Pete Jinks took the easy group along the valley to the cafe, while the 'moderate' group went out to Fotheringhay and back via Kings Cliffe and Bulwick. On the way we had a taste of Paris Roubaix (Kirby Lane) and the Strade Bianche (newly-gritted road near Nassington). We also met a character who, on first encounter looked like Tom De Moulin but turned out when we saw him again to be a Marco Pantani replica, complete with full Maglia Rosa and pink shorts, earring and bandana. It's funny what you see around the lanes!
A good turnout and it was nice to have some new faces along on the ride. When we arrived the place was absolutely packed with cyclists. Great atmosphere but temporarily nowhere to sit and a long wait for service.
The drinks and cakes were very good but NO TOILETS - how is that supposed to work?

Steve W went off with three ladies and tried out his idea for a freewheeling competition - watch out for this. The main group of seven rode out round Noseley, Great Glen and Kibworth to meet up at the cafe. On the way we passed a farm with two donkeys and a very young foal. This prompted someone to ask if you could milk a donkey and, if so, could you make cheese with the milk? Funny what you talk about on rides. Here's a photo of Greg looking every inch a modern Cyclist.

Quite a pleasant day, with a cool start, but it warmed up nicely later on. Steve took a small 'easy' group out by the direct route, while the main group went on a rather more hilly ride to Uppingham, Wing and along to Edith Weston and then we twiddled about around Lynton and Preston. Somewhere along the way we managed to lose Neil. We went back to look for him, but no success. If you're reading this Neil - sorry! In future I plan to give everyone a card with my mobile number on it so that people don't get irretrievably lost. This week's photo shows four happy riders post coffee and cake.

After a rather inauspicious start, weather-wise, things warmed and dried up, resulting in quite a pleasant day. Pete Wilson and Nathan went off on a training ride, promising to meet us at the cafe. The 'standard ride' went via Rothwell, Harrington, Kelmarsh, Clipston and Foxton, round the Langtons to Medbourne.
Steve Wickham, meanwhile, lead the Womens' Ride (with a few men tagging along) for a slightly easier ride. When we all met up at Cafe Neville there must have been about 25 of us all together, with at least 10 women riders.  It was good to see this level of support for our inaugural Womens' Ride and we hope that there will be many more of them. The sun shone warmly while we supped and ate in the courtyard ready for a (fairly) gentle ride home.

Everybody seemed to arrive at the last minute for today's ride. I had selected my kit in the hope that it would warm up, which it never did, really. It was good to have the company of Kiera in full team kit and very tasty bike, who brought her friend Haddi with her. The route was quite hilly, taking in Uppingham, Belton, Knossington and Cold Overton. After that, it levelled out a bit after Wissendine to Wymondham, where we met up with Steve W who had brought another group on a rather gentler route. The ride back was mostly into the teeth of a stiff breeze through Market Overton to Empingham, and back through Morcott to home. Today's photo is a view from the back of the bunch.

Ten of us, including two newcomers left the club house in cool sunshine to ride to Manton, where we caught the Rutland Melton Classic (Rutland's answer to Paris-Roubaix) on its first circuit to Rutland Water - photo 1. We picked up another new member and went on to Launde via Brooke and Belton. Alas, I hadn't realised that this was only his second time out on the bike, so it was something of a baptism of fire!
After having refuelled at Launde, everyone seemed to want to turn for home so I went on alone to Owston, where I caught the race coming through again (photo 2 - this is what you missed folks). By now the sun was shining warmly and the atmosphere was buzzing- well worth going again, perhaps next year. I now headed back via Cafe Ventoux, which by 3:30 was nearly empty and got home having covered 60 miles.

A select group of 6 set off into a brisk head wind toward Kibworth. Alas, we had one drop-