All Pulling Together 21/08/2024

This was a day when many of our planned ride leaders were not available, and in true Easy Rider fashion, others stepped up to the mark to take their places. Peter SK took over the ride leader for the medium group and Lawrence and Mike led the short group. Well done all!

The medium group went out to the familiar destination of Paper Mill Lock, and with his normal aplomb, Peter had planned a less well-ridden route, using a few tracks. On the way back, where we were riding the Green Lanes track, I pedalled ahead as I’m anxious in group riding on uneven surfaces. Happily pedalling and watching the surface, I forgot I’d gone ahead, and wondered where our lead rider had gone when I got to the T-junction. Fortunately, Peter called out with directions to wait, and turn right. Note to self – DON’T ride off the front of the group! Oops!

Health & safety tip for the day comes from my ride with Andy a day or two later. I was stung by a bee as I rode towards Little Waltham, and Andy removed it before I rubbed most of the venom into the wound. Fortunately, I had antihistamine pills in my bar bag, which dramatically reduced the pain of the sting. It was Julie Gray who gave me antihistamine pills a year or so ago, so it’s all credit to her for telling me to add it to my bar bag kit.