Autumn 2007, Report by Ric

Si & Ric were told to meet Dunc at his house. When they arrived, Dunc was still swanning around (a la Noel Coward).
When we 3 set off for Byley, it became evident that it was CHUFFING COLD.
 
We got to the HQ in quick time, with no mishaps. This is not usual.
 
After a quick brew, we went off to do our own warm-ups. Dunc headed out on his bike. Ric fixed his puncture, then did likewise. Si sat in the HQ, stroking his manhood and drinking tea.
 
The course had been revised, as the result of roadworks near the Three Greyhounds pub. It now involved a circuit from Byley to Cranage, then down the A50 to Toft, then left and back round towards Byley. In theory, this should have been a quicker course, as there were fewer turns, but there was a big stint on the delightful A50.
 
A "challenging" start, then onto the A50. Many of the Fancy Dress riders were easy targets, as they were either (a) freezing, (b) waving at traffic or (c) both a & b. By the time we got round to the finish, it was time for another brew.
 
Nobody broke any PBs.
 
Dunc powered his way to a 26-19 (motivated mainly by the thought of his impending Christmas do - and the beers to come).
 
Ric cruised to a 28-38. He was seen smoking a cigar on the way round.
 
Si troubled the timekeepers for some time, as they couldn't believe that such a time was possible on such a chilly/blowy day. After checking and double-checking though, they finally confirmed that he had beaten Ric, with a 28-19.
 
The moral of the story is: Just because your warm-up is frowned upon by other people, doesn't mean it is wrong!
 
A big thankyou goes to Derek & Barbara for the organisation. It was a great event, and had a really good turnout this year.