Ride report by Norman King...
Bit of confusion before we started as 4 members turned up at 0830 when it was a 0900 start, I dashed down to tell the guys. We had a poster printed which said 0830 but we had to change to 0900 as the cafe in Oundle didn't open until 1030 and we didn't get time to change the poster (lesson learnt). It was a lovely day, a bit cool to start but dry and windless. As it turned out we had 24 on the medium and 2 on the short, brilliant. So off I went on the medium medium and I was fine until the Stonely climb. Hills still my achilles "hill", anyhow the guys eased up and Monty helped me get back on. So off down to Spaldwick and then Belton Hill 17% for a short stretch and I was off the back again for this and the next hill. Again the guys waited up. From thereon to the cafe I managed to stay caught up. The fast group was at the cafe when we got there. Nice to see us all there. Nice chat as well. Said thanks to the cafe before we left. I was at my fastest pace on the way out so wasn't sure how I'd be on the way back, in theory there would be a tailwind. Kept up most of the time except for 3 hilly bits. Gary Adnitt had had a puncture at the cafe and they came past us after Old Weston. Going out of Catworth I was flying but again leaving Kimbolton got dropped. Then off to Lt Staughton and the guys had stopped, I don't like to have the group keep stopping. Anyhow up the steep hill and the group moved away. Got to the square, 15.4 mph, liked that. Another coffee (thanks Monty) and a chat with Gary and Steve Walker.