Sunday 3rd June 2012

On a depressing day of non-stop drizzle and rain I arrived at Kingston Bridge fully expecting to be able to turn round and go home again because no-one else would be so stupid as to voluntarily cycle all day in such awful weather. But Steph, Ed and Paul were there and raring to go; and at elevenses at Fairoaks we were joined by four additional nutters riders, namely Pam, Jeff, Terry and Vic.

Avoiding Central Chobham (closed for a Jubilee parade), we proceeded through Windlesham and crossed the A30. We took Coronation Road to South Ascot and on to Ascot High Street. Then through back roads and a short path to emerge into the car park of North Ascot Library. Ignoring Jeff’s complaints, we cycled half mile or so off-road (Sandy Lane) to Winkfield Row. From here it was only about three miles through delightful unspoilt countryside to lunch at the Leathern Bottle at Jealott’s Hill. We were joined at lunch by Lisa who had come by car (eminently sensible given the weather conditions) from nearby Maidenhead.

At lunch most of us found a partner to share the bargain “two lunches for the price of one” offer and the staff went out of their way to be friendly and helpful. We emerged just after 2 pm to find that the drizzle had been replaced by heavy rain.

It is now becoming an established tradition that I have a puncture each time I lead a ride; and today was no exception. Just as I was about to lead the party out of the pub car-park, Lisa pointed out that I had a flat back tyre so we were delayed at least 15 minutes for a change of inner tube in the pouring rain. The cause of the puncture, a sharp stone sticking into and out of the tyre, was immediately obvious. Jeff’s comment: “What else do you expect if you take us off-road?”

The first half of the return journey should have been straightforward being straight on all the way along the A330 and B3034 Lovell Lane to Sunninghill Road. But, looking at the map, I now realise that at Winkfield I must have mistakenly taken a left fork along the B3022 towards Windsor, and this added an extra mile or two to our journey. However, we eventually regained the Sunninghill Road and went through Sunninghill and Wentworth to Virginia Water and Chertsey. At Shepperton we were all so wet that we unanimously agreed to skip tea and make for home.

John Gould