LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 392 Sunday 14th November 2021..What a beautiful morning greeted us the sun was out, a slight chill in the air, almost perfect riding conditions with dry roads to add. Terry, David and a returning Mike joined me as I opened the club to put the urn on. It was nice to welcome back Dave, who has managed to get his bike repaired and Dave 2 cockers making a return after a really bad bout of the Autumn chest which has taken longer than he wanted to clear, and Andrew also been missing for a few weeks. Now you expect the trip to the club to be reasonably event free but not for 2 Cocker Dave who rolled up in the beautiful VW camper with the rear wheel shot to pieces and the lovely black alloy nearly on the Tarmac, but that could wait there was a cycle ride to attend to first, and while we were all passing comment on his wheel quite a few of you had turned up, so three rides would leave, Sporty led by Bob as I think he was the only one with the ride downloaded, Steve and Terry doing an Advanced and the rest with me on an intermediate, what could go wrong? Leaving the club and Orridge street and Blackwells End behind us we pushed on to Highleadon a good pace being set by Ken. The drop down the main rd to Tibberton was reasonably quiet and now back on quieter roads we could have a chat all the way around Bulley lane to the A40 and into church lane. The view onto the side of May Hill awash with colour in the sunshine was just a reminder of the time of year, the narrowing lanes to Northwood Green before we dropped down towards Chaxhill and a few we’re glad that we turned right before the climb up to Chaxhill and followed the lane along and a rather rough rd over the railway line before a sharp climb back up to Northwood Green was interrupted by a car so we stopped to allow it to pass and as we started off again 2 Cockers, who was not match fit didn’t clip in in time and after hearing a clatter looked round and he was stood astride his bike, just glad he was ok it was only his drink bottle which Mike stopped from rolling down the hill which was dislodged. Blaisdon and past the Red Hart Inn and the lovely smell of Sunday roast wafting across the road as we pushed on to Huntley where it was decided to stop for a minutes silence but at the lights Mikes peddle fell apart and he had to run back across the lights to retrieve it and mended it as we waited for 11. Colin on the clock and the minute past we were off again past the Taynton turning on to Kents green and Hooks lane working our way back to the club without any other mishaps. Wasn’t long before Bob bought the Sporty ride home followed by Steve and Terry , we all enjoyed a cuppa before we helped Dave change his wheel which was in a worse state than we thought when we got it off, but we managed to get the passion bus back on the road, and Dave home safely. Thanks to all who rode today it was a great day to be in the saddle and there was even a plentiful supply of biscuits to be had. Thanks to all of you who attended the AGM I’m sure Steve will distribute the minutes in the coming weeks but please it’s subs time again, kept at £15 which is great value and only possible if we all pay up. Many thanks. Yellow Leader.
