Wheelers Rides
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Big Green & Grey-ish Ride
8 February 2004
Outward Bound
As I went on the longer, harder, faster etc. etc. ride starting from Bethnal
Green I'm afraid the details for the original Wheelers ride to link up with
the LCC Little Green Ride were gleaned from a mobile phone, through a fleece
hat with a howling wind. Until of course, we met up with Steve C at the
lunch stop.
Basically a split tyre had forced him to return home for a replacement and
catch a later train to Stevenage, rather than the Knebworth venue where Gary
and I were originally heading for and the other person who was going with
him left to go to another ride.
At about 8.15am the two of us set off into the mother of all headwinds.
Gary's estimation of distance & timings meant that we could make it to
meet-up at the station when everyone got off the train; but that wind was
making it's presence felt, so we were thinking it might be more realistic to
meet at the lunch stop.
All things considered, good progress was made and apart from the odd tw@t in
a car who thought it necessary to sound his horn all the time he was passing
us and continue sounding into the distance, we got along fine with all the
other road users. Not that there were too many out & about first thing.
WARNING: You may want to note that Velcro is not quite the benign material
it would have you think it is. Gary's pump is attached to the top tube of
his bike with a Velcro strap; and it had worn a whacking great hole in a new
pair of winter cycling tights.
As time went on we realised that maybe it was a bit further than the 20-odd
miles Gary had estimated and the wind had probably slowed us a tad, we took
stock of things and when we heard that the Knebworth choral feature wasn't
going to happen it was decided to re-route to Stevenage.
A few more miles down the road, (or should that be 'up'? - [there were quite
a few testing hills encountered] ), we heard that Sue's LCC group were
heading for Lilley and the Lilley Arms pub. So another re-route and off we
went again.
Lunch with Lilley
Got to the pub and met Sue and her LGR-ers. Can't remember what time, but
there were about 42 miles on the clock. Shortly after our arrival, Steve
turned up after his train assisted dash from Tower Hamlets and we all took
advantage of a nice varied menu and lovely friendly staff. Actually I don't
think I really mean that last bit do I?!?
Having rested and filled-up, Gary and I both felt we wanted to see what it
would be like having the wind behind us for a change, so decided to ride
back to London and Steve chose to join us too.
Return Legs
With the LGR-ers heading back to Stevenage we were a party of 13 for a short
while - and maybe that was an unlucky number. Perhaps we should have nicked
a china cat to take with us, as per The Savoy seating arrangements... we'll
never know.
However, not many miles from Lilley and tragedy struck!!! Steve spotted a
rabbit being 'mugged' by a stoat/weasel/ferret/pine martin type malicious
creature and heroically stepped in to save the beleaguered bunny. Sadly,
although s/he looked to be in pretty good condition apart from a chewed back
of the neck, it may have previously been involved in a RTA, as it seemed
paralysed and in total shock. Even after some time there was no sign that it
would be able to do anything other than lay there waiting to be picked-off
by some predator or other so a mercy killing was decided on as the best
course of action. With everyone else far too squeamish to do the deed, Steve
took matters in (gloved) hand and despatched the poor thing to bunny heaven
... or as we humans call it ... the ditch under the hedgerow at the side of
the road.
OK, this is going on a bit isn't it? So I'll speed up from now on.
We left the LGR-ers shortly after the rabbit incident and then it was 3, a
much safer number.
Somehow having more maps to hand meant we took a wrong turn somewhere, but
no matter, the wind was with us. Well actually it wasn't, as for some reason
it seemed to have died-down and we weren't experiencing the beneficial
effects of a tailwind as we'd hoped.
A persistent loss of air meant a stop for Steve to repair a puncture and we
headed back through the gloom of a late afternoon/evening.
What had seemed like quiet fast roads out of town that morning had now
become full of traffic including several busses who seemed determined to
ignore the existence of any other road users. But at least on bikes we could
squeeze our way through in a London style-ee.
It was err... after 7pm ish I think (never very good about time) that we got
back to Gary's and had a few - much needed - mugs of tea.
According to my computer the total distance was just over 84 miles, but
Gary's read a bit higher. With a cycling time of 7 hours 2 mins. at an
average 12mph it was a really good trip and useful preparation for the
forthcoming Highland Fling.
Happy trails. . .
- Steve B
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