Wednesday, July 12, 2006
M5 Shades and Flies - 11 July 2006
Who is this poser in shades?
No flies on me guv
You promised it would be flat!
Admiring the view to Chesterton Windmill
A breakway from the peloton
Hot air over Barn Hill
Ready for a coffee
The flies are just waiting up the roadM5 Shades and Flies - 11 July 2006
Fifteenth Ride; Tuesday 11 July, evening ride
Routemaster; Doug Freeman
Riders: Doug Freeman, Janny, Freeman, Ian Hartland, Dave Shuttleworth, Steve Darby
Total mileage: 16.54 miles
Average Speed: 12.10 mph
Fastest Speed: 33.4 mph (Ian) - he is awaiting the speeding ticket
For this our third evening ride of the M7 2006 season, we went for the later start time of 07:30pm and planned a shorter ride with 10 and 15 miles options. It was a beautiful summer’s evening, with blue skies and the occasional fluffy cloud. The M5 team arrived well equipped for the dazzling sun setting in the west, by sporting a variety of trendy shades including one pair of photo chromatic lenses.
Doug led the way out of Harbury wearing the M7 Red and Black leader’s jersey with the energetic peloton close behind. We headed approximately in the direction of the moderate easterly wind, turned left down Windmill Lane, past Chesteron Windmill on our right and then Barn Hill on the left. We joined the Fosse for a short while, crossed over the M40, third exit on the B4100 roundabout, and then our first major hill climb of the stage; the infamous Bromson Hill. Ian, making an early bid to be King of the Mountains, was soon resting at the top closely followed by Steve and Dave. Doug, who had a disastrous gear change or more accurately lack of gear change, failed miserably to conquer the hill in top gear, and so joined Janny in the stroll to the summit.
Ian was now making his out and out bid for the leader’s jersey, and led the way to the checkpoint at the crossroads before Ashorne village. There had unfortunately been a multi car bump at this crossroads, but the police had the situation under control so we concentrated on M5 matters. Here the riders had to select between the 10 and 15 mile circuit (we operate different rules from Le Tour), and I am pleased to report that everybody voted for the longer circuit. On our route through Ashorne, Steve was spotted gesturing with his right hand towards Le Cottage Café, and we can only assume that this was an attempt to take on water which is of course against the M7 Tour rules. We passed the cricket pitch on the edge of Ashorne, which has recently been featured in the local press due to a dispute about access to the ground.
We joined Newbold Road near Woozeley Bridge, and turned left at Newbold Pacey and headed for Morten Morrell. This section of the stage was the first time trial of the evening. Your scribe cannot be certain whether Ian and Steve clocked the fastest time, as I was too busy enjoying the beautiful summer’s evening, the wind blowing gently across the corn, the birds singing in the trees. What could spoil such an evening? We all managed the short climb into Moreton Morrell with ease, coasted down Brook Lane, crossed the Fosse Way with due care, and headed uphill past Bath Copse towards Dark Lane Copse. Janny was now beginning to understand the real meaning of few hills, and we all regrouped at the summit before heading down into Lighthorne. Steve had a Kerry moment, and the rest of the M5 joined in waxing lyrical about the Warwickshire countryside.
Ian was duly awarded his King of the Mountains jersey as he made little of the climb out of Lighthorne to Chesterton Hill. We freewheeled down past Chesterton Woods, crossed the M40 (by bridge I hasten to add), and paused to take in the view of Barn Hill and Chesterton Windmill in the distance. We stopped at Chesterton Green to get a better view of the hot air balloon we had spotted in the direction of Barn Hill. We then followed the old gated road past Chesterton Church and the fish ponds and into the Thwaites.
At the gate into Thwaites, somebody spotted a cloud of flies above Doug’s helmet. I cannot record the cruel comments as to why they had massed above his head, but soon other M5’ers discovered that they had similar clouds. The only person not attacked by these wee beasties was Janny, which either proves they don’t like foreigners or that she does not sweat unlike her male companions. We had a game of paper, scissors, stone, at Kingston Manor Farm to decide whether to take the short or long route home. Janny selected the short route whilst the chaps tried to rid themselves of their flies by tackling the second time trial to Kingston Farm (see you on Christmas morning).
We met Janny at the gate near Bush Heath Lane, and soon arrived back in Harbury. Ian decided that he did not need a water stop at Le Shake, there was something more interesting on the goggle box, and thus forfeited his claim to the leader’s jersey. Steve was awarded the winner of the time trails, whilst Janny, Doug and Dave just enjoyed the post cycle ride chips. We were joined by Lynne, and discussed the forthcoming event in Warwick which Janny and Lynne are spending a lot of time on.
An excellent ride, good company, stylish shades, beautiful countryside, and even the flies could not spoil such a pleasant evening.
Doug.
