The annual Sheffrec charity ride took place this week-end and 5 of Rutland’s finest and most evil (well, 4 + Ray Mason) joined them to raise money for a young local girl named Bethany who has serious health problems.The run was arranged later than last year so that the weather would be warm and sunny. So, despite single figure temperatures, torrential rain, strong headwinds and the odd 1 in 6 climb ‘most’ of the 37 riders made the 228 mile round trip to Scarborough and back.

told you I could climb that 1 in 6 with my eyes closed

As can be expected from a Sheffrec ride (every day an R.T.A.) we collected a few interesting statistics along the way………

Would you believe;
1 broken wheel, 1 broken seatpost, 2 RTA’s, 2 knackered bottom brackets, 5 broken cyclists, 1 train ticket home and… wait for it - 27 (at the last count!!) punctures. Two - Seven, Twenty Seven! I’m expecting a call from the Guinness Book of Records any time now.Smiles all round at the thought of Eric ‘Tsunami’ Ambler changing tubes on the Humber Bridge in the middle of a downpour while we struggling to down our 8th cup of tea in the cafe, invoking the new club motto ‘if your not there, we don’t care’.

Those trivial issues apart, a fabulous week-end was had by all.

Thanks Sheffrec, you’re a great set of lads.

As a return favour I’ve arranged a group booking for the cyclists proficiency test, to be carried out as soon as possible. I’ll pay.

Chris Goddard
footnote: the final puncture tally stands at 32

eeee, I remember when tha’ could gerr at least 3 winters out a’ a back tyre

anyone fancy an ice cream?

check out the captions