The “Make Mine A Salad” Run

Sunday 3rd February 2008

Well, my luck wasn't in for this ride. A weeks Skiing preceeded battling our way out of the Alps on Saturday as a huge dump of snow arrived! I returned home to a suspiciously cold house - no heating. None of the obvious fixes worked - prayers, incantations to Potterton, belting things with the No2 mallet OR indeed "bad words". Thus, Sunday's ride became an exercise in locating pumps and isolator vaults in the floor void & I report the days events from a distinctly low level vantage point.

Nine bikes gathered at Loomies in the morning and the tone for the day was set with stories swapped amongst the tutors of the gratitude of their associates once they have passed their tests - the best brag going to the lucky recipient of a free holiday.
The group set off with Slim at the lead and Baldrick at the tail and on the first downhill run of Morestead Road Captain Sensible collected a bird - confirmation that fat blokes CAN pull birds - so the group stopped for a clean-up and a photo opportunity. Then carried on the planned route - having cut out the Midhurst section - to the Hungry Horse at Liphook for a comparatively light lunch compared to the normal portions found on a Social ride. Tim came close to having a salad and Slim exercising new found restraint with his choice of pudding.
Then off for the afternoon leg - as per the original route description - with another downhill section of Morestead Road as "you can never have too much of a good thing" © Captain Sensible, to finish at Loomies for hot chocolate and more banter largely about Baldrick being unreasonable and not having any friends. Slim offered himself for a "cuddle service" in order to soften up the local residents who were complaining about loud exhausts and speeding bikers and the owner's partner Jane took up the challenge but could not reach her arms around him!