About time we had a lovely sunny day

Saturday 18th Feb

Copy and paste this link to view Ed's comparative Garmin stats for those who started and finished in Wrexham. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/150438674

Off the Back - 18/02/12 - Off the pace….and then some!!

The weather was hardly ideal conditions for cycling as the Crapis gathered at the Patron’s door. The weather was decidedly chilly and the rain started just as Chris, Ron, Mark, Cabbage, Ed (making a welcome return) & the Lantern awaited the Patron. Bedecked in his T-mobile peaked cap I couldn’t help but think he bore a striking resemblance to Jan Ulrich (during the off season obviously!!).

The group trundled off towards the scheduled meet with Roger and Matinee. Very very early on the Lantern noticed that his somewhat meagre energy supplies were perhaps not what they could be. His sorry carcass was off the back on the way up to the A5 from Newbridge. This did not bode well.

The rain was by now pelting it down and the wind-chill made for a cold ride. Not a day to endear yourself to the peleton by making them stand around waiting for you……

After picking up Roger & Matinee the group rode up through Western Rhyn (guess who was off the back again…….) and on towards Oswestry where there was just time for the Lantern to receive one of Matinee’s pep talks “Just try harder” before progress was halted by traffic lights.

Those who’d been to France should have realised a red light was nothing to the lantern as he bunny hopped the pavement and disappeared round the corner. With the Patron’s words of encouragement ringing in his ears “Don’t blame me if you get hit by a car you dick” the Lantern set about minimising the standing around time for the others by getting a jump on the Trefonen climb.

He made it to the top of the first drag before Ron, Ed, Matinee, Craig, Chris et al whizzed past like he was standing still. Six gel offers made up his made and he stopped for another (his third of the ride!! - the spirit of Coppi lives on!!). After what seemed like an eternity (and probably did to the rest of the peleton to) the Lantern made it to the top of Blodwell.

Matinee took on the pace at the bottom on the run down to Lynclys crossroads with the Lantern jumping on his wheel (remarkably it didn’t buckle!!). The usual happened with the Lantern desperately trying to hold his wheel before finally giving up only to discover there was no one behind him.

After the crossroads it was a fairly sedates ride to the café where the Lantern gratefully collapsed in a steaming pile.

After the café it was a fairly sedate ride back to Wrexham with Mark joining the Lantern in the Broom wagon along the way. No afternoon tea this week as everyone was cold and wet so it was a swift depart with both Mark and Ed stating they hoped to be out the following week.

Apologies for the complete implosion on the ride guys and, as a consequence, the fact that there’s not a lot about what went on near the front of the peleton!! Thought Ed was looking good but not sure about the “no mudguards” option he was favouring. Ron & Matinee looked good as ever, Craig loves a hill, Mark has no sense of pacing himself (lol only joking) and Chris never looks like he’s trying (even when he’s f**ked). The patron was closest to me today and he looked great (BTW cheers for sorting my chain Al!!!).

Hopefully see you all next week and hopefully I’ll be much much better than I was this week.