Ride report by Carol

We had heard that it always rains at this event.. but then again that was from “foreigners” who have not got the “she’ll be right mate” concept. So sunny it was… I reckon we have brought good luck with the weather for all the events this year.. nothing to do with a draught!

With the help of the trusty old mobile phone we found each other in the car park and with jerseys from the SPR “pool”, thanks Lorraine and Peter we even looked liked a SPR team. So with no idea where the start was, we followed other cyclists out of the car park hoping the person in front knew where they were going as we certainly didn’t.

This was the first Cyclo Sportif for three of our eight team members and the longest for all of us. Knowing the circuit was flat and the weather favourable, it was good to get to the start with all eight team members together…step one complete..but how would everyone go with the extra distance?

Within a minute of starting we were passed by SPR team 01 on their second lap.. we were definitely going to finish late. After our first lap we had a “wardrobe” adjustment stop, and then two laps later another for swapping bottles and a stretch. We rolled through on the first two laps, and then Jennie and Mike/Colin sat at the front and did a lot of work to help the rest of us for the remainder of the laps….

Everyone was feeling upbeat as we started the last lap… well ….we knew we were going to finish the distance now so with that uncertainty out of the way we headed out on the last lap.. with a few extra members! Mark S. and Mike R. who had already finished their five laps joined us, giving support not only to their other halves, but a much needed push (thanks Mike) for a few of us who were feeling a little less fresh than at the start…

Thanks to Jennie, Ruth, Mike, Colin, Tess, Deb and Gwyn it was great no one got lost on the way there and we all finish together with no punctures.. it was a great ride and a really worth while experience.

What rain!

Pictures extracted by Ruth