Lark Ride to High Legh

Eleven riders out for a 60-mile sunny ride to High Legh at a jaunty average speed of 16.0 mph.

The large cafe was busier than usual, probably owing to the large Classic Car Show in the car park. No Larks seemed keen to linger here - one old wreck on a ride being quite enough, aka the ride leader, smug from having managed to avoid plotting any off road for a change.

Fortunately the stronger riders pulled us back into the headwind on our return leg. At mile 40 we were heartened to see, bowling along solo in the opposite direction in club kit, that evergreen classic former club chair Pete, to whom we unanimously doffed our metaphorical cycling caps in a spontaneous display of unabashed homage.

Don’t let me attempt Alderley Edge hill again on a 53/39 chainset. I have no excuse for not being aware of its peculiar charms, having commuted up it for more than ten years. On this beast of a climb Vikki trounced everyone by a country mile. It will be four years in January since she came on her first or second club run, also to High Legh, and she and I crawled up that hill in the rain. Also crawling up it on his first club run that day, Andrew R. Now whatever happened to him?

Chris

Larks and Larklings mingle in pre-ride conviviality: Stuart (welcome back Stuart), Christian, Vikki, Andrew, Simon, Steve, Rachel, Mark, Simon, Lindsay (welcome to the Lark Ride, Lindsay), Sue, Dave, Richard, Kirsten, Jim. Ian (welcome to the Wheelers, Ian).

Survivors at the summit of Hocker Lane: Simon, Richard, Steve, Christian, Vikki, Andrew, Mark.