1st of December! How did that happen? I have been teaming up with Cathy for the last 6 weeks, but today we both led independently, so were able to offer a few more places. Not all were taken up, but I had a nice group of 4, as we met up to start our ride towards Lower Earley to Cutbush Lane, to cross the M4.
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| Cutbush lane, last of the leaf fall |
Then, just after the new film studios, and where we normally carry on with an old bit of Cutbush Lane East, it was completely "closed". So we kept to the right for a couple of hundred yards emerging at this roundabout, part of the new Eastern Relief road.
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| Eastern Relief Road where we crossed to use the cycle path. |
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| Loved the grasses and the shadow of the lampost |
We were just enjoying the tranquility of Kybes Lane, when Debbie announced that she had a puncture in her back wheel. She pumped in some air, and hoped for the best, but less than half a mile ahead it was down once more. We pulled into a driveway on Goring Lane, the only driveway on Goring Lane, and spent at least 15-20 mins trying to get the tyre OFF. This is meant to be the easy bit. It was a nightmare! Debbie tried with her levers, and I tried with mine but neither of us could get the tyre off even after two levers were under it. So frustrating.
It eventually did come off, but this did not bode well for getting it back on. It just would not go on, so Debbie called for a family member to collect her, having established they knew her exact location. We had at least been able to wait in a sunny area but we all felt a bit chilly after so much time off the bikes.
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| Trying to get the tyre off. The deep rims made it a nightmare |
The Goring Road was busier than usual today, but the remaining 3 of us soon turned into the tranquility of New Road, and cut through the Wokefield Estate.
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| Pretty Birch trees, and Sue and Louise, on Wokefield Estate. |
Now to Beech Hill via Cross Lane, and the fast downhill of Trowes Lane.
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| Turing into Trowes Lane, Beech Hill. Nice light on the fields ahead. |
There was a tractor on Trowes Lane, cutting hedges which meant debris on the road, and loads of Hawthorne thorns. It seemed like just a matter of time until the next puncture. The climb up Barge and Bull Lane warmed us up, and then to Welly Farm Shop. This was meant to be a tea stop, but since it was now noon, we decided a hot bowl of soup would be a good idea. 😋.
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| Butternut squash soup. Was delicious. |
With the skies looking pretty threatening as we left the farm shop, we turned in to Bull Lane, only to see a "road closed" sign. We ignored it, and managed to squeeze through passed the roadworks lorry. All went well until we got to our turning for Swallowfield Road, which was completely closed and no way through. Going well today! So, up over Farley Hill instead, and dropped down on Bunces Shaw, where ahead was a cyclist in a red jacket, and looking rather familiar. Someone had not been so lucky with thorns on the road!
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| My hubby, on Bunces Shaw, just about to start to fix his puncture |
We left him, and moments later it started to rain. Not really what John needed. 😕 It got quite heavy, so I stopped to put my jacket on as we passed through Arborfield. The rain soon passed and the ride ended in glorious sunshine. John got home about 10 mins after me.
Thanks for joining me ladies. Hope to see you next week with your tinsel.