Fourteen riders rocked up for the Summer Shirt Cycle, with some wonderfully coloured attire on offer. Three MTB, two GPSR and nine MPSR. With a pre-ride photo shoot complete three rides headed off:
Mid-Pace Mavericks
The mid pace headed off to complete 37 miles, with the sole aim to make it back as the pub doors opened (job done with 3 minutes to spare!). It would be fair to say that we had some odd looks and even some nods of approval from other cycling groups, pedestrians and car drivers when they were faced with our train of bright colours flying through the Hampshire countryside.
Gentle-Paced Go-getters
The gentle-paced ride, including our nick-named ‘Princess Leia’, went for a gentle paced 36 mile ride, heading out to Odiham and then onto country roads passing Tillney Hall Hotel, having a quick stop at the lovely Hartley Westpool Church before braving the pot holes on Bottle lane and returning via Phoenix Green. We had a few odd looks from other cyclists with our loud shirts on but it’s a good job Princess Leia wasn’t wearing the metal bikini!
Mountain Bike Marvels
Three of us headed off on our chunky bikes, leaving the slim, slick roadies to go tally the Mini cars they could find. No one blinked at our loud shirts – probably because we barely met anyone in the cool quiet of Minley woods. We pootled around a good set of trails of including the well known ‘Spongebob’ and those with less well-known names of ‘Rachel’s finger’, ‘DC’s ghostly woods’ and ‘the-fun-one-in-Hawley-that-goes-from-the-top-of-the-hill-and-has-a-gap-jump’. We were hopeful to make it to the pub first, enjoying the speedbumps as last minute ‘trail features’, but the mid-pace group were already at the bar.
Fast-Paced Flyers
So fast, we didn’t see them.
Post-ride Pontifications:
On arrival back at The Thatched Cottage, beer and sweet pink cider orders were placed – just for the post ride photo shoots. We all settled in for some refreshments and chunky chips, with only minor fighting over the one filled mayonnaise bottle. We were delighted to be joined by a few other club members who couldn’t join the ride but happy to join in the banter and steal a few chips. Princess Leia took the glory of the largest Mini count, (chosen colour was Jedi-white, of course).
A while off, but do come to join us at the ‘Mince Pie Ride’ with Christmas jumpers later this year, (no prizes for guessing the likely month).
Thank you all for joining in!
– DC, Clare and Donna