M7 Cycling Club

Forty Third Ride: Friday 28th December 2007
Routemaster: Doug Freeman
Riders: Doug Freeman, Ian Hartland, Dave Shuttleworth, Steve Darby, Pete Johnson, Dave Barclay, Kerry Burton
Total mileage: 23.63 miles
Average Speed; 10.8 mph
Fastest Speed; 32.5 (Doug), 31.2 (Ian)

The M7 Coffee Morning and AGM was hastily organised for the only date left in 2007 which the M7 Committee could make. The ride was planned to be 18 miles, but due to a last minute change of AGM venue it became nearly 24 miles.

The M4 (Doug, Ian, Dave, Steve) met at Harbury Village Hall on an overcast day, with a 22mph wind from the south west, and the forecast of persistent rain from midday. It was though relatively mild, and we were all in a festive mood as we headed out of Harbury past the Rugby Club and on our way to Whitnash via Pete’s Lane. We arrived at Major Johnson’s some 5 minutes earlier than planned, and encountered a force field around the barracks which disabled Doug’s wireless and Ian’s wired on board computers. Has Prof set up a secret research project at home since he retired?

Pete and Dave Barclay were ready to go, but where was Kerry? Following the strict M7 rules, we set-off at the planned time without Kerry, and headed along the Tachbrook Road to Bishops Tachbrook. We were soon joined by an fine chap wearing a bright yellow high tech cycling jacket, which was in stark contrast to his ancient cycling machine. He did though provide considerable entertainment when he was forced to back track to retrieve his hat which a gust of wind had removed from his polished head. We were now M7.

Steve and Pete established a good speed at the front, whilst the rest of us followed at our own pace enjoying the fresh air. We turned right just after the Revolver pub, and headed out towards the A425 Banbury Road. Here we found Pete and his troop on the opposite side on the main road about to head off in the wrong direction towards Warwick. Map reading is a complex skill to master, especially if you have not received Boy Scout or Army training.

We quickly rode the quarter of a mile along the A425 in the correct direction, and then turned right on the quiet Hareway Lane to Barford. We had planned our coffee morning at The Granville Arms Coffee House, and amazingly arrived 15 minutes ahead of schedule. They had a good selection of Colombian coffee beans, and we ordered coffees made from the Purity and Hook varieties. A group of non cyclists entered the establishment for a lunchtime meal, and thoughtfully requested a change of table away from us to ensure that we were not disturbed. Steve decided that as we were ahead of schedule to order more coffees.

When we left we discovered that it had been raining, but had now stopped; what planning. We had only cycled 200 yards along Wasperton Lane, on route to our AGM venue at Ashorne, when Pete had to return to retrieve his jumper. Amazingly we arrived at The Cottage Team Rooms in Ashorne on schedule, but due to poor planning by the Routemaster we found that they were not serving food. We broke out into self help groups to do some contingency planning, whilst the Tea Rooms' manager served us refreshing Ceylon Teas. We agreed that The Antelope Temperance Rooms at Lighthorne was the nearest alternative venue, and when we phoned they confirmed that they were serving lunches until 3pm.

On entry to and exit from the The Cottage tea Rooms, two of the M7 displayed the need for more Bike Balance Ability training. The M7 were now getting somewhat peckish, and so quickly ascended the hills to Morten Morrell and Lighthorne. Major Johnson took control at the The Antelope when he discovered that he out ranked the owner, and a superb spread of sandwiches and chips arrived in record time. Being Temperance Rooms, we ordered pints of ginger beer and were ready to start the AGM. Notice of the AGM had been given in accordance to the M7 constitution, and the agenda had been agreed at the coffee morning. The business part of the meeting took 10 minutes, and this left time for a final round of ginger beer. The minutes from the AGM can be found at the end of this report.

We knew that it was time to head back home when the owner of the Temperance Rooms starting stacking the chairs on the tables around us. There was not a lot of daylight left, and so when we reached Chesterton the Leamington M3 headed home past Chesterton Windmill, whilst the M4 went via Thwaites Estate. It was now raining persistently but we didn’t care as it had been a good day’s outing. We must though have entered some kind of time warp along the way, as 24 mile ride does not normally take nearly five hours.

An excellent ride, fine company, great food, and Steve was to blame.
Doug.

M7 AGM – 28/12/2007

1) Apologies; Peter Bones

2) Election of Officers; M7 committee unanimously re-elected;
Doug Freeman, Ian Hartland, Dave Shuttleworth, Steve Darby

3) Future Away Days or Weekends Tours;
a) Brum by Train; organisers Kerry & Ian
b) Foreign Lands; organisers Steve & Dave S
c) IOW Revisited; organisers Doug & Pete J

4) M7 Eddy Merckx Awards for 2007;
a) Navigation Skills; nominees were Pete J & Peter Bones – winner Pete J
b) Bad Jokes; nominees were Dave B & Peter Bones – winner Dave B
c) Time Management; nominees were Kerry & Peter Bones – winner Kerry
d) One More?; nominees were Dave S & Peter Bones – winner Dave S
e) Front Cycling; nominees were; Steve & Peter Bones – winner Steve
g) Most like a real Cyclist; nominees; Ian & Peter Bones – winner Ian
h) Peter Bones lookalike; nominees; Doug & Peter Bones – winner Doug

5) AOB;
a) Summer Kit – wear it
b) Health & Safety - yes