A hint of spring prompted a large contingent of the Lewes Wanderers Cycling to rise from their enforced winter hibernation to brave the elements on the open road. At the start of the ride the thermometer was hovering around zero, but thankfully there was little sign of icy roads as the group left Uckfield. However as the elevation increased, the laws of Meteorology dictated that the temperatures fell. The climb up Argos Hill proved particularly tricky with rutted roads glistening with pockets of ice, forcing riders to slither with hearts in mouth as they anticipated a painful introduction to the tarmac. All riders completed the climb successfully, though the sheet ice at the bottom of the descent tested rider’s resolve and skill to the full.
The midpoint of the ride was at Hartfield in the splendid Pantry café who provided a warm welcome to riders from various clubs who had braved the day.
The homeward leg had a nasty sting in its legs with the long climb up Chuck Hatch before the ride split up for riders to head home.
Non-members are always welcome to join in club runs, but riders need to be reasonably fit as rides can extend to fifty miles over hilly Sussex terrain. The meet up point is outside Boots in Uckfield, with rides setting off at 9am.
Next week sees the keenly anticipated final round of the Reg Porter trophy, with Micky Turner in pole position attempting to retain his champion’s crown. The final round is the speed judging competition were riders have to complete a loop around Glynde trying to cycle as close to two prescribed speeds for two halves of the circuit. The use of speed computers is not allowed. This deceptively simple sounding exercise is really something of a lottery with guesswork usually prevailing over reason.
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