A Fixed Event – December 28th 2008.
Posted on Monday 29 December 2008 by Ken Peters
Its that time again, when I gather around me those around that have decided that too much turkey has to be ridden off, and we go for a ride between Xmas and New Year. This year the add humour of the rides list organizer had persuaded several others that the ride was fixed friendly so in addition to my ride we had another three fixed gear bikes so we had a double fixed event with the date being ”fixed” also as I had led the final ride in the previous two years.
Lots of you know I am a bit anal about info so I checked my records to find out about my previous late December rides 2006 was in Bedfordshire and became a short ride as it was windy so we rode straight to Bedford after lunch to avoid a return to the starting station which would have meant about 30km into the teeth of a gale. Last year we went to Essex riding out from Tottenham Hale and managed to do over 100km which was pretty good for a late December ride. Paul is the only person who has been on all three of the rides but good friends and regular 2-star tyros, Sue and Simon joined us, at lunch. for a second year.
So, to the ride, this year we started at Enfield as I live just up the road and if the leader can’t get a ride started from on his doorstep what other perks are there? The local start also meant that I was able to meet up with Southgate CC, who I sometimes ride with and who have recently made me a member, before starting off. Waiting for the ride at Enfield were Nick, Jon and Martin who I spotted at a cafe near the station and, at the station were, Ben, Gerard and David Le Fevre who I had been introduced to by a friend of mine who I had met under very odd circumstances but that is another story. We were eventually joined by EJ, Jan and Paul who had caught the train so there were eleven who started.
Not much excitement on the road, which is they way I like things, apart from, I believe, EJ unshipping a chain, which caused a brief hold-up as we approached Cuffley. There were then some nice lanes after the obligatory stretch on the A1000 before we parted company with David at Sandridge. After that it remained very straightforward as we completed a morning, which was mainly a gradual climb onto the Herts/Beds border, by ending with a nice downhill swoop into Whitwell where we found that Sue and Simon were already ensconced at Emily’s tea rooms.
A brief lunch stop allowed some refreshment to be taken and discussion about who was going where in the afternoon. Martin wanted to return early to entertain guests and others were keen to get back before dark. We eventually settled on, OK that should read, I eventually settled on heading towards Hertford North as there are more trains there than at Knebworth or Welwyn North which were both nearer. First to drop off were Nick and Jan who made for Hertford when we turned off the B1000 at Panshanger Aerodrome. Soon after I managed to come to a rather alarming halt while stowing my drinks bottle and managed to pick up some moderate bruising as well as tearing a cleat out of one shoe which was going to make control of a runaway fixed a bit trick on descents. That meant I had to head for a train and at Essendon I bade farewell to everyone except EJ and headed for Bayford station and home. The rest of the group were planning to ride in via Essendon, Potters Bar, Barnet and various points south to complete their day.
Distance ridden – by me 68km but those riding back would have clocked up at least 20km more.
Riders: Emma-Jane Burley, Sue Dorey, Simon Binning, Nick Bloom, Paul Foster, Martin Hayman, Ben Johnson, David Le Fevre, Jon McColl, Jan van Weert, Gerard Veglio and leader Ken Peters