M7 Cycling Club

That Red Cabbage recipe was really good

Twenty Fifth Ride; Sunday 10th December
Routemaster; Doug Freeman
Riders: Doug Freeman, Pete McDonald, Celia Neill, Andrew Patrick, Jenny Patrick
Total mileage: 16.86 miles
Average Speed: 10.15 mph
Fastest Speed: 27.10 mph

A leisurely 10:30am start for the M5 who meet at Harbury Village Hall. Steve, Ian and Dave had sent their apologies, but it was great to welcome Andrew and Jenny as M7 virgins. The ride had been advertised as having a shorter (10 miles) and a longer (20 miles) option, and the routemaster advised the team that the route could be varied to any distance they liked.

The weather forecast the previous day had not been very good, but when the routemaster checked before the ride it was now no rain but a 15 to 20mph wind from the south west. The M5 left Harbury and headed towards two sails Chesterton Windmill, and then turned into the wind heading towards Barn Hill. There was a welcome regroup at the top of the hated Bromson Hill, and then it was heads down to crossroads outside Ashorne.

The M5 were given the option to turn left to Moreton Morrell, the 10 mile option, or straight on. I am pleased to report that the M5 unanimously choose the longer option through Ashorne and then left to Newbold Pacey. The routemaster decided on a short detour to view the Newbold Pacey church “St George the Martyr", before heading along the lane to Moreton Morrell. The next decision was whether to take the longer uphill route via Moreton Paddox to Lighthorne, or the shorter Brook Lane option.

The M5 sensibly chose the shorter route and so we set off in some welcome winter sunshine. When we crossed the Fosse, four of the M5 were heads down tackling the hill up Dark Lane, but Jenny had her eyes open and spotted a monkjack. The journey home through Lighthorne and Chesterton was uneventful, and at Kingston Manor three of the M5 did the longer loop via Kingston Farm.

During the ride, Jenny and Patrick commented on the success of a Red Cabbage recipe supplied by Janny. In 2007, I will be publishing recipes via this blog so please send me your recipes.

A fine winter ride, excellent company, and no “coffee stops” as we only had serious cyclists on the ride; who was absent?

Doug.