Hard to believe that a little over a year after starting to ride and joining the forum I would be planning yet another Suffolk Ride. I can only equate the job of organiser to that of a shepherd/ess, whose role is to look after a flock of sheep or cyclists in this case, trying not to lose any stragglers and rounding up any who wander from the path using TEC’s.
Peli, Woolly and Tourist Tony arrived Saturday night, a meal was enjoyed together with beer for the boys and water and OJ for the girls. Rich was cycling over from Milton Keynes, (because he could) and would arrive with the dawn chorus. Cider was chilling in the fridge and so it was that everyone made their way to bed shortly before midnight and Woolly’s birthday. I stayed up to clear away the remaining pots and pans, sort out the dogs and check I had the breakfast things ready for the morning. I managed to crawl into bed just before 1am when I received a text from Wow to say he would be unable to attend, something to do with Niagra Falls and I know he didn’t mean the waterfall. You were very much missed, as was Nutkin, Andrij, Chris S and everyone else who was ill or otherwise detained. I must have dozed off just after 1am and had a delightful text from Andrij shortly before 2am, thank you for the wonderful picture, I couldn’t focus properly so no idea who it was in the photograph but could make out a bottle or was it a glass of something fizzy. Sleep never came after that but a text from Rich at around 4.30am had me up and throwing on my jim jams in a hurry, yes they were on inside out and back to front but who cares. Rich enjoyed a bottle of cider and a couple of rounds of toast, sorry I wasn’t very chatty or coherent, he then snuggled down on one of the sofas whilst I crawled back into bed to listen to the birds singing before getting up about 40 minutes later to see to the dogs and have a strong coffee. It was then I remember someone saying that they hoped I didn’t have another off at the station, famous last words.
Folks started to arrive after breakfast, text messages were received , tyres pumped, cream applied, jelly people placed within easy reach and bidons filled. We rode out across the Campingland and under the bridge, not really designed for people over 4ft 6”, sorry Woolly and Rich. At the station we met up with two American guys riding bents, names withheld as they aren’t yet on the forum. It was a sight to behold outside the Swan Public House, bikes and people of all shapes and sizes.
I blamed lack of sleep on my next mistake, about a mile into our journey Delthebike asked where Bobb and Erron where, gulp, I had no idea. Thanks to Woolly and Peli for rounding up the lost sheep and returning them to the rest of the flock. The road out from Needham Market is fairly flat although once we turned right off the main road it all became rather lumpy and bumpy and no my sit bones were just fine thank you. The Suffolk countryside delighted as always. We regrouped at Somersham whilst the American’s headed off and followed my instructions. I did however forget to mention that it was the second turning and not the first. Bazzerp and I set off to look for them, returned to the group to send them on and then headed off again to find the stragglers. It was agreed that the group would then meet at Whatfield.
It was at Whatfield that we met a chap and his wife who were demonstrating some old farm machinery and had a fine display of Sunbeams motorcycles and a bike, pics were taken and then we were told that the Village Hall was open for tea, cake and bacon butties, amazing how these three words can increase the speed of 20 hungry cyclists. It was on leaving the hall that Woofage had a clipless moment and made a mess of one of his knees, I didn’t witness this myself. Whatfield was also the place where TT had a clipless or cleatless moment and become lodged into his pedal, the shoe was removed and fettled until working order had been resumed.
The rest of the ride was a delight, lots of ups and downs and then on to lunch at the Six Bells in Preston St Mary, food and drinks were consumed and chit chat filled the room with a gentle hum. Just before we arrived at the pub I stopped at the green triangle to point people in the right direction, one poor unsuspecting chap had a bit of a shock as he was told where to go and then I realised I didn’t have a clue who he was.
We left the pub and rode on to Brettenham and then towards Hitcham, Bildeston and onto Wattisham and Battisford, the place of that nice little hillock, sorry Bottlemasher, I think you said I was in trouble or words to that effect, all character building stuff.
There was a great race over the course of the last couple of miles that left my lungs aching and my eyes bulging but it was great fun.
Going back to earlier when someone mentioned about me and having an off at the station. Last year on the Suffolk Ride I had an off even before we had set off from the station and this year looked to be no different in terms of location. It was at least at the end of the ride but it wasn’t on my bike but a rather pretty prototype that belonged to Bottlemasher, details not necessary but it involved a large steel barrier thingie, the bent and me. Really sorry about any damage caused, I owe you big time Bottlemasher, just name the price.
Then it was back to mine for tea and on to the pub for a quick half with Bobb and Erron.
Well done to Delthebike who rode to the ride from Southend and back again, I believe it was his longest ride to date.
Thank you to everyone for making this ride so wonderful, after all it is people that make a ride. Stick a like minded bunch of people anwywhere in this country, be it on 2 wheels or 3 and they will have a great time, smiles, laughter, comradeship, sharing of stories, forging of friendships and perhaps even more.
Marmite sandwiches consumed during this ride - 0
Bottoms traumatised - 0 that I know of
