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| Happy Birthday Max! |
Whilst we should celebrate every opportunity we get to ride,
only the most special rides are a celebration in themselves, and this week’s
Tuesday night ride was one of them.
What better way to celebrate a birthday than to ride your
bike, and when Max mentioned that he had a significant birthday approaching it
was clear that we needed to do something special. Post ride refuelling was a
given, and with the weather forecast looking favourable, Max announced the ‘Max
White Limited Edition Collectors Commemorative Ride’. We opted to go imperial
for the evening, and to aim for a half century. Entirely fitting in the
circumstances……
The longer distance meant an earlier than usual start, and
even then we knew we’d need to keep up a healthy speed to make it back to HQ at
a decent hour. After the customary pre ride coffee at No5, eleven of us rolled
away from the clock tower at 180V sharp; we were off. Early progress was good,
but disaster struck for Shaun as we climbed into Cheswardine when his bottom
bracket decided it had had enough and tried to uninstall itself from his bike.
Without the tools to fix it, we had no option but to press on, and leave Shaun
to wait for his very own ‘Voiture Balai’ to sweep him up. Never a man to be
defeated though, he still made it back to base for the beer and cobs.
As we endeavoured to make up for the lost time in
Cheswardine the pace quickened, and the group were working together nicely as
we passed the halfway mark. Speeding along
on the A53 heading towards Shawbury, and…….”BANG”…….the unmistakeable sound of
a blow out. Fortunately everyone stayed upright, and as we rolled to a stop it
was time to survey the damage. Max had suffered one puncture, whilst Dai had
managed a double blow out. Things quickly got worse for Dai though when he
discovered that the impact had torn a hole in his tyre, and bent his rim for
good measure. Game over for Dai and it was time for another call, and another
broom wagon.
Now well behind schedule, we pushed on to try and make up
the time lost to mechanicals. Yet another puncture was quickly fixed and we
soon on the home straight. One last drag up the ‘Abbey Road’ and it would be
downhill all the way home.
We made it to HQ about half an hour late, but the beer was
soon flowing and the cobs were well earned. Cakes, cards, and presents followed
for the birthday boy, and as we recounted a truly excellent night on the bikes,
talk turned to the numerous events fast approaching. We’ve certainly got plenty
to look forward to in 2015. A great night all round, and a big thanks for
everyone who made it along, and especially to Max for suggesting it in the
first place.
Happy Birthday Max! #FiftyNotOut
Vive la Velo
936ADL
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