Over Cannock Chase, Club Run:

Today we had a longer than normal club ride planned. Eleven guys turned up at the meeting place in Heather, three of whom needed to get back in reasonable time so they turned off to take a different route soon after we set off. The rest of us continued thro' to Melboure where a quick comfort stop was taken before we crossed over Swarkstone Causeway. Once over the Causeway & onto the next stretch, 10 miles flat along the flood planes of the River Trent & into the wind, we tried to work like a team, constantly rotating with only a short turn on the front. This could have worked better, a few of the newer guys seemed to think that as they 'went thro' they should accelerate, not so, so the pace was increasing & the group started to split, regroup, split etc.

Once we'd completed this long flat section we turned thro' Tutbury & on the climb out the back of the town one of the rider split his chain. This resulted in a 20mins stop for repairs, aided by the loan of tools from a local resident, there are nice people out there!

Onwards again & a quick stop at Abbots Bromley for a water top up at a local store. Then onto a shortish cafe stop at Milford for a warm cup of tea & a teacake. It's a great place for a stop but probably better if you're going the other way as from the cafe it's upwards for a few miles! Over the Chase & back down into Rugeley, the fastest section of the route. As we made the descent we passed a couple of guys in on MTB's in Team Raleigh kit & I thought one looked like Dan Fleeman, a quick tweet once home & he confirmed it had been him.

After Rugeley it's pretty much pan flat again with some long straight sections & now the wind was helping us along. This resulted in the pace going up again! Oh only 25mph & it was just the one guy on the front for most of the way, Hugh, a 20year old ex GB rower & powerhouse. Encouraged by Nigel this pace continued but it meant that the group split up & arrived at the BeeHive cafe fragmented.

Despite this being a longer ride & getting back to the BeeHive later, I still got my magnificent poached eggs & beans on toast, ACE!

Now off for a nice soak in the bath & a relaxing evening.

Over Cannock Chase, Club Run: