Date: Tuesday 6th September 2011
Route: WP, Roborough Down, Woolwell, Cann Wood loops, Plymbridge, HQ.
Riders: Julian, Keith, Colin, Paddy, Dan, James, Alex & Gidon.
Depart WP: 19:43
Arrive HQ: 22:35
Distance: 14 miles
Weather: Windy & cool, but good.

Three Years and Counting

This week marked the third anniversary of the first ride of the GOWCC. Four of the origianl seven founder riders were out tonight and of the other three Simon arrived home from work and strode up for a quick chat and a vague suggestion that he may come out again soon, the Routemeister was wifeless for an evening so had to look after the boys and Greg had a potentially serious problem with a roof and the pink chit said 'fix roof before riding'!

With the threat of rain (first time for at least 75 weeks on a Tuesday evening) and high winds the concensus was to go low. Colin (as always) wanted to go into the impossibly wet Fishacre Woods the other side of Lopwell, Double Waters was mentioned but in the end we set off for Cann. We knew James and Sam were coming out, but after waiting long enough we decided to head in their direction and pick them up. James was just around the corner, but no Sam. Julian and I cycled up to his front window, his GOWCC jersey was on his back, the football was on the telly and dinner was on his lap! More about this episode at a later date!!!

So we bombed across the Down and then the woods below Woolwell where James picked up his first puncture of the evening. After his normal high speed fix we regrouped and were soon in Cann Wood. From here I will let Colin take over.....

"'twas a Tuesday night ride. We'd just finished one of Alex's routes - slow meandering, undulating descent of a track which finishes with a very testy (even in dry conditions) 40m drop onto the final approach from Cann Woods to the 'Kissing' gates. Its not a route that many of us have discovered until the week before last. Dan like Gidon had demonstated great nerve/skill earlier in the evening - you may remember the sharp drop into Woolwell woods from the back of Woolwell Park. Paddy, and Alex flew down this....Dan and Gidon also executed excellently. "Dans Drop" is similar in gradient. Its longer and it has both small trees and large trunks to negotiate.

Alex and Paddy first attempted the drop - made more unfavourable by the earlier effects of the rain in the day and the darkness - both faltered. Already committed Gidon just about cleared it, although he did scrape one of
the trees. Dan tried next, got halfway down before sliding out and sideways onto a bulky trunk. There was no contest, Dan took the blow on the shoulder and crumpled. The tree gasped in pain. Julian completed inspections, without x-ray it was difficult to tell whether there was a break or a dislocation. At least no arteries were punctured. Dan showed just how Solid we riders of Willowby are, well some of them! We managed to all decant to Plymbridge carpark on the Wrigley's side where the brilliant Sam had reacted quickly to a call from Keith. He whisked Dan to A&E where he was treated.

The seven of us then took the long run home to HQ. We drank our pints with Dan in our thoughts - for at least two sips!"

Reporters: Keith & Colin