What a difference a year makes. The annual charity ride took place this week-end (19/20 May 2007) with 35 riders including 4 Rutlers and was absolutely brilliant. Last year’s Sheffrec charity ride saw twelvety punctures, 3 ‘incidents’, the odd near miss, plenty of broken bikes and crap weather. This year, NO PUNCTURES AT ALL, AT ALL, no breakdowns, no incidents, still a few near misses from one rider in particular (no names mentioned but his intials are Lance) and a strong tailwind all the way to Scarbro’ meant 20mph + average. After arriving there nearly 2 hours earlier than expected we decided a pint or two in a nice quiet pub on the front was in order. Little did we know that the pub in question was full of a hen party from Barnsley. The cheer when we walked in lifted the ridge tiles off the roof! ‘Numerous’ pints and a couple of karaokes later we wobbled to the hotel to prepare for the evening session.
Of which we shall say no more………..other than most people managed to at least double the distance from the pub to the hotel on the walk back home.
With plenty of food from the back up van, (that also contained 1 hangover victim and a sore arse victim) a light breeze and sunshine all the way home it was the perfect cycling week-end. The little girl for whom the ride was in aid of was there to greet us at the finish (Harrats Volvo - thanks guys) and it made it all worthwhile. Thanks Sheffrec, see you next year.
Anyone for a weekend ride to York? Chris.
ps Marc, how much did it cost to get everyone through the cycling proficiency test?