The prospect of a new ride & the chance to hear about Craig’s exploits in the Pyrenees ensured a healthy turnout at the Patron’s bang on 10am. Chris, Ron, Vino, Craig, FDI, Patron and the Lantern set off under grey skies to rendezvous with Matinee by Moreton Park Garden Centre.
Once the group had got up to compliment and the fashion police had assured Matinee that his sartorial elegance was once again without equal in the peleton the group set off for Oswestry.
For the first time in quite a while there was a sharp right turn and the group headed up the race course hill. Matinee and Craig thoughtfully keeping pace with the Lantern early on the climb so as to not discourage him too much. Ronnie sank to a new low as he sucked the Lantern’s wheel up the climb. Further down the hill FDI sucked his gel and tried to work out why he’d got out of bed.
The group then followed the road up the valley; ignoring their usual turning for the Beast, before turning right for a new climb. The climb was steady and somewhat below the brutal “rip your legs off” climbs encountered in recent weeks and both the FDI and the Lantern had sufficiently clear vision to enjoy the fantastic views along the way.
Indeed the only noteworthy event was the Patron breaking a spoke for what seemed like the three hundredth (incidentally the number of gels FDI has consumed this year) time this year. After some running repairs and some fluent Anglo Saxon the peleton soon found itself in Llansantffraid. Whilst going through the village Craig was heard to say “Ah I know where I am now”. Truly he is just a Garmin away from having Ronnie’s sense of direction.
Matinee pulled the group from Llan all the way to the left turn for Llanymynech before the FDI and the Lantern showed everyone how to ride on the front on the way to the café!!! Honoury mention to Chris for going through the traffic lights on red with barely a pause.
The Patron announced at the café stop that he didn’t want to go up the Old Racecourse hill on the way back as he didn’t want to risk the descent with his knackered spoke. FDI and the Lantern beamed like they’d won the Euro millions.
After the café it was a quick hop over the A5 and the group headed for Whittington. Here Rocket Ronnie lived up to his name and put the hammer down. When the Lantern looked round on the outskirts of Gobowen there was no one behind him. Clearly the group was not racing today.
The fairly short but a bugger when you’re tired stretch from Gobowen to the Outskirts of Western Rhyn were accomplished more or less as a group.
After saying goodbye to the best dressed matinee in the peleton it was over the aqueduct and round the back of Chirk for one last bit of pain. After that the group climbed the Tally Ho and regrouped in Ruabon where the Lantern thought about throwing himself under a car and earned the wrath of the Patron. As the original seven rode back to the Patron’s house Chris felt something was wrong and couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “I know its that we’re all riding back together rather than being in groups” he said. “Well that is what’s supposed to happen” was the Patron’s sardonic reply.
A quick cup of tea and that was the ride. Approx 59 miles in about a 16 average.
All in all a very enjoyable variation to the usual route and it was nice not to have my legs screaming at me for the second half of the ride. Thanks as always to everyone who made it an enjoyable day out and a special mention to Craig for his encouragement re the Pyrenees. “Its steep, no I mean its really steep…..my heart rate was 400 for 2 hours…..” and other such gems have bolstered the lantern’s resolve no end.
Oh and Craig’s most impressive feat in the Pyrenees - putting on weight whilst riding nearly everyday J
Hopefully see some or most of you next weekend to do it all over again.
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