in the rear tyre and began stopping to pump until we arrived at Hollow Trees.

Here we found that the other four had not only arrived before us but had also snaffled the last fruit scones!

However, the gorgeous Chloe gave me lots of attention (unfortunately not the sort I would have preferred!) while Richard changed his inner tube.

I decided to go home the direct route through Preston St. Mary while the fearsome four went the Bildeston Route. Richard, dear soul, decided to stay with me as, in my haste to get to the bus stop, I had forgotten to bring either a pump or a drinks bottle.

Riding towards Kettlebaston and on a particularly bad stretch of shaded ice we were suddenly confronted by a large tractor steaming towards us with wheels slipping. While I got over on the inside, Richard came across to and came a cropper on the central strip of ice! He was up quickly and reported nothing broken - body or bike, only pride. The tractor surged onward spitting mud and ice all over the place and we continued on towards Thurston without further mishap, arriving at Beyton just as the seriously black skies started to emit more white stuff with an accompanying fierce cold north easterly. On reaching Thurston I could barely mutter a thank you and goodbye to Richard through frozen face and lips.

After a shower and a banana I was ready for a session on the turbo. (only kidding)

"Tiger" Tony Panting

Thanks again Richard

Il Presidente

February 3rd 2010 Shock, Horror - Club Run to Ipswich via A14

Wednesday February 3rd

The BBC’s weather forecast at 8am was preceded by a general warning of icy roads after an overnight freeze, following the previous day’s rain. The signs didn’t look good as 8 riders assembled in the bus shelter to discuss possible routes. Justin thought it best to be cautious and postpone the ride as the risk of injury was too great.

As if on cue Stephen rang Justin to say he’d come to grief on black ice on the way in, was injured and would struggle home. We later learned that Peter Gay had struggled manfully from Rickinghall but he too then came crashing down around Bardwell, found it difficult to even walk and set off for home on foot, eventually remounting at Walsham. Result for Peter was a bruised hip, (the good one), and thumb, with some road rash.

Stephen meanwhile made it home and went to the surgery where his damaged knee was dressed; he was later able to get to work in his studio as the ‘walking wounded’. Stern stuff the Wheelers you know. So the forecast was right then Julian!

Meanwhile back in the shelter, feet shuffled, gradually becoming colder and colder. The mood was sombre and it was generally agreed to postpone the ride until the following day. Gareth had taken some trouble to make arrangements with his wife so he could get to the ride with colleague Darren, and looked disappointed, Sharon likewise but she had already worked out with a client that morning. Tony and Justin were keen to call things off, - so the ride dis-assembled, as Richard Balaam rode away.

Tom-Tom rode round with Peter to pick up a magazine and ponder a safe route when he said, “Shall we just do it?” Peter glanced at his Airborne bike leaning against the wall of the house and the model name, ‘Carpe Diem’ seemed to take on a new significance. ‘Seize the day’ it spoke to him. It was settled; a higher authority had intervened and lit the way. We would indeed seize the day and make for the Dance Eats Café in Ipswich. We would uphold the honour of the Wheelers by refusing to be brow-beaten by a little black ice.

We thought that if we could negotiate Tostock Hill we would be home and dry, except for finding an ice-free route to Stowmarket.

Richard had it in an instant; “We can drop onto the A14”! Peter baulked, - “Onto the A14”? thinking Rich had lost the plot.
“ No it’ll be alright, if we go down the slip road from the Woolpit island there is a long run-on and just as we make the A14, there is the turn for Haughley!

And so it was that a Wheelers Club Run actually and deliberately turned onto the A14, but with a certain knowledge and sense of purpose. Sure enough, just as Peter was becoming fearful of the speeding HGVs, coming ever closer, all was peace and quiet again as we turned for Haughley. We had made it. Alive! Tom-Tom had triumphed again.

The rest, as they say, is history, totally ice free roads through Stowmarket, Needham Market, Great Blakenham, Claydon and through the outlying estates surrounding Ipswich. We celebrated our arrival on the Ipswich waterfront at 11:05 by ordering cheese and fruit scones with the tea in the Dance Eats café. Once again we were made welcome with a “Where are the rest of you?” We made excuses, making sure not to use the word ‘Wimp’ at all. Well not often anyway.

On a quality note the cheese scones were delightful but the fruit scones contained cinnamon and were not to our liking. Peter made a mental note to let chef Andrew know of our displeasure but he was too busy with serving lithe, long-legged, dancers; not that we noticed of course. This leaning towards an American scone recipe was logged for another visit; we really must put this café on the road to at least standing a chance of one of our awards.

After a pleasant hour the intrepid pair returned through Sproughton, Bramford and on to Great Blakenham for home. At Sproughton, Peter learned that Richard had moved into the village just after the second world war, and used to cycle to school in Bramford. In those days he said, children living outside a radius of 3 miles from the school were provided with cycles for their journey to school! How enlightened were the authorities then and when did it all go wrong? Just think of kids now being provided with cycles, what a difference that would make to their health and wellbeing. Richard pointed out that Kesgrave High School currently has one of the highest levels of children cycling to school in the country so it’s not all bad news.

At Stowmarket we boldly took the road for Onehouse, deciding to risk the road from there to Woolpit. We only saw ice at the road edges and sailed smoothly into Richard’s home village, where we sampled the delights of a10 year old Bushmills Malt, followed by Rich’s homemade Damson Vodka, just the thing for warming the cockles, all washed down with lashings of tea. Peter can recall little of the ride home via Tostock hill but arrived safely at 2:20pm after a gloriously sunlit 51 miles.

We wish the day’s casualties a speedy recovery.

Carpe Diem!

Peter Heath