LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 418 Sunday 3rd July 2022..
Thanks to everybody who took care of the rides while I was on holiday last week and it was so good to be back on the bike for the first time since completing my first 100 mile ride, so full of beer and chips from my time in Wales I took to the saddle on my old bike as my rear wheel was in for repair, so I was so pleased when Ken said he was up for an intermediate and with a rear cassette not built for hills so was I.
Everybody else decided to do the sporty ride at different speeds which seemed to suit everybody, so off we went Bob, Andrew, Wayne and Owen left on the sporty sporty ride Steve led the sporty Advanced with Terry on his new beautiful black bike, Frank who this ride was named after, David and Michael fresh back from their LEGOG an epic adventure after which they are still talking, and Derek rejoining us, leaving Ken and myself to follow along.
Ken was making excuses early about a bad chest he was recovering from so he could sit behind me into the headwind on our way out through Pendock, and in all fairness even if he was in front, unless he has a puffa jacket and a waterproof on there is no benefit for me so I was happy to help.
Turning into Cooks lane I’m always a bit wary of the big white dog that is behind the fence as we pass but likes to make us know he knows we are there, and how was I to know that this would turn out to be a white dog day. More later.
Albright lane through to Bromsberrow where the sporty sporty group passed us with Wayne missing but soon Wayne Frank and Terry who had split from Steves group went passed us, so crossing Greenway cross and the climb up to the notorious pillar box field Ken and chatted about teaching our children how to drive and how it tests your patience and relationship you have, but I remember how after all of that its great time together and a mutual respect, so stick with it Ken and best of luck. Dropping down the hill past the old church we were wondering if Steve’s group was ok so we waited at Kempley Church, Ken taking on food and soon Steve appeared with his crew, and Derek having not been out for 3 weeks decided to finish the ride with us, so we all went our separate ways and pushed on. We continued through Queens wood and on to Newent via Oxenhall and up Culver street where the Garmin always throws a wobbly but it was soon sorted half a mile up the road.
As we turned into Kents Green a car was parked on that gravelly junction so we slowed and out shot a white dog just missing me missing Derek and chasing Ken, I think it was a shit su as that’s all I could hear Ken shouting, I think he forgot the su bit though, looking pale and shaken after he had out rode it like a true athlete, telling me he was worried about it biting through his tube less tyres, I don’t even think it would have been able to reach his leg but I’m sure it will grow as the story evolves.
Shaken and trying not to laugh we pushed on through Tibberton and Highleadon and Blackwells end as heavy skies threatened a storm, but with Derek leading us home setting a fair pace we got home before it rained.
It wasn’t long before everybody was back safely and Ken had stopped shaking after a milky sweet tea, maybe that’s what you need when out driving with your son Ken.
Thanks to everyone who rode and helped out..
Yellow leader.