An Ugley ride
Posted on Monday 18 December 2006 by Nick Bloom
Sunday 17th December - an Ugley ride with Phil Cordingley (**)
I’ve got lulled into a false season, so although I and a few others felt chill on arrival at Broxbourne, the fact that I was still exposing flesh in mid-December was more surprising - nor, as it turned out, was I particularly cold all day. Some of us had ridden out to meet the train, making 14 all told. Train problems had already diverted the ride from Bishops Stortford, so Phil was planning the route as we rode. Just as well, as this was a day punctuated by deflations. First in Bayford, then another before the Hertingfordbury turn. On through Hertford and Bengeo, then a quick discussion and on to Bennington for lunch, via a rather nasty bit of A road. Except we didn’t all get to Bennington together, Phil having to do his border collie imitation to find the flock. The Bell was very welcoming - a good, no-nonsense pub, to be recommended. Outside to another puncture, a mile later yet another. As 3 of the 4 punctures were on one wheel, and another on a partner wheel, said pair retired, somewhat hurt, to Watton for a train home. The rest pressed on, through Buntingford and Furneaux to Manuden and, in failing light, to Stortford.
The above might sound somewhat a catalogue of despair, but somehow it wasn’t. It was a very nice cycle ride, the sun shone, the company was good.
To quote the BBC, ‘It’s what we do’.