Summit of The Dingle: Dave, Steve, Dave, Pete, Mike

Wed means Wednesday not Wedding, although I was once told by A Rider that cycling goes well with marriage, since it gets you out of the house.

Well he (yes it was a man, but the discretion that is my default mode means that wild horses would not drag any further clue to his identity from my well balmed lips) might think that. I couldn’t possibly comment.

Married or not, it was a fabulous first day out this year for my bib shorts , 50 miles, new lanes for many if not all of us, and only the second time I can recall climbing The Dingle: miles 11-12 here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29390075

Amusing mechanical interlude on our outward leg with a Mike R’s RH gear cable almost broken inside the shifter. The hardest part was breaking the rest of it (YouTube video forthcoming but let’s just say it involved by trusty eyebrow tweezers; I never ride without a pair after watching John J tackle a thorn with his teeth, and it wasn’t even on his bike, what ride leader dedication is that?). Fortunately this ride leader (yes I had assumed this yoke of responsibility this week to give Dave a well-earned rest) had been carrying a spare around for several thousand miles and I was pleased that it was at last of use. Note it was Shimano and yes I was riding a Campag bike but it will work this way round, NOT the other way: the Campag nipple is smaller and if you use it in a Shimano shifter you can expect it to get stuck fast and need a new shifter, as at least one member is able to testify.

Every day is a day at school in the Wheelers.

Thanks to Mike C for photos.

Chris