Espresso 11 April 2010: Absent Friends leave a Gentle Ride

Just eight of us turn up, and head North East. Who needs Girona (that's in Spain, you know) when we've got Diss (& District). We follow Mike Cross's advice, and head for Diss, and the Duathlon in which WSW & Tri are to feature in strength (check the website for details, Ben Mickleburgh was 3rd, all others did v well as well). Having already led the rides for 4th & 7th out this way, my inspiration for variation was nearing desperation (but I didn't entirely Disspair). With a loop through various Harlings we arrived at Diss High School at 11am with 40miles on the clock and just in time to see Sharon Calton, Will Newland and Ben finishing in style. The wind was very cold, with low single-digit temperature to confirm the feeling. Most of us cowered in the school building scoffing cakes and peering out of the windows - half expecting an irate teacher to come barrelling up shouting at us to get OUTSIDE during break time.

We returned by one of the shortest routes to achieve 60 miles. Names ticked on the register where: Adi G, Adi Barnbrooke, Peter S-W, Paul Callow, Richard Balaam, a welcome return of Hugh O'Neil (who had lost the note from his parents covering prolonged absence) Graham Smith and me (SJH). I have to write out a hundred times "I will take pictures to record ALL rides"

Sunday 4 April 2010. Steve Newman Wins The Espresso Classic.

Adi, Steve Newman (guest appearance), Scots "Al" - in shorts (newcomer), Julian & Nathan Colman (who are related), Ron Fisher, the Glynn-Deane CC (motto "We care so you don't have to"), Ben Mickleburgh, Paul Callow, Peter Stephenson-Wall, Jonathan "Faster and Further Please" Howe & Stephen "The pen is definitely mightier than the Legs" Hill set off, at a modest pace, in the direction of Risby, Cavenham and points very slightly north of west. I turned off at Tuddenham and headed through Herringswell to Kentford, then Gazely, towards Higham but turned right, along the lovely road through to Barrow (currently a series of potholes tenuously linked by threads of damaged tarmac). With a total of only 40 miles, I felt that I had done the bare minimum. Later, I discover that I've not done much less than the rest of the ride - just even slower. Hardly enough to justify being slumped in front of the Malaysian GP, that's for sure.

The peleton carried on to Newmarket for tea, then home via Warren Hill, (a.k.a. 'The Gallops') Primrose Hill and Barrow. In the gallop for the Bury sign, Steve Newman took top honours, ahead of some other blokes (look, I can only work with what I'm given,OK?) making his ride worthwhile.
SJH

Wednesday 31 March 2010.

Jonathan, Tiger Tony, Ron Fisher, Tom-Tom and (ever so slightly late, due to last minute puncture; a tribute to his preparedness that it made him no later than "almost on time") Justin. It was cold. It was wet at times. It was windy. Two of us were tired. The other tired one was Tony, who was more a Tired Teddy than a Tiger Tony and only lasted as far as Felsham (however far that was - we didn't exactly go directly).
I hung on, with difficulty, especially on any climbs - and it wasn't by any means a taxing course. Tea stop was Hollowtrees where Justin charmed a couple of large friendly ladies of a certain age, while he was hanging small items of clothing on the fire guard (not his 'smalls' however). The LFLs told him how wonderfully slim he was, and Justin thanked them for not calling him 'skinny'
"Oh no, you're not that" they cried,
"you're still big where it counts"
It turned out that the LFLs still worked, though of pensionable age,
"What do you do?" we asked.
"We help care for people with learning difficulties" they said.
"Explains why you like talking to us" quipped Justin.
Gails of laughter.
Exit five ageing cyclists into the grey cold outdoors to follow a TT special route which began with the descent of Semer Hill, then left and right across the B1115 to Ash Street, Naughton, Gt Bricet, round the edge of Wattisham Airfield to Ringshall and Battisford, then Jack's lane (where we paused to give Jonathan a brief introduction to punctures and tube-changing) to Gt Finborough and home. Only 45 miles, but I felt exhausted.
SJH

28 March 2010. A lumpy ride to Semer.

Twelve of us gathered in the chill of an early start; certainly when I left Norton at what should have been 07:30, it felt extremely brisk. We were: Barry, Alan T, Pauls C & R, Jonathan Howe, Adi, Deane, Glynn, Simon Bourne, a welcome return of Hugh O'Neil and SJH - then Julian zoomed up, all energy and enthusiasm - and with a tale to tell.
Now I may not have got this quite right, but it would appear that a Godfather needed to take a flight to Argentina under cover of darkness and at short notice, and that it was an offer that he (Julian) couldn't refuse. So no sleep, and he'd watched the Australian Grand Prix. And not given anything away, like Jenson Button winning, for instance. Most commendable. But I'm still a bit concerned about his links to a Godfather.

