With mixed weather looking like it might spoil the ride a total of nine riders gathered for today’s ride.

Terry rejoined us for the first time since Christmas on a sparkling, carbon Scott and Andy has finally received his Whyte PRST-4 replacement in the form of an E5 frame and other new “bits”. Paul, Mark, Tony, Lee, Barrie, Colin and myself made up the rest of the nine with apologies for absence from Jem and Matt.

A quick blast over to Leith Hill was the chosen route and we set off making a good pace although it was soon clear that my diesel rhythm was struggling to keep up with the pace at the front. What I was able to do was cycle up to the waiting pack, trundle on past and get a good 50ms on them before they realised I wasn’t stopping!

We made it over to Leith Hill in good time but the climb up to the tower itself was full of debris that had been washed down and most (if not all but I was way back by then) failed to clear it in one. Replenished we headed down Personal Hygiene and back towards Summer Lightning via Waggle Dance. On the way we had a look at Deliverance and Andy and I decided it was the thing to do so we clattered down and joined the other to Waggledance. Summer Lightning was a bit wet but we pressed on hard making good time to Wolverns Lane before we had our first puncture with Paul being the casualty. Slime liners had made a neat little slice through the tube!

Spare tube in we pushed on as some of the team were now worried about the time and headed for White Down. Next for a tube failure was myself with a nasty split on the tube filling the tyre with gunk. Paul was on hand to assist which was a good thing after I found my spare tube was for my 29er! So we repaired his punctured tube and pushed on but the others were now well gone. No matter as we kept things moving to find Andy guiltily about to leave a note on Paul’s car hoping we were OK.

25 miles for me by the time I reached home and a switch to Vertical tyres helped the “feel” of the Inbred no end!