Date: Tuesday 1st June 2010
Route: Diner, Woolwell, Cann Wood, Newnham Park, Drakeland, Lee Moor, clay pits, Cadover, HQ.
Riders: Keith, Martin, James, Paddy, Colin, Nick, David, Alan & Paul.
Depart: 19:35
Arrive HQ: 22:59!!!
Distance: 25 miles estimated
Weather: Dry & mild.

Westy's Big Night Out

Colin played the Under-Meister for an evening and had a proposal that would have had the Routemeister-in-Chief drooling!! Nine set out on the 'Beast of Westy' heading for Woolwell at a leisurely pace. We picked up the A386 at the Clearbrook turn where Al decided to hold up all south bound traffic to Plymouth by riding two-a-breast!! This did afford our sponsors maximum exposure from the resultant queue of cars!

Into Woolwell and our first delay of the evening. Nick and David were further behind than I'd realised and missed the turn off into the woods. Al ran a couple of miles to find them but to no avail. We did all eventually regroup on the old railway somewhat fortuitously.

Up through Cann Wood to the car park at the top where David 'Half Man' Parlby decided to head for home, mainly due to a heavy work schedule the next day. He later described this decision as 'the best left turn of my life'!!

The eight headed down the very demanding wet, muddy and rocky track to Newnham. We had our second enforced stop to allow James to put a new tube in his rear tyre. After what seemed an age descending, the unavoidable came next, a big ascent! At this approximate half way point Paul's trip computer was too tired to carry on, having already recorded 12½ miles.

So up we went to Lee Moor before another descent where we stopped for a very serious short debate. The time was 9:55pm, do we take the boring road to get to HQ ASAP, or up the clay pits as originally intended? Something interesting happened here, for although we didn't actually have a show of hands, there appeared to be one in favour of the off road route, five for the road with two sitting on the fence. So, when Nick came off the fence and chose to go with Colin, for some unknown reason, everybody followed!!

Halfway up the climb James had to stop to put some more air into his troublesome rear tyre. We finally reached the track above the pits after a beast of a climb (including a little pushing). James got the pump out again then we sped off for HQ. When we reached tarmac, the race was on to get to HQ before the cry of 'TIME GENTLEMEN PLEASE' rang out! Paddy and myself held back to ensure James returned safely to civilisation after two more pumping sessions and I should report that with the speed he descended down to Gratton Bridge with a very dodgy rear tyre, there is nothing wrong with his bottle!!

I arrived at HQ at 11:10pm to join the other eight gents (David and Stephen had been there some time) to be greeted with a very welcome pint. I'm told that Westy had slightly redeemed himself by doing his Mark Cavendish impression and ordering the eight life saving pints at 10:59pm!!!!

Next week Colin will be lost in France and the Routemeister tied to the kitchen sink so we are seeking a trainee Routemeister that can provide us with a testing, enjoyable, scenic route that retuns us to HQ by no later than 10:15pm. Applicants please make themselves known with proposed routes by email to Routemeister-in-Chief for approval. Past applicants need not re-apply!!

To view Colin's Gramin ride computer analysis, click here.

Reporter: Keith