Sunday 13th April was the second Sunday of the month, so it was time for the steady road bike ride.
For a short time, right up to just before we departed, we were 7 in number. But then Jonathan Whitehead had a hernia diagnosed so was, in the finest school masterly manner, sent off by Richard Bush for an early bath. A hernia is where an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall.
Jonathan’s hernia was only slightly different in that the inner tube of his front wheel was sticking out through a 5mm gash in the side wall of the tyre. He may have other hernias, but we didn’t ask. With a fair degree of certainty, the tyre hernia was going to pop, which would have been OK in the shed, but a front wheel blow out whilst on the move is almost certain to lead to a rapid, unplanned and probably uncontrolled dismount. I’m not necessarily advocating the amount of bike preening that Richard clearly engages in (although, who knows, it might be the passport to domestic nirvana), but a bit of tlc might have saved a fruitless trip in from Romano Bridge. At least Jonathan was spared Mr Bush’s best “you’ve let yourself down, you’ve let the club down, you might as well let the tyre down…….” lecture.
Anyway, the remaining 6 (Angus, Magnus, Brodyck, Paul, Richard and myself …..wot no Jane!?) set off. The route is here – in summary Dalkeith, Edgehead, Pathhead, Crichton, Middleton, Gladhouse reservoir, Temple, Carrington, ROSLIN GLEN!! and back via Fairmilehead. A total of 40 miles in 3 hrs 20 or so, thus confirming that the 2nd Sunday outings are 13mph average-ish.
I returned with three thoughts: Midlothian builders need to curb their fly tipping tendency, Brodyck (Royles junior though he’s 50 next year) needs to reconcile being out in Scottish weather with rule 5 () whilst Angus-not been out since 2011-Davidson looked like he might be useful if he gets out even more often.
Meanwhile, British cycling beyond the Carnethy peloton hit both a zenith (there were 2 British riders in the top 10 of the Paris Roubaix Classic race on the same day……..the only race where the winner is given a cobblestone) and a nadir as more tacks were laid on the road for the New Forest sportive in deepest England-shire (they should have got Bob Johnston along with his hoover!).
Next outing is the end of the month fast road group on Sunday 27th…….plots are afoot for a foray into either West Lothian or a 2 Bridges ride across the Forth and back. Updates as they occur.
Robin Haynes