Terrible News!

We've been officially refused entry to the World Pit Stop Challenge because word of our dismal performances has leaked out.

Looks like recent suggestions of how to behave/trail etiquette may have fallen on deaf ears if the time taken for simple puncture repairs on this ride is anything to go by (Thursday 10th december 2009).

It's probably not worth repeating but I will anyway - if you get a flat, get your finger out and fix the damn thing. Oh, and make sure you CAN fix it before you start the ride. Sympathy is running pretty low now but that's because we've been too selfish. If someone offers help, just accept it and get a move on.

That'll do.

Ride was shortened due to lost time on this one because of these unfortunate, unavoidable incidents (the actual intrusion of foreign objects into tyres and, er, tubes). However, the Speedian's first half was brilliant, almost totally off-road with a stack of good urban and rural singletracking. The return forced us onto tarmac at Hartley before picking up the bridleways near Delaval Hall thanks to quick thinking and re-routing by Ian B.

And thanks to both Ians for the encouragement which kept me going after I'd felt like turning for home early on. As it was we were back at the Cave at 9:30pm and although the ride was short it was still entertaining.