A-Ride to Windsor - 31st March

Today was a good day. After months of cycling alone, or in pairs, we were finally allowed to have our first group rides of 2021.

The weather was so warm that knees and arms were on display. And there were lots of happy cyclists everywhere.

Our four groups of six met at twenty minute intervals in the park in Weybridge. They headed west to Windlesham, then north to Ascot before riding through Windsor Great Park to lunch at the Cinnamon Cafe in Windsor.

After lunch the route went through Datchet, Staines and Shepperton Riverside to tea at Walton Bridge.

Janice lead off first and here is her report -

Daniel, Steve W and myself were wondering where the Hans/Fiona/Trevor peleton were when at 10.29 they zoomed into the park ready for our 10.30 departure. Obviously they weren’t wishing to hang around too long in the sunshine! Trevor was joining for the first time and Daniel was having a rare outing with us. 

All set to go when my garmin seemed to lose the route so we had a short delay whilst it slowly and painfully re-loaded. Happily it seemed to be navigating correctly (although I later discovered it wasn’t recording the ride) and we enjoyed the quiet route to Windsor on some less used roads. 

Sandwiches or cakes were consumed at the Cinnamon Cafe and as we were starting to think about leaving Ged’s group arrived. 

The earlier promise of a gloriously sunny day disappeared and we even had a few drops of rain. No matter as after such a cold few months it was lovely to be out in the warmth! 

Steve, Daniel and myself stopped for coffee at Walton before heading home. 

A lovely route out to Windsor in warm conditions and best of all in good company! 

Thanks to Fiona for backmarking.

Ged left 20 minutes later and writes - 

Is titanium the new carbon? It seemed like it in my group of 6 today - when 4 titanium-framed bikes (3 Van Nics, 1 Enigma) outnumbered carbon. 

Still, we couldn't catch Janice's group, arriving as soon as they were departing the Cinnamon cafe, and again at Walton. However we made good use of the bench-seat they'd saved for us at tea.

Our ride was uneventful - apart from missing the right-turn into Kennel Lane, Windlesham. My excuse - I was slightly distracted by an Easter bunny riding a bike coming towards us! Steve's Garmin put us right.

Thanks to Keith for backmarking - and for a very welcome return to group riding

Dave Vine was up next and here are his comments - 

Everyone was enthusiastic about getting together in groups again.

Weather perfect, not too hot, not windy at all.

Excellent route.

Gina had a couple of chain lock-up experiences when gear changing, which must have been alarming for her, so the lack of hills was well chosen, especially after lunch.

Only the aggressive horns of a couple of Ascot drivers asserting their Divine Right to Drive wherever/whenever disturbed an otherwise calm ride.

Thanks to everyone in my group for being such great company. It means a lot.

Cheers

Dave

An hour after the first group left I led the final group.

Here we are at lunch in the final of the knobbly knee competition.

So everybody had a jolly fine time and went home happy.

Let's do it all again next week.

P.S. I see in the news that today the Queen left Windsor for the first time this year. Why was she avoiding us?