Club Ride Saturday 25th January 2014

I'm grateful to Howard for his interesting take on Saturday's ride:

It has often been said that cyclists let their legs do the talking. Now, this is just as well bearing in mind that we cyclists often find ourselves alone on the road for hours on end with only our effort for company. In these situations the mouth remains firmly shut and we listen to the chatter of our protesting legs. In fact, on occasions, so incessant has this protesting from his legs become, that the European Professional Jens Voight ( http://www.jensvoigtfacts.com/ ) has sought to answer back and is well known for shouting, “SHUT UP LEGS”.  

The Jensie fan club in full sway in the Tour Down Under (from Twitter Chris Green @chrisadelaide)

However, legs can be a real problem for cyclists – tan lines not quite right, shave or not shave?, never turning the pedals quite fast enough, going all wobbly on climbs, or worst of all, sustaining an injury.

It was from an injury that I was returning to ride with the Malmesbury Clarion peloton and in the true spirit of cycling determined that I would let my legs (or at least the recovering one) do the talking. So determined was I to enjoy the outing that I barely spoke a word for the entire trip!

When I arrived at the start, last as usual, I mumbled to the others that they should leave me behind if I dropped off the pace and that I would be unable to follow a wheel if the speed got out of hand. My intention was only to do ‘the’ circuit and I was quite prepared for the others to go their own way as and when they felt like it. However, as no particular route had been set it was agreed that we would ride together for most of the way.

For those that do not know, ‘the’ circuit starts by going along the Foxley Road and left to the Vine Tree pub.  In the dip, left over the ford (not flowing on this ride) and right to follow the road all the way to Sherston. At Sherston turn right towards Malmesbury and left signposted Westonbirt Arboretum.  Second right to Shipton Moyne and home to Malmesbury.

For my part I enjoyed the ride and thank the bunch for sticking patiently with me as far as the Moyne. Here the group split and I was escorted the rest of the way by Dave.

Coffee was in order so we made our way to the Jackdaw where, surprisingly, something like 20 bicycles were parked outside, and ours made it 22. And this is a final irony, (there were others?), no seats at the inn due to all the cyclists!! So it’s off to mine for coffee, the home of Malmesbury Cycling.

Once again, thanks to the group for putting up with my silence, I was just enjoying the wind in my face and the quiet swish of rubber on tarmac for the first time in a long time.