LADAM Ride East

The extended ride scheduled for the last Sunday in October unfortunately had to be postponed due to Covid. Yes, it’s definitely still a thing! It was rescheduled for Sunday 17th November and while not everyone could make the new date, seven riders set off from McDonald’s, just outside Market Harborough.

The sun was bright, but low and reflecting off the wet roads, so riding East involved a bit of squinting. With that and the very greasy roads, the ride was steady, but through some lovely roads around Uppingham and across to Oundle. A quick pitstop for coffee and cake and then onwards towards the Twenty Pence Garden Centre in Wilburton. The roads had dried up and the sun was a bit higher, so the ride was much easier. There are a lot of right hands bends in that part of the country, but with the leaves off the hedges, vision was really good and the ride managed to maintain a good speed. Fortunately the river at Earith was no longer flooded, although the road was terrible!

We arrived at the garden centre with perfect timing, just before the crowds of Sunday Lunch visitors arrived.

After a very good lunch, we left in good order, eying the very black clouds coming out way. Fortunately we missed the rain, other than a few spots and the route back was through more lovely roads, wending our way back to Raunds where the McDonalds hot chocolate was very welcome. Then it was back at a lively pace to where we started.

As the group was small, we used the Buddy system, where each rider is responsible for the rider behind; not taking any changes in direction without making sure that the rider behind will have seen. It worked really well and allowed the pace to be maintained.

Thanks for everyone who joined. I think they all had a good ride and made it home just before the heavens opened!