What a day for a club ride! Woke up to gale force winds buffeting everything in the garden, just as forecast on the telly last night. Now, wind is the curse of the cyclist, even more than rain, but my mind was made up - having missed a few club rides recently, I thought it was about time I caught up with a few people - I was going on the Garstang Cycling Club ride today!
At least it was a fairly warm wind blowing as we all gathered at the Royal Oak at 9-30am, and the sun was shining brightly on the fourteen of us as we headed out through Winmarleigh and Stakepool. The wind was behind us and the pace was brisk, heading out over Cartford Bridge and Elswick, Singleton and on to Staining. It was from here on that we were to get a taste of what the return journey had in store for us!
A turn in direction, now heading south east and the strong easterly wind was in our faces (left cheeks), slowing the pace considerably. Wrea Green and Dizzy Duck's cafe was a welcome sight, the food and company was good as we spent half an hour in this cosy little spot. It's a great little cafe run by ex-England rugby union star Wade Dooley and his wife. Wade can often be seen serving in the cafe and blocking the light from the windows, such is his size!
The return was through Kirkham and Broughton and mainly into the wind, ensuring a slower average speed than on the outward journey. We were all back in Garstang by 2-30pm, no punctures or mechanical problems, a bit battered by the wind but having enjoyed a great few hours riding, just under 50 miles in total.
Route on Gmaps Pedometer -
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3314893
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