This week, Ian summoned the wind, with North-westerly gusts up to 17-21 mph, it was to prove challenging but, despite this dull blustery forecast, the ride was well supported with a total of 15 riders met at Sainsbury’s at 9am, and due to meet Sue on route between Cranford and Tywell. As you have seen from last week, each group has it’s own encounters on route, and they make a great read…

The first group set off at 8.50 and quickly got to work attacking the route, leaving group 2 and 3 to follow on at intervals after to follow Covid guidelines.

Muster and Bluster in a Cluster

by Darren Gillings

Arriving at the KCC meeting point (at 8:50) with no minutes to spare and thankful of a strong back wind, Andréa and I were pretty pleased with ourselves having left home a little late. Already there and looking equally as pleased was Gemma and Mike, also beneficiaries of the performance enhancing tail wind.

So our group was made up of Mike Castelete, Andy King, Gemma Royles, Andréa Woolcott and Darren Gillings

With there being a bit of nip in the cold autumn air it was an opportunity for us all to trial run clothing combinations that we would hope serve us well in the depths of the forthcoming winter, with maybe the exception of Gemma who was still braving the cycling short. That said we were keen to get going and upon Andy’s arrival it wasn’t long before we agreed that was to be our ‘groupetto’ for the day.

Clothing layers

Heading out of Kettering towards Warkton, which is always an early chance to warm up the legs, and on this occasion a chance for some to accept they may have overdone the clothing combinations/layers.

With a mixture of crosswind and headwinds through Thrapston, then onto Clopton, we were smiling wistfully(er……grimacing with apprehension) at the thought of the northbound part of the route, the less favoured headwind. Softening the blow was the surprise appearance of the sunshine and of course the assurance of a warm drink at Elsie’s Vintage Tea Room, in Nassington.

Through and off

The wind being every bit as strong as feared, we soon formulated a plan to do a bit of ‘through and off’. Both lightening the load on the legs and sharing the time spent in the wind. Andy having done a cracking ride in the Sheppard 10 on the previous day, was as strong as ever and showed no apparent signs of fatigue. Gemma and Andréa rolling through with Mike and myself keeping our chain gang ticking over like a well oiled machine.

Having made good progress to Nassington with only a quick ‘point of interest’ stop, possibly rather too much interest from a certain flock of sheep, we were ready for our nice warm cuppa at Elsie’s. Unbeknown to us, club ride norms seemed to have been turned on their head, with the unpredicted sun making an appearance and the expected ‘open’ cafe stop becoming an unexpected ‘closed’ cafe stop.

In search of a cuppa

With the pre-arrival concerns from Mike that the cafe may not be open still ringing in ours ears and the dangled carrot of a cuppa evaporating from ours eyes, thoughts turned to Elsie. She must have been shielding still and presumably with no television in her vintage world, unaware of covid rule changes or the plight of the economy OR the five disappointed thirsty cyclists outside her door.

We suppressed our frustrations for those who deserve them…….Boris Johnson? No,……Ian Bird(only joking, great route), we about turned, satisfying ourselves with thoughts of a backwind journey homeward. Gemma, Mike and Andy were last seen heading towards Oundle for a newly proposed coffee stop and us heading for the sofa, a glass of wine and a chance to see who got the ‘pot of gold’ at the end of the World Championship Road Race rainbow.

Biting wind helps maintain social distancing!

by Andy Parker

The more leisurely riders then divided into a 4 (group 2) and a 5 (group 3) and, I am pleased to say, we had a cross tail wind as we headed out east through Thrapston and up to Old Weston and then turned into the biting northerly wind.

Group 2

My group of 4 consisted of a second time KCC rider, Will Lawton, Myself (Andy Parker), Amy Bird and Steve Wong and we worked pretty well as a four, the more experienced (or should I just say “older”) riders taking most of the work at the front. As we approached Elton, Will took a turn at the front and valiantly battled the block headwind for a couple of minutes before being relieved and had a few minutes trying to recapture the breath blown from his lungs.

Elsies Vintage Tea Room

What a great location for a vintage tea room! As we dropped down towards Nassington, Will then picked up a puncture but was soon back on the road and we made it to the chosen rendez vous for tea – only to see there were no bikes outside and the blinds drawn. Great location….maybe on another day.

In search of a cafe

Quickly improvising a route to find a much needed break, our group headed off towards Kings Cliffe, but its cafe was also closed. A new idea emerged as Steve and I considered the alternatives and Ian’s carefully constructed route went out of the window. New Lodge Farm, Laxton, was the new destination with a route taking us on to Harringworth before turning to benefit from the tailwind back to Kettering.

Blown home

There was a fantastic, fun last 18 miles as we finally felt the benefit of that Northerly wind at our backs. A few PRs up to Gretton and Cottingham and a really impressive ride from Amy on her brand new bike were the reward for all of those earlier headwinds. Looking at Strava, I think a lot of people were well into the sixty mile plus category for the ride and, despite the wind, there was no rain and it wasn’t that cold.

Good training for next week’s Peaks ride or steady ride as usual at 9 am at Sainsbury’s.

I see no ships!

by Roger Reed

Group 3, looking to brave the elements were Ian Bird, myself (Roger Reed), Ondrei Humplik, Brendan Lecas and Gary Bridger, contemplating the route Roger describes “blustery, gusty, overcast day with a potential for a lot of headwind and few hiding places”.

It takes a very special kind of person to navigate a route that not only reduces the impact of such challenging conditions but actually uses them to their advantage. Channeling the spirit of Lord Horatio Nelson and Sir Francis Drake, Ian Bird cocked one finger to the climate gods and lead his group of steady riders on a magical route that took in the delights of Warkton, Slipton, Thrapston and Titchmarsh before using the sidewind to sail majestically up the incline to Clopton. This incredible feat was nearly surpassed by the long straight to the Winwick turn where average speeds reached 18mph!

Enjoying the shelter

Delegating is another task that is required of strong leadership and once again Mr Bird press ganged Reed and Humplik to lead the charge to Winwick as he and new recruits Gary Bridger and Brendan Lecas enjoyed the shelter.

The group were then joined by a chap named Dave from Wellingborough and after passing through Great Gidding they saw the lesser spotted Noel Toone fixing a mischievous inner tube and after checking he was suitably equipped they then trundled on to Elton and Nassington.

Change of plan

The designated food stop of Elsie’s vintage tea rooms had not received the message that KCC were on the way (or maybe they had?) and were closed but the ever resourceful Admiral Bird immediately worked out a slight deviation of intended route to Beans at Oundle for a coffee stop.

The chat at the coffee stop was as ever insightful, funny and informative. Noel arrived having fixed his puncture and talk turned to things like new kit, skinsuits, race bikes, tubes and record attempts although he did look a bit bemused when talking about his 24 hour record attempt and Roger asked him what time he did it in! (the clue is in the title Reed!)

Caffeinated and cake-filled the riders made their way back home, via Stoke Doyle, Aldwincle and Twywell and even a puncture could not spoil what turned out to be a very enjoyable club run. Thanks Ian

“Thank you Ian, a very enjoyable club run” Roger.

Photos, at the bus stop taken by Steve Wong. On route photos of group 1 by Darren Gillings.