Julie

It sounds a perfect day out. Except the wind. 💨💨💨. See you next time

Hope you have good ride. Sorry not to be joining you today. Happy New Year

Inevitable at this time of the year John. Fingers crossed it gets a bit warmer soon.

Not sure either. Looks chilly 🥶🥶🥶. Although I could with getting some miles in. It's a dilemma 🤷

I'll be missing this week unfortunately but hope you have a good ride 👍🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Sounds like you had a very eventful ride. I did wonder if you got caught in any rain, as driving back to brum we hit some showers. We'll done for missing them 👍🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️.

Enjoy your ride 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Setting off from TB promt at 10 were John, Tim, Bev, Leigh, Mick and me. We were joined at the cross roads by Barry, steve and the Philpotts. Taking a steady pace out with thankfully no wind we made our way to the Cowshed. Stopping at 11 to observe 2 minutes silence for our fallen heroes. Then onwards to WW. Tim and Leigh decided not to stop for tea and carried on back home. The rest of us did and were soon joined by Ivor and Pete. I needed to get back PDQ due to family descending so opted to go to the deli for a quick cake and coffee. It appears everyone followed my lead and we all tucked into cakes, except Bev who had a bacon roll. It looked delicious. My millionaire shortbread was one of the best I've had 👍. As I needed to get off quick all of the group decided to do a quick turn around too and we were back on the road by 12ish. Very nice of you all. 😊 I'm not sure what happened next though as I think there were 3 or 4 routes home that different people took. Barry and the Phillpotts turned left at the main road. Me John, Steve, bev and mick turned right and Pete and ivor set off towards Ullenhall 🤷. I hope everyone got back OK. My three companions turned off towards Morton Baggott after about 2 miles while I carried on via Studley towards kings norton. I was a bit lonely without my crew 🥲. A lovely sunny and pleasantly warm day for cycling with great company. See you all next time. 😘

I'll be there John. Don't ask me ro navigate home though 🙈

Sorry I missed the ride today. I think we got more rain where I am although it's nice again now. Well done to the saracen warriors for getting out. See you next time 👍🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Good idea. I'll be there. Just watching weather. We might hit the odd shower on way home. But should be ok overall 🤞

I didnt take those ones Bev and I did warn you, you were being snapped but you were enjoying your pastie to much to notice 😆

Bev, John, Gordon, Tim, Mick and me met at TB at 9.30 as arranged. No one forgetting to put their clocks back although Leigh turned up late and just missed us as we left just after 9.30. Suffice to say that a couple of rebels turned up without mudguards so they have a detention. After weighing up everyone's bike, literally, it was agreed that Bevs was the lightest which would set her in good stead over the lenches. We set off into the wind, the wind wasnt quite 25mph but still challenging. We picked up Tony on the way and had a natter to him. He turned off just before the climb over the lenches, very sensible. Tim on the other hand went over the lenches then turned around to go back again. Not very sensible 😆. We then caught up with Leigh too. The rest of us carried on into Evesham where we met Steve Tonnery, Barry and the Philpotts heading towards us. We established that Raphaels was closed so decided to carry on to the next roundabout where John thought there was a cafe. He was right as usual. 😊 We sat outside as space inside was limited. There was a slight shower but luckily the sun soon came out and it was quite pleasant in the end. There were cakes and cookies, pasties and pies to choose from. Bev very kindly shared her pastie with me, it was delicious. 😋. Gordon's wife had made some bread pudding and I have to say its one of the best I've tasted. Compliments to the chef. The cafe owners were very friendly asking us to go back anytime. A good option, but only for warmer days due to limited indoor seating. On the way home we unfortunately did get caught in the rain. Bev decided to go back via Berry Lane and turned off. Apparently the philpotts stopped to agree the best way home and the rest of us ploughed on. Leigh went a different way but caught up with us later. I thought it best to ring the hubby to meet me en route to rescue me from the rain. But technology let us down and he ended up in Droitwich while I was in barnt green!!! He wasn't very happy 🤭 A good ride overall some great banter and chat, mostly about aches and pains and the perils of old age but still very enjoyable. Photos below. Mick trying to fashion some shower proof headgear was particularly funny 😆. Just in case anyone was wondering what was going on. Chris was also doing her hostess duties, assisting with delivering teas and cake. Well done Chris 👍 There are some pics missing. John was in charge of the camera at this point, so I'm not sure what he did. He definitely didn't take any pics 🤷

I'll be there John. I'm not looking forward to the lenches. Moira did warn me but I thought she was joking.😆 Enjoy your apple pie. 😋 Winter bike is prepped and ready to go too. 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