Julian had so much energy to burn that he proclaimed "I feel like doing some hills today". My heart sank; I'm on my larger gear and I'm not going very well at the moment, anyway. But, there being no fool like an old fool, I thought that I could hack it OK.

Wrong.
As early as the climb up from Pinford End my legs were not delivering, but, Suffolk being the rolling county that it is, there were opportunities to get back on. Everyone else was having a great time (or so it appeared - possibly Hugh was feeling the lack of appropriate preparation). We did Stanstead and Glemsford, Foxearth and Acton, Lavenham then Monks Eleigh. As a change from all the climbing, there was a section after Foxearth where the front of the group was doing 27mph - giving me a leg speed of 126 rpm - and after a couple of miles of this I was slipping back into deep space. So Adi came alongside "get on my wheel! I'll get you back" and I thought to myself "If I can't stay on those ten wheels up the road, your single one isn't going to be much use" but I didn't say anything, not wishing to appear churlish. Barry got a puncture before Lavenham, and I made my excuses and rode on to the tea stop at my own (modest) pace. They all arrived alarmingly soon after I did, but I avoided the queue and had time to assume the Paul Callow role of tables and chairs monitor so that we could make a nice orderly group at the far end of an uncharacteristically quiet Corn Craft (one car, two customers when I arrived). In my photo, Julian looks as if he might be thinking about Godfather issues,
On the way back, just after the right turn at the wonderfully named Whelp Street and barely four miles into the journey, I decided to allow my chums to scamper off into the distance - maybe someone has the story? Tottered into empty house on my return, slumped into sofa to watch the Grand Prix, with its thrills and spills and the best result. Then bath and ZZzzzzzzzzzzzz.
SJH

Wednesday 24 March. Clare at Last.

Though we were over the approved number for a visit to Clare (10) two riders offered to go home without tea so that the rest of us could indulge ourselves with Sarah's hospitality. Justin has been stricken by a virus, and was apparently under doctor's orders to ride fifty miles without stopping. Tom Tom wasn't clear about his reason, but I don't doubt for a moment that it must have been extremely unavoidable.
Peter H, Justin, Barry, T-T, Jeff Agricole, Sharon, Mike Cross, Ron Fisher, SJH, Tiger Tony set off for the hills on our way to Clare, on a Sicklesmere - Gt Welnetham - Lawshall - Stanstead - Glemsford - Cavendish-ish route with a neat left and right at the foot of Water Lane at Cavendish to take the Pentlow route to Clare thus avoiding the main road. Outside No.1 Delicatessen we bade our farewells to T-T and Justin and filed in to a warm welcome. After only two changes of seating arrangement, we were all installed, munching, sipping and chatting. We discussed the advisability of booking ahead next time (after all Sarah is on speed dial on Peter's mobile) and a strategy for delivering leaflets in Ixworth for Adi and the Ixworth Crits (possible popular music combo - Adi and the Crits?). My pear and cranberry 'cake' was superb - and several of our party who made the same choice agreed.
Our return was the usual Poslingford version, which involves a touch too much downhill for my liking. I notice a drop in my uphill performance (its going downhill?) and wonder if the heavy cold and throat infection (not necessarily in that order) that I experienced last week could be having an effect. The fact that I reached Whepstead Church before anyone else only proves that (a) I have to go as hard as I can or come to a standstill (and I'm not certain how one copes with an uphill standstill when riding fixed) and (b) no one else was trying (though Barry claimed to be - but was probably just being diplomatic). Barry introduced us to his favourite back-route that takes a right some way before reaching Gt Welnetham that looks just like a private drive to start with, then becomes a tiny lane that joins a bigger lane that finally joins the A134 for a swift right and left at Bradfield Combust (what a name) to bring us to the start of the Lt Welnetham TT course.
I managed 51-ish miles of enjoyable riding. Mileages may vary, and can go down as well as up.

