14 March 2010 - A Mother of a Ride

Those escaping the hiked-up restaurant charges, and some who weren’t, assembled on Corn Hill ready for another invigorating shot of Espresso. They comprised: Ron Fisher, Dave Batterbee, Tricia Dennison, Mike Bowen, Barry Denny, Alan Trolove, Simon Bourne, Pauls Rooke & Callow, Peters Stephenson-Wall & Heath, Hills Deane & Stephen, Smiths Graham & Glynn, Jonathan Howe and Justin Wallace.

Newmarket was the destination: via Risby (and down Poor Man’s Heath - probably only marginally faster than the winner of the previous day’s time trial had climbed it), Cavenham, Tuddenham, Herringswell, Kennet, Kentford and through Moulton (where SJH and Paul R turned left and headed home for a luncheon appointment). On we sped through Dalham and up to the Cropley Grove junction (Peter H hung a right a couple of turns before this so as to get a good seat at Coffee & Co) where a right turn took us on to Upend. Through this delightful village – best viewed when coming from the other, slower, direction – and a right turn to Newmarket.

Somewhere along the road to Newmarket, Ron, Paul Callow and Peter S-W decided they needed a behind the hedge moment. Justin’s cries to the bunch to slow down succeeded in a reduction in pace from 20 odd mph to about 18mph. Seeing the chasing trio making slow progress, he, together with Simon, decided to do the honourable thing and drop back to help them get on. Working hard and running out of juice in the process, Justin towed them along for a mile or so. Feeling refreshed, the trio plus Simon (tucked down on the tri-bars) surged by. As they disappeared over the brow of Duchess Drive, Justin considered the pros and cons of altruistic actions and wondered whether Simon was cut out to be a Sports Ambassador.

As the depleted bunch arrived at Coffee & Co, Peter H was just finishing his tea & cake and was ready to mount up and head home. Paul C and Jonathan also wanted to get home early and left with him – the group was getting slimmer by the minute. As we were leaving Deane announced that he was heading back by a more direct route. The riders were almost convincing as they expressed their disappointment at his decision. Did Graham join Deane for the home run?

And so the remaining riders headed up the long gradual incline out of Newmarket to Ashley. The pace was hot; driven for long spells by someone who looked just like a slimmed down version of Glynn. But he was going so much faster than the Glynn Smith who had suffered like a dog only a matter of a month or so ago on the road from Bildeston to One House. Has he got an identical twin? The route back then followed the tail end of Suffolk Punch: Ousden, Hargrave, Chevington, Whepstead and Hawstead. The four hills extracting the last vapours of energy from the tanks of several riders. Credit to Tricia for the way she tenaciously hung on, lost contact and fought back several times during the morning – especially as she had ridden in from Barnham (a 70 mile day) and raced the previous day. Her front wheel almost fell out on the climb up Whepstead Hill, but no one was close enough to hear if she directed any choice words on the offending wheel. Amongst all this suffering young Alan Trolove maintained a serene pose as he soared effortlessly up the climbs. Seventh place in an under 16’s race in London the day before hadn’t phased him one little bit. It may seem picky but one can’t help wishing he would drop those gears a bit and increase his cadence.

Another day, another 50 odd miles in the legs of the Bury riders. There was a hint of spring in the air and the unmistakable urge of riders to shake off the dreadful winter and skip along the lanes. Either that or too much ‘Lambing Live’? [or could that be Ewe Tube? SJH]

Justin Wallace