I'm really sorry to hear about the number of incidents. I came across what was probably the first one, Peter from Southport. It looked pretty awful and I was glad to hear from his club-mates later on the ride that he was in good spirits in spite of his injuries. Not long after that fall, which must have been in the first half-hour or so, I came up to a bunch of stationary riders warning of ice (one of their number presumably being one of the posters on this thread). A big thank-you to them for hanging about to warn people. I now realise how lucky I must have been: Although it's obvious it was there, I didn't see any ice at all! I thought Peter had come off on leaves (which I did manage to see). Do you think riding big fat Schwalbe 28s rather than thinner tyres or even slicks (this is a roadies' course) would have helped, or was I just lucky, given my obvious ocular limitations?
I hope the fallers make swift recoveries. I had a great ride, especially the last hour or so in the twilight, still in the country, where you can see the stars properly*. It was extended unintentionally by my turning over two pages of the route-sheet by mistake; but what's the point of carrying maps if you don't get lost?
These people who pop round in 8 hours and have mates who think that's slow, well, whatever next?
Thanks for a great ride, Peter and family.
*Red sky in the morning: sailor's warning - Red sky at night: you live in Manchester