Christmas ride out 2013

GLC Christmas ride out 2013

I decided, I really needed to get back out on the bike, after a very lazy year. The green lane crew (GLC) had advertised their ride out and despite a reluctance to get motivated I found myself a few days before texting friends to see who was going. It seemed that my efforts were in vain. Some were out whilst others were working and someone had forgotten to MOT their bike. One even said that he went last year (I didn’t go that year) and it was a waste of a day’s laning, but that’s not what the day’s about. The day is all about meeting likeminded people; having a bit of banter, have a bit of fun, riding a few lanes, getting people out there and not to get into politics but the importance of the work the TRF do to try and keep these lanes open.

Saturday night I went to bed still undecided as to whether or not I would be going. I hadn’t read the post in detail but knew I had to be there by 10am. Sunday morning I wake at 8.15am not much time to get up, ready and get there  but decided that it was worth a go. So I quickly downed some breakfast then hunted around the house and garage, trying to find where I had dumped my riding gear on my return from Wales. Looking at the time I realised that the original route I was going to take wasn’t going to be doable. So decided to fuel up at home and take a litre of fuel with me to make sure I had enough for the day. I also decided to take out a couple of the more challenging lanes, to save both time and make it a little safer for myself.   

 

The morning was chilly but bright, and the ride was going well, the lanes were quiet and I only had three lanes to go when I saw three or four fellow bikers heading my way. I took it they were on their way to the Red Lion pub as well, for the start of the ride. I passed them on the second to last lane going the other way. I was now on the last lane heading toward the pub and fully aware of the time and that at any moment there could be dozens of riders heading my way, so I rode the lane with caution arriving at the pub safely. Luckily for me the assembly time, not the start time was 10am. So now was a good time to refuel, not only the bike but myself.  So I emptied the litre of fuel that  I had brought with me into the tank and had a nice cup of tea and a lovely bacon roll, which the pub were preparing.

Whilst wondering around I bumped into some old faces and we reacquainted ourselves, but soon it was time to ride. I wasn’t that fussed about where I rode, so I watched as everyone set off then filed in at the end. We had travelled the first lane and were on our way to the second when the crowd ahead had pull into a garage.  We were told to carry on, so we did. The second lane was one that is currently under contention, so we stopped around half way along so that Mario from the TRF could give us all an update. It was then that Ian, who was helping the sweeper, who had stopped at the garage to help the person with the puncture, told me he had no idea where we were going. So I then took on the role of the sweeper.

 

The lanes were relatively dry and easy to ride, although I was witness to several offs and watched as some of the more inexperienced riders followed each other on to the wrong line then struggled in the ruts. But the lanes passed one by one with no real problems or incident. We had now reached the end of the last lane before lunch, when I came across a rider with a puncture, Mario and I explained to him he would be better off freewheeling his bike down the hill to the pub where he could fix his bike more easily and with help.

At the pub we could once again chill out, relax, and have a drink and a bite to eat. I once again caught up with some old faces and got introduced to some new people. We had been there about 10 to 15 minutes when the original sweeper then turned up with the remaining group of riders.

 

It had been forecast for heavy rain but so far apart from becoming a little over cast the day had stayed dry. But then as we sat in the car park, from out of nowhere came the rain, blown by the wind almost horizontally. We took refuge in the pub as the rain lashed down outside. Soon the rain eased and we sat outside under a large spruce. After everyone had refreshed themselves it was time to head back to the Red Lion.

 

I though wouldn’t be going back all the way. I had decided that once we’d got to the cross roads I would turn left and head home. I told the sweeper my plans so he didn’t think I’d gone the wrong way and end up chasing me. With everyone in a good mood, punctures fixed and everyone back in one large crowd the lanes just whizzed by and we soon came to the junction where I would depart for home. There was still plenty of daylight left so I decided to take the lanes home and make the most of it. Finally the last lane was done and I only had the ford to contend with. The week’s weather had been fair and the lanes had mostly been dry and fast, but as I rounded the corner the river was the highest I’d seen in a long time. I had the option of taking the bridge and I think if it was the beginning of the day I would have taken it, but it wasn’t. Normally the river here runs clear and you can see the gravel river bed, but today with the force of the water it was running a murky brown.  So I took the chance and rode the river then finished the road work home. All in all a nice easy days riding