Monday 21 March 2016

Hell of a route to Ribchester and two lost 'Domestiques'.

Hell of a route to Ribchester and two lost 'Domestiques'.
The B group ride today was to Ribchester, meeting this morning it was agreed we would ride via Belmont Salmesbury Bottoms and Mellor.
The ride over to was very cold, the downhills were into a freezing wind, the faster you went the colder it was. On the way we were mixed up with fast moving guys, and gals, competing in a duathlon. What a fit lot they were, as I puffed and panted up the hills they went by in a flash and even managed a greeting, a really big one came from our own Dave Owen as he moved really well past us.
As we reached the turn for Salmesbury Bottoms David Bisset pulled over and a discussion decided to carry on to the Bon Appetit , Brian Timms, complaining he did not have enough gears, had already decided to bail out and head to the cafe anyway. Eggs on toast and tea for me as a new route to Ribchester was discussed. Eventually Dave decided he needed to get the miles in looking for 100k to get one over on a friend as well as a tough hilly one to get fit and lose more weight. Mark Ainsworth was looking for an early home arrival so along with Brian decided against the ride to Ribchester. Stupidly I opted to go with Dave and John Martin especially as we had to ride back up toward Houghton Tower and back on route to Ribchester via Mellor. It was a real challenge for me as I had opted to ride the B group ride expecting a fairly relaxed easy ride, choosing to ride my heavyweight touring bike, heavy meaning 'heavy'. An appreciation of the other bikes on show meant I was the odd one out, lightweight bikes with tiny under saddle bags or none at all, aluminium, titanium and columbus tubing, I was up against it.
The climb out of Salmesbury Bottoms was steeper than ever and requiring the use of my 'granny ring', I'm sure my heavy breathing was heavier than ever as well. 
Once at the top of Mellor there was the thrill of the drop down the steep twisty lane to the main road to Whalley then another nice long freewheel down to the Ribble. 
We visited the cafe in Ribchester where Dave's diet busting continued with beans and egg on toast, this after his earlier black pudding barm, must be working as he is definitely losing weight. I, mindful of my own weight reduction plan, chose a toasted 'hot cross bun', right time of year for this.
Where to next? Dave still looking to cram the miles in opted for my suggestion of up the hill (long hill) out of Ribchester to Longridge then on to Preston. On the hill John and Dave were my trusty Domestiques and much needed, Dave did a stirling job and carried on with the pace making beyond Longridge and into Preston.
Entering Preston I skipped round a stopped bus, John and Dave didn't, a couple of sets of lights that I got through and they didn't meant I was ahead of them dropping down to the Ribble and out of Preston.
At the divergence of the A6 and the road to Belmont I awaited them convinced the A6 route agreed would be adhered to. As I waited round the island Dave and John swept along in the direction Belmont, obviously not seeing my raised arm.
I decided that as my route home had to be the A6 I carried on alone in the by now sunny afternoon with the added bonus of the still cold wind on my back. My seventy eight years old legs in deep appreciation of the wind direction allowing me to coast along in virtual comfort with the odd hill testing the legs. At home I reflect how nice it is to get home in one piece after a pretty testing ride dictated by someone who wasn't even present, Dave's competitive friend.
A good day out in good company, Spring has sprung!