I was looking forward to leading a route I have done many times with hubby and friends, as a Breeze route this morning, joined by some of the newer Breeze Ladies. The plan was to take in the best of the Chiltern bluebell lanes, drop into Goring, enjoying the wide open crop areas of Ipsden, then a climb to the Blue Tin farm shop. That WAS the plan. 😟
I got my new bike a few days ago. I had done a loop to Wargrave as a test run, and loved it. So I was looking forward to a real test on some of the Chiltern undulations. We all met at Emmer Green tennis club car park. Hubby came along for the lift, but then left us for his own unplanned route.
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| Wild flowers at the car park. Looking amazing. |
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Ready for the off, just need to pick up Amanda 2 mins away
since she was unable to park with the height restriction barrier. (We knew this). |
Hubby had gone ahead and I asked him to just let me know if there was a problem with flooding at the bottom of Kidmore End Road as it dips down, which sometimes happens. He called me with the all clear, otherwise I would have rerouted.
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Just about to drop down on Kidmore End Road. Great view from here.
We now have Amanda with us. |
We continued straight on Kidmore End Road once it leveled out, only to be faced with a big flood. A van coming through had water well up it's wheels. What do we do? We decided we didn't fancy it, so backtracked to use the loop on Tanners Lane instead, which rejoins the road past the flood. 😊 We have this under control.
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Puncture, ready to repair, having lifted the bike out of the way of the huge truck with trailer.
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| All going well.... |
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I'll just phone hubby to check
how far ahead he is, incase I need assistance. |
I could not get the last few inches of tyre back on. One of the ladies went off to ask a very nice man if he might help. He struggled. I tried a bit more, and showed him a better technique. He still struggled. But eventually, just as the tyre popped back over the rim, hubby appeared. He put the wheel back on, then left us again, as we continued our planned route. He was heading to Blue Tin, but we were of course going a very different route, via Goring first.
The ladies recognised Kidmore End church, Well, pond etc so got their bearings. But today, rather than cross to Wyfold Lane, we turned left and soon right into Park Lane which is also very pretty with the fresh Beech Foliage, and blue bells. Then.... another puncture.
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| 2nd puncture in Park Lane, Cane End. |
I knew there was no point me trying to fix it, since I could not get the tyre back on. So, I phoned hubby, who had very nearly made it to his coffee stop 😉, but said he would turn back for the 2nd time. My plan was that he could ride back to the van, with the ladies, and then come collect me. (He has recently also trained as a British cycling leader and done his first aid course, so at least he was getting some practice. 😂)
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"Babes in the Woods".
Messing around whilst waiting for assistance to arrive for the second time. |
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| Yah! My Knight in shining shorts and teeshirt. |
I had a second spare inner tube with me, so hubby decided to fix it, but it was hard work again. I suggested once it was fixed that we all turn back, go to the Herb Farm at Sonning Common, and quit while we were ahead. He said fine, but he was still going to make a 3rd attempt to reach The Blue Tin. So, we all set off together. He had 2 more spare tubes the same size as mine, but of course we wouldn't need them, would we?
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| A little further along Part Lane, Cane End. |
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| Beautiful. |
We now had a little challenging climb to Checkenden on Deers Lane. My bike was brilliant. At last! I photographed the others coming behind.
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| Almost at the top of Deers Lane coming into Checkenden. |
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| Deers Lane. |
We joined the road in Checkenden next to the Church. I suggested a quick look, since my friend local to the area had done flowers for the Coronation weekend in the church.
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| My friend Debi's floral arrangement in the porch |
Another flood at the Equestrian Centre, but not a big one, so straight through. My brakes were making an interesting noise, so everyone knew if I was braking! The road to the Blue Tin was as messy as ever, and finally we arrived with this fabulous view ahead. None of the ladies with me today had been here before, but loved it.
(Another Breeze leader, Fiona, was doing a recce this morning for a ride I am joining her to do this weekend from Christmas Common, and missed the farm shop entrance and never did find it.) She was probably too busy looking down at the potholes!
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A 3rd flat tyre as we left the Blue Tin. Unbelievable. Hubby
took a while to get the tyre off this time. It's hard work! |
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| Kim chilling waiting for puncture number 3 to be fixed. |
Through Stoke Row, and we decided to use the "clean route" to Sonning Common which is through the Kingwood Road, which was looking gorgeous as we rode under the canopy of Beech Trees.
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Stoke Row Sheep, dressed for the Coronation. They are always worth a quick look
as they change with the current News. |
We split into two groups for the long downhill to Rotherfield Peppard and Sonning Common. I jokingly said to Amy, that if get further away in her mirror, its because I have a puncture. Spoke too soon! (****ffs***). I shouted to Amy to ask hubby to call me when she caught him up, and that I would walk.
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| Walking back to Sonning Common with my 4th puncture. 😡😓 |
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| The end of my journey at The Pet Barn Sonning Common. Awaiting rescue. |
I sat on a low wall with my sunglasses on enjoying the weather. Meanwhile, the others got wet, then soaked as they reached the car park.
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Photo by Kim.
Our new Honorary Breeze leader. |
We gave Kim and Amanda a lift back home to our house, as planned, as I ofloaded Amanda's bike, her back tyre was flat. 😟 She lives very close, so walked her bike home.
I did all of 13.8 miles at an average of 8.7mph, thanks to walking, and got home at about 3 o'lock!
The cause of the 4 punctures is currently under investigation. The first one, just bad luck, since the first 20 miles I did on the bike on Saturday were fine. We found nothing in the tyres, despite checking it every time it came off. Is the tube being "pinched" putting the ludicrously tight tyres back on? Hubby has now changed the offending tyre for a spare one, and doing some tests overnight.
So sorry ladies to spoil our lovely day out. I know you all still enjoyed it, but not quite the planned route. Infact nothing like it. Here is the comparison. At least I knew where we were.😂.
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| Today's actual route |
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| The planned route |
