The North Road training and leisure weekend returned to Lechlade for 2006 after a highly successful trip last year. The main ride was again planned for the Saturday although a small group of riders descended on the town for a less then gentle spin on the Friday.

  With the weather forecast looking decidedly iffy all week Saturday dawned cloudy and cold but with the prospect of no rain. With more riders and partners coming along this year there was a substantially larger main group as well as more members for the leisure ride option. Neil Lewis had again used his Blue Peter skills to fashion a plethora of maps for each rider clearly showing the 90 mile route out to Broadway and back to Lechlade. After some expert photography by Don Smith the North Road juggernaut formed up and set out through the early gently rolling countryside.

  My tactics for the day were clear; remain conspicuously anonymous for most of the ride, only popping up at the end of the day, therefore giving the impression of actually being a strong cyclist. The route was the same as last year with Dave Candy, Richard Somerset, Peter Nunn, Bruce Metheringham and a returning to fitness George Olive helped to drive the main bunch on at a good steady pace. A supposedly weakened Allan Mendelsohn was also active despite a recent hernia operation and an alleged lack of training.

  As we approached half way a wrong turn at some point meant a ride up a very long exposed drag that fragmented the group as we headed towards the top of Fish Hill. With the option of a bun and a cup of tea or simply riding down Fish Hill to ride back up again the group split with half a dozen riders up for the climb while the rest settled for a much deserved café stop. With the temperature seeming to drop a few more degrees, and a fairly cold café, it was hard to get the blood flowing and get warm after the food stop. This was not helped when ten minutes out from the café Richard was heard to state ‘remarkable, how no one has punctured yet’ only for Bob Wade to instantly puncture. A Laurel and Hardy puncture repair attempt then ensued involving a set of carbon rims, a CO2 canister, and an already punctured spare tube.

  With the restart the riders prepared themselves for the final ‘big-boy’ loop of the ride that was coming up. Right at the start of this section Richard Somerset suffered the misfortune of a refusal at a ford and was unseated into the icy water after Glyn had slipped in front of him. No damage was done other than some very wet cycling apparel and a missing screw from a shoe plate.

  As the ride got going we entered what is probably the hardest part of the ride, after exiting a village you have a set of three leg shredding climbs with the last one being the toughest winding up through a forest. It was here that Bruce came into his own, chanting a mantra of 80% turbo sessions, he powered ahead with only George for company. Putting my master plan into operation I stuck with Pete Nunn as we followed the leading two at a respectable distance. Indeed, after one long climb Bruce turned to George to remark ‘where is everyone?’ A comment that even Bernaud Hinault in his pomp would have been proud of.

  After reforming the final run in to Lechlade commenced with a break away containing Peter, Neil, George and Bruce hotly pursued by a larger group of riders expertly marshalled by El Presidente. Riding through and off I felt sure the bigger group would soon catch the breakaway, but Bruce sensing the threat simply drove on harder. The final sprint into town was inevitably won by George with Bruce again left to bemoan his lack of a sprinters finish. Special mention should be made of Allan Mendelsohn, Joe, and Brian for completing a very challenging day of riding with relatively little training behind them.

  After a hearty meal and a visit to a local hostelry many of the riders were looking forward to the infamous Sunday ‘recovery ride’. This followed the same pattern as last year, a steady start until the road to Bibury when all hell breaks loose.

  After a stop at an incredibly incompetent and under staffed café a flat out run back to Lechlade was commenced. As the pace was winding up I became separated from the main group because of some skittish horses and rode with Leigh Taylor before tagging on with Chris Glithero and Derek Evans for the run in back to town. George again won the main sprint into town with our min-sprint for the line Derek, seemingly sportingly, offered the finish to Chris only to try and nick it at the line. Fortunately years of riding with Jim Ewers meant that Chris didn’t fool for that old trick and he deservedly lead us in to town.

  All-in-all another highly successful weekend, a total of 198 KM ridden, loads of lung busting climbs and some exhilarating 65 KM/H descents. Another fantastic weekend riding that left many a rider with a child like grin on their faces. Special thanks and hearty slaps on the back should go to Richard for organizing the whole show as well as to Neil for his expert map preparation. Roll on 2007!

John McDowell