Handcycling Weekend, Sat/Sun 10-11.09.11
Last weekend was our third group get together this year. A little down on the regular members who usually attend but with some welcome new faces, who came down to have look at what we do.
The weekend weather was a mixed bag of sunshine and showers and Saturday started with Matt putting us through our paces on the track. Matt informs me, that my 'one lap time trial' was a few seconds faster than my previous times, this happily, indicates my training has not been wasted!
After lunch, we split into two groups and ventured out onto the road doing the regular 16 mile route. I say regular, I now recognise most of the climbs and the turns, and remember the downhill bits most of all! Andy and Geoff took charge of the groups and led the way. The two groups were divided on speed, this time I was elevated to the faster group, where as previously I went with the sensible group!
We all managed the group ride without serious mishap with Matt providing car cover (Only casualty was Alan with a puncture). My GPS indicated that we had covered close on 30 miles for the day, given that the first 14 was done with Matt cracking the whip on the track, this was no mean achievement!
Saturday night saw us piling down the local Weatherspoons pub to replace lost carbs and fluids! Well earned steaks, pies and copious amounts of beer were consumed, before retiring for the night.
Sunday saw common sense prevail with newcomers Arran, Alan and Paul deciding, that with their aches and pains, they'd had enough for one weekend (Nothing to do with the beer, I'm sure!). This left Ben, Andy, Geoff and me and we set off on a 40 miler. The route was' undulating' in the truest sense of the word, cruel up hill climbs and glorious down hill stretches through country parks and picturesque villages. Andy and Geoff being seasoned campaigners breezed around the route cajoling and bulling Ben and myself to the end.
This meeting completes my first year with HC association. I've been helped enormously, given direction, motivation and made many new friends. My thanks to all.
Roll on next Spring!
The weekend weather was a mixed bag of sunshine and showers and Saturday started with Matt putting us through our paces on the track. Matt informs me, that my 'one lap time trial' was a few seconds faster than my previous times, this happily, indicates my training has not been wasted!
After lunch, we split into two groups and ventured out onto the road doing the regular 16 mile route. I say regular, I now recognise most of the climbs and the turns, and remember the downhill bits most of all! Andy and Geoff took charge of the groups and led the way. The two groups were divided on speed, this time I was elevated to the faster group, where as previously I went with the sensible group!
We all managed the group ride without serious mishap with Matt providing car cover (Only casualty was Alan with a puncture). My GPS indicated that we had covered close on 30 miles for the day, given that the first 14 was done with Matt cracking the whip on the track, this was no mean achievement!
Saturday night saw us piling down the local Weatherspoons pub to replace lost carbs and fluids! Well earned steaks, pies and copious amounts of beer were consumed, before retiring for the night.
Sunday saw common sense prevail with newcomers Arran, Alan and Paul deciding, that with their aches and pains, they'd had enough for one weekend (Nothing to do with the beer, I'm sure!). This left Ben, Andy, Geoff and me and we set off on a 40 miler. The route was' undulating' in the truest sense of the word, cruel up hill climbs and glorious down hill stretches through country parks and picturesque villages. Andy and Geoff being seasoned campaigners breezed around the route cajoling and bulling Ben and myself to the end.
This meeting completes my first year with HC association. I've been helped enormously, given direction, motivation and made many new friends. My thanks to all.
Roll on next Spring!
