Report by Ride Captain, Rachel Przybylski
I’d like to start this report on the L2P training ride by congratulating every rider that turned up for showing their strength, determination and commitment to L2P. We had riders from as far a field as Northampton & Essex join us.
The weather doesn’t need much explaining to those of us that were there but for the fair-weather riders who decided to stay tucked up in bed with the Sunday paper this is how it went...
8.30am Carluccio’s in Walton opens to let the freezing, soaked riders in for coffee before we head off.
One Ride Captain had driven over and was in casual clothes… deliberating his fate for the morning. I mentioned that as he had made it to Walton either he should be support crew and drive round behind us or go get his cycling kit on!
9am and we get the show on the road in high spirits. The fast boys went off with Mr Blann & Mr Jackson threatening a fast & furious 100km. The quicker they go the quicker they get back for coffee & cake.
The more sensible & steady paced group decided on a sociable 60km route to Windsor Park and back. I was very impressed with the array of outfits on show. There were waterproof trousers, new Fluro water proof jackets and more neoprene than the start of a Triathlon!! Early on in the ride I dropped back to see the guys chilling at the back of the peloton and one of them commented ‘wow, we look like a set of traffic lights back here.’
It was too wet for photographs, so we've put this artistic picture of torrential rain here instead.
As usual the spirit of L2P and the 'greeting your fellow riders' ethos was going strong. I met lots of new faces and plenty of returning ones too.
Highlights of the ride were; scaring 2 horses on the way through the park, wobbly cleats, two punctures and my high-pitched voice! Apparently they could tell they were either in trouble or I needed them to listen. Exactly what I was saying was unknown! Projecting one's voice is a skill I’m working on!
All that’s left to mention is that most of us were very pleased indeed to see Caluccio’s and have a hot drink and fill our tummy. Just remember that you burn a lot of calories in the cold so cake is totally allowed!
Fingers crossed for sunshine next time.
Rachel (pictured, right, in considerably sunnier weather)