SJH

Sunday 21 March: A Fenland Fantasy - an Ely Excursion - Flat, Fast & Furious to Ely & Back

I was unable to take part due to grand daughter's first birthday. As a celebration, we met the family at Oxburgh Hall which is, confusingly, to be found in the village of Oxborough. I rode there, in the same fine sunshine, and into the same headwind, as the Espresso Ride. On the way, near to Coney Weston (where on might expect rabbits) I came across a couple of charming little pigs; wire-haired and with black splodges they were no more than two feet high and I took pictures - that I can no longer find. Do you ever do that with digital snaps? File them in the wrong (and so inappropriately wrong that you'd never ever guess, and just have to wait for the day you look for a photo of a favourite Aunt, and find a portrait of a pig) Ah! ignore all that - as you can see, I found the pig pics - they were still in the camera. also in the camera was my record of following "cycle route 30" in Thetford; doesn't look like Thetford, does it? It cuts through from a point opposite Tesco and the Kilverstone road, under the railway and onwards and very upwards to join the minor road that goes under the A11 to Croxton (the route that we used on our Wednesday jaunt to Lakenheath -thank goodness T-T had the good sense to avoid my scenic bit). Quite challenging.

Now, let's get on with Tricia's and Nathan's accounts plus photos of the Espresso ride that was an Ely Excursion.

TRICIA'S ACCOUNT
So, today's ride.

Lots out. Sharon joined us. Seemed to do just fine. First puncture before leaving Bury which must be some kind of record. Julian C by Bennett Rd hence pic. Nathan repaired it.
Rode to Ely. Flattest cycle ride of my entire life. 1st group pic was when something clattered on the road & we stopped to retrieve it on the road fm M/hall to Littleport. Apparently it was a nut & it wasn't important. Who caries unimportant nuts on club rides? Then Adi had a puncture 3 miles fm Ely. Stopped at a dreary cafe. Was expecting to go to that lovely Peacocks place so a little disappointed. Paul C & Adi went off & bought something synthetic looking in a plastic cup from possibly starbucks which was just opposite & may have supplied drinkable coffee unlike Tea for Two. Half decent bacon baguette though so mustn't grumble. [but you just did- sjh]

Then we rode 'ome. Uneventful. Possibly a little briskly & Nathan was moaning a bit 'cos he was on fixed. Julian tried to slow it down but quite honestly I was keen to get home & felt quite comfortable at 22mph + out of Tuddenham. Not bad as I'd clocked up nearly 65miles by then. Turned off at Flempton & more or less maintained the pace. Did 78.48M in 4hrs 14mins cycling time ave 18.5mph. Hopefully someone will fill you in on the last bit for the gp

NATHAN'S ACCOUNT

Went on the A ride today on the fixie !....69 INCHES ! average cadence....93, rather fast for me tbh ! 65 miles, 18.9mph average to Ely via Mildenhall and Littleport back via Red Lodge.

Went to the cafe with the window, in the square behind the cathedral.

People on the ride were:

ME :D, dad, deane hill, graham, glynn, sharon calton, trisha dennison, adi grimwood, paul callow, ron fisher, richard stiff (turned back to get home early), ben mickleburgh, peter stephenson-wall, and paul jay

2 punctures, 1 by Dad, after only about a mile, and one by Adi, about 5 miles out of Ely. No real excitement, other than the very high speed, probably due to the good weather, and straight, flat roads over the fens !
nathan

17 March 2010 - Lakenheath??? - Yes!!! And the cheapest tea'n'cake so far

South west wind. Clare? "Looks like it " said Peter.

Then a few more mercredists roll up, and we are a dozen (but not a particularly dirty one - though my bike could do with a bit of a clean). This, it was decided, would have been too many for No1 Delicatessen at Clare.
For a few weeks now, Tom-Tom has been keen for us to share his latest discovery, which is a farm shop tea room at Lakenheath. We have been shamefully reluctant to venture up there voluntarily (getting there while losing one's way north of Mildenhall is allowable), so we finally caved in and cruised northwards with the sou'wester at our backs. The redoubtable T-T took us by an oblique route, so that we weren't fully aware of where we were heading. This simple ploy prevented panic, though there was a certain amounted of twitching and shying-away as we hit the long flat roads with lines of Scots Pine. Just short of Lakenheath itself, we came to Christmas Farm - and thence to 'Mary's Tea Room'. As you can see from the photos, this is a genteel establishment, with an abundance of linen, several flower arrangements and a warm welcome. All this for just £2. Yes, that's TWO POUNDS. Astounding.

During our tea break we responded to the ambiance, with Richard Muchmore assuming the David Niven role from the film "Separate Tables" and all of us engaging in generally civilised chatter. In a paddock alongside the track to the Tea Room, we saw two startlingly marked horses (who looked pretty pleased with their outfits, I thought).
On our return route the wind hardly favoured us at all, (as I had promised when we left Thurston) being mainly headwind, with occasional crosswind. We covered a satisfying 66 miles at a reasonable pace and, who knows, might be back to Mary's.
SJH