It was very unusual for none of the WLCG to be free to ride today, but it's half term, so the younger ones were busy, and a couple of others away. I decided to take the last space on a Breeze ride which Jill and Hazel were leading, to Stanlake Vineyard.
We met at Montague Park and left via Binfield Road, where there were loads of sheep grazing today.
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| heading out under blue skies on Binfield Road |
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| Binfield Road views |
I had a new chain fitted yesterday, so wasn't keen to cross over into Monks Alley to get it filthy, and had already decided I would peddle on The Forrest Road into Binfield. Jill, leading, decided that was a good idea, so we all all went along the main road, turning off at the roundabout into the quiet Wicks Green.
As we headed downhill passing the Jack O Newbury, I was chatting to a lady about the fact the renovation work seems to have ground to a halt there for many months, or even years. Low and behold..... they are working on it again!
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Our turning into Stubbs Hill to join Ryehurst Lane.
We sent Jill ahead to check if we could through? |
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She's back with news that we could if we walk out bikes passed
some fly tipping. |
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| Disgraceful. |
A wiggle around Westley Mill lanes, then from Howe Lane, left towards Beenham's Heath. I questioned are we turning right to ride passed the Corgi weather vane? Jill and everyone else had no idea what I was talking about. So, I peddled ahead, and stopped to capture them coming towards me on Smewins Road.
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| Smewins Road, nr Beenhams Heath |
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the Corgi Weather vane, which champ Carole pointed out
many years ago now! |
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| Hazel A, Eva, Cathy, me, Clare, Sue C, Jill, Diane. |
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| the property next door on Smewins Road. |
Next we headed left towards Waltham St Lawrence, turning right into Halls Lane
Left downhill on Castle End Road heading to Ruscombe, when a deer shot across the road in front of us, bounding across the adjacent field. We stopped momentarily to watch it, and the heat from the sun was very pleasant. Almost at coffee now, just over the railway bridge. But then......... I almost came off as I completely lost my steering, as my front tyre instantly went down. 😭😭😭
So close to Stanlake, I told the others to carry on, but Hazel insisted on staying with me. Hazel immediatley spotted a large sharp piece of flint on the outside of my tyre.
"Are you good with punctures?" I asked Hazel
"Never done one", she said. 😂
(I had actually practiced in the last 24 hours, using a new plastic tool called TYRE GLIDER. (available from usual bike shops and Amazon. It doesn't work with every wheel/tyre combination, ie not my 25" road bike tyres, but it does work extremely well on my gravel bike 28" tyres. So in no time, and having checked the inside of the tyre a coupe of times, we were ready to join the others.
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| Hazel helped pump in some air once I had fitted a new inner tube. |
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The others already inside with coffees when Hazel and I arrived.
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I guess Sue C took this one? Whilst Hazel and I were fixing my puncture.
(supplied by Jill) |
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| And the whole team now ready to set off home. |
After coffee, my tyre felt like some air had come out.😟😟. I added a bit more, and it got me home.
We return via Hurst Lanes and Dinton flyover, with Sue, Clare and I branching off to Woosehill whilst the others continued on the norther distribution paths back to Montague Park.
Nice to see you all today, and to meet Eva.
My tyre now blown up fully, so will see how it goes by the morning. Fingers crossed.
