Saturday 20th February – Tankerton and below Dinner awards night

As I looked out of the window at 7.00am on Saturday morning I could see that jack frost had been busy in the night. Everything outside was covered in a thin layer of frost, all white and glistening in the sun. It was 0 degrees and although still unusually and annoyingly cold for mid February it was going to be a good day for cycling. Winter cycling isn’t a good look, well not for me anyway, and with my four layers, snood and thick gloves on I made my way to the shop.
There was a healthy turn out at the shop and plenty for 3 groups. Rod took a handful in the slow group, then there was the fast group aka the nutters who just go hell for leather for hours non stop and then there was the medium group and about 14 of us set off to Tankerton.
We had five punctures today with mine being the first a few miles out at Hartslip courtesy of a mother of a flint that even my armadillo types couldn’t prevent getting through. We weren’t stopped long though as Andy (Hawes) changed it for me in a matter of minutes. It reminded me of a grand prix pit stop!
The route out was Borden, Tunstall, down Cromers Road and up Stockers Hill where Simon who has been stuck in his big ring for months over took me – how does he do that; and into Rodmersham Green. Puncture two came at Church Street and it was Paul this time. After quite a long wait, some banter and a couple of leaks in the bushes we got on our way. We came out on the A2 at Bapchild, crossed straight over through to Tonge, Teynham and Four Oaks on the lower road.
The group got split up at the traffic lights at East Street in Faversham but we all regrouped at the top of Head Hill. However it was a though everyone but me had been injected with dynamite as the pack just broke away and disappeared into the distance. Harv hung back for me and kindly pulled me along on his wheel all the way to the café.
The café stop was the usual fun and chitter chatter. Donna demonstrating the correct way to eat a twix bar (and for those of you who don’t know you nibble the caramel and chocolate off first and then eat the biscuit bit) and Andy showing off this cycling wounds having come off his bike a few days before.
Suddenly we noticed at Paul was missing. He had gone into a pothole and punctured again, number three and so had decided to turn back. Poor soul, he wasn’t having a good day.
The route back was the same until we got to Teynham where Andy gave us puncture four. But pit stop Andy did his magic and we weren’t waiting long. At Teynham by the shops we did a left and went back the nicer route through Lynsted and Kingsdown where we got puncture five from Steve. Geoff helped Steve out with the change and once fixed we continued on through Kingswood and the back of Sittingbourne. A race ensued down Cheney Hill but I wasn’t going to join in, well if truth be told I just couldn’t keep up! Phil left us at Borden and Donna and Rob H at Chestnut Street. The rest of us rode back the usual way through Danaway and Harslip, Queendown Warren and Bredhurst. Andy, Harv and Geoff went straight through Bredhurst while I did a right at the pub onto Hempstead and got home with 70 miles on the clock.

Another great ride, with jolly good company. Thanks everyone and see you next time………….

Em
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjlB_eCxEh4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eGN2ww_apk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXNRRG2fnWs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wdHMWDZeHE

And, Garmin for the ride....... http://connect.garmin.com/activity/25239236

Velo Annual Award Dinner – Saturday 20 February 2010

I just wanted to say a big thank you to Simon who put on a terrific Velo Annual Award Dinner. Well done and thanks for all the hard work, time and effort that you put in. It was great to see everyone sociably and strange seeing everyone all dressed up as I generally only recognise you in your cycling attire! The highlight of the night for me was MC Ernie on the mike. People pay a lot of money to go and see comedy like that and unbeknown to us, we have it right here in our club. I was also very impressed with Geoff and his wife taking to the floor and showing us a fabulous dance routine - strictly come dancing eat your heart out. Geoff and Mrs Geoff you were brilliant and I would have liked to have seen more of that.

For those of you who didn’t go – shame on you!

For those of you who couldn’t go – you missed a good night.

For those of you who did go – thanks for your support, you all looked lovely!

See you ALL next year yeah!

Em