Intended starting at 1:30, but it was more like 1:45, on a 105 mile loop via Kimbolton, St Neots (where I rear wheel punctured, and was asked by a paramedic in a passing ambulance if I’d called them), Grantchester (Cambridge, where I turned into the wind), Saffron Walden and Braintree, arriving at 9:30 for a well earned veggie brekkie. I’d had a diet of shortbread fingers, a flapjack, and a chewy energy bar before that.
I was pleased to see team mate Big Saxon, and his Audax sidekick the Straggler, in the pub, as I don’t get to ride with them much. We had a gentle pace around the beautiful route, and enjoyed sit down refreshments at a cafe. We arrived back at the ‘spoons a bit later than planned, but I still had time to enjoy my fave veggie burger, chips and pint meal deal. It was also very nice when Huggy presented me with the badge for doing all four events. Only in Essex!
I had a lonely, dark ride to the Compasses (what’s new!), but watched the firework displays on the meandering 11 mile journey, arriving bang on 7 to a packed green room, where I sat chatting to Wilkyboy and others (does BTwin Dean go on here?), and sipping the one pint I was allowing myself there. It was good to get another Essex SR, and I enjoyed watching the awards.
I reluctantly left after 9, but needed to as I’d started to yawn, and steadily made my way onto the B roads to Dunmow and Stortford, then the A120. I felt like I had a lot of energy, and had bursts of riding fast, and out of the saddle efforts (to stretch the legs), but I had bags of time in hand, so took most of it steady. The A507 was still a chore, even though I hadn’t used it on the outward leg. There are almost as many roundabouts on it as in MK.
Anyway, I got home at 2:30, put the remaining choccy milk and unopened sarnie (bought for control receipts) in the fridge (just had them now, along with the crisps the Straggler gave me), had a bath, fell asleep in it, woke up 4ish, then went to bed.
Thanks Huggy, and the ACME team for all that you do to tempt this Milton Keynie over!
The end.