A nice change to go out Saturday. It means a good 🍻 session tonight without worrying about getting up for a bike ride 🤗. A beautiful day and the right decision to go out today. Moira did contact as many regulars as possible so apologies if you didn't get the message in time. Starting from TB were Gordon (hadn't been out for 10 days and has had a cough), Mick (hadn't been out for 5 weeks), me (hadn't been out for 2 weeks), Moira and John (who had been out!) We met Steve en route (hadn't been out for a while) and made our way out via the Ridgeway dropping down and making a right then left into Bidford. At which point a hot and sweaty looking Tim caught up with us after having a late start due to getting his jabs. He averaged 16.5 miles to catch us so I reckon we were going pretty fast 😂😂😂. At this point Steve departed for home with the rest of us carrying on to the railway station at Milcote. Expectations were low given the state of the place pre covid. But as luck would have it new owners are in situ and have spruced the place up. Including the absolutely rank toilet facilities which are now all done up and sparkling. We were all very happy. Tea cakes cake coffee and teas were consumed. A bit of confusion arose as the tea cakes had been cut into 4 pieces. Some of us, ie me, thought we'd got two but unfortunately not. Gordon did order two tea cakes, then forgot he'd ordered 2 tea cakes and had to retrieve his second tea cake from the kitchen 🤪🤪. He did share it though so we didn't give him too much stick. Heading home a couple of people had obviously been having a crafty snifter. First Mick fell of his stationary bike grazing his knee, then Moira fell off hers, a few minutes later. They both said their clips were stuck but who knows. 🤷. We were all waiting for the 3rd mishap but luckily it didnt materialise. No one too badly hurt as both bikes were more or less stationary which was a good thing. Although Moira was covered Iin mud all over her backside. On a serious note i hope both are ok and not too bruised. Otherwise a lovely ride but I was very tired by the end of it and have been slumped in my armchair demanding tea be brought to me every half hour since I got home. Obviously I'm still waiting..... Pics below. Some of the internal redecorated carriage as well. Toodle pip til next time 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️ Sorry about the duplicate pics. I've had a bit of a technical nightmare 😈

Sorry to be missing out again. Especially as you're going in a different direction. Have a great ride🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

Sounds like you had an eventful ride. Wish I'd have been there but I'm currently trudging round a lovely park in santander with lippy in tact 😆

Sorry not to be joining you. Have a great ride. Don't forget your lippy guys 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

This made me laugh Chris. Loved the pics of twinkle toes 😅😅

Well the weather forecasters need to get a new job, they totally got the weather wrong. It has been a lovely autumn day and a great day for cycling. Meeting at TB there were just the five of us. Gordon, Moira, John, Leigh and of course me. In an attempt to bring some glamour to the occasion I put my lippy on. Never again as I got the mickey took out of me good and proper. 🙈🤣. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, we had Leigh who needs to sort his washing skills out. Less said about that the better!! We set off and didn't pick one person up en route. Barry being on holiday and the Philpotts obviously deciding to go acorn gathering instead!! 😆 We headed up the Ridgeway and down the other side catching up with another group of cyclists so we decided to hitch a ride with them up to Harvington. It was very much appreciated. Arriving at Hillers we sat outside in glorious sunshine to eat our teacakes, it was very pleasant indeed. The mean green cycling machine (aka Roger) and Chris turned up. Which was a very nice addition to the group. We had some good banter, mainly involving lipstick, powder and pollyfiller 😳😬. Heading for home we were joined at Radford by Chris Pool. Who then left us a bit later. Gordon turned off at TB and Moira and John shot off down Lickey Square. A fairly uneventful ride home but I was certainly glad of Roger and Chris who got me back over the Lickeys and home. Thanks guys 👍💋 Pics below

See you tomorrow 🤞🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

I dont think I'd have navigated that mud too well. Looked an eventful ride. Well done!!

A good ride today, but I'm knackered. Can't wait to get to my bed. Alan managed very well without Chris. So he can look after himself sometimes 😆😆😆

See you in the morning 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

A bit of a chilly start to the ride today with a North West wind. From TB there was Moira, Bev, Tim, Gordon, John, Mick and me. We also passed the Philpotts in their car going somewhere, not sure where. Not sure if it was just Chris or both of them tbh. They went by in a flash. Picking up Tony Shardlow and Barry en route. We did a great big loop round by Pershore, Bishampton and into Crowle where we stopped at SpringRidge to find Ivor waiting for us. After a very long wait for tea and cake, they'd ran out of tea cakes. Moira went in to offer a hand but they turned her down so we waited some more..... Setting off back a little later than usual due to the wait, we headed back via Hanley Hall and up a few big hills. Tim and Mick were keen to get home so shot off pretty quick. The rest of us kept a steady pace home. A nice ride which started off chilly but the sun came out and warmed us up nicely. Pics below.