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Po
@clubman
A View through the Windscreen
YAL's report is better than I can manage, especially since I was just a car bound observer. I hope I can just make a few observations.
The Conditions
Clearly it wasn't the easiest day from the weather point of view. The Met Office retrospective map showed (on Sunday) that although Saturday's wind was light, it was the opposite of helpful and amounted to a slight headwind in both directions since it changed in the middle of the day. The figures also show that the temperature at Heathrow was 5-6degrees C warmer than it was a Benson (near Berinsfield) pretty well for the whole day. So for the rider the temperature actually fell as the day went on, which is not the usual way of things.
Riding
The group stayed together pretty well - it should be remembered that it's harder to achieve this where the riders are not clubmates and so are not necessarily familiar with their companions' strengths and weaknesses. Seen from behind the group did look like a winter clubrun of decades past.
Afterwards
I regret not making it to the Taproom, but although my day must have looked easy to the rest of you, it was tiring in its own way. One result was that I failed to have much discussion about the HDiJ club idea - even so there was interest from those I did speak to. The HD in the Peaks looks as though the 'club' is developing a programme without any formal existence. Another result was that we failed to present the HD trophy - I hope this can be done fairly soon. This does provide a useful photo opportunity for the ride, which itself does need publicity to secure its future. I do have some more thoughts on the club idea, but I'll post these later.
I'm reminded every year that this ride has its origins in early season training rides of the past and it still looks like one. There are two differences: first, dropped riders would not be abandoned, they would be nursed back, and second, there's no racing. I think this is a mistake and I'm sure many of you would get more out of your cycling lives if you took part in actual competition.
My Photos
Not as good as I would have wished, but I hope they add something. First we have the Big H Café and the Swan at Staines:
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