Godfather of the Beast 31/03/12

Cast - Lantern, Chrissy, Vino, Robbo, Bri, Ronnie, Patron




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Off the Back - 31/03/12 - It’ll be an easy one this week lads……..

Thanks to Chris working nights the lads had a bit of a lie in this weekend not needing to be on parade until 10am. Carl, Ron, Chris and the Lantern duly signed in at chez e Patron. A slight, road works enforced, detour was the only action on the way to Chirk where the group met up with Matinee and Brian the beast making a welcome return.

The pace was brisk but steady on the run up to Glyn Ceiriog and didn’t seem to slacken much as the peleton passed up through the village and on towards Pandy. The Lantern, much like last week, slid off the back. The group swung left onto the first climb of the day; the Granddaddy of the beast. Despite being in a different county by then the Lantern, by sheer luck, took the right turn off.

Well I imagine the rest of them pissed it up there but back at the back the Lantern was thinking some very dark thoughts. Christ it was steep!! Eventually he had to climb off and throw up, which seemed to revive him and somehow he rejoined his shivering colleagues at the top (no sun to bask in this week).

The road then went up and down like the Big Dipper before depositing the group in Llansillin. The group then followed this all the way to the B4396 (and you think I don’t do my research!!) which unfortunately for the Lantern meant going over another short, sharp leg stinger which everyone else sailed over.

At the aforementioned B4396 the group turned left and followed the road down to Pen-y-Bont where we turned right. Of course, as with all Patron routes, we had to go over another climb though again it was mercifully not to long or too steep. The Lantern was however too knackered to notice them passing through the lovely Bronhyddon Coppice before he was once again dropped on the run into Llansantffraid.

A quick jaunt through the village before the peleton turned right over the bridge to take their well established route to the café via Llanymynech and, if you are the Lantern at least, a lot of pain.

The pace was kept fairly high on the run to the café - special thanks to Matinee at this point for nearly causing the Lantern’s legs to melt.

The café in Maesbury was thankfully reached after a fairly brisk 40 miles.

After the café a slightly more, but only slightly, sedate pace was set on the way to Whittington where the peleton turned right to go on “Mad Jacks” road down to St Martins. Thankfully even the frisky foursome - Carl, Ron, Matinee & Brian were showing signs of slowing by now. Chris was starting to look as though he’d been on a ride (hats off as he was full of cold at Patron’s - or he could just be a good faker!!!) whilst the diesel that is the Patron rumbled on. At St Martins the group splintered with Matinee and Brian heading for home and the remaining five heading back for a well earned cuppa at café le Patron.

Another great ride but I wish my legs didn’t hurt all the way round. Not as hard as last week but still pretty tough. The Patron clocked it at 61 miles with over 2,600ft of climbing with a 16.3 average (not that the Lantern got that!!).

As always thanks to all that were out for another great day on the bike. Hopefully see you all next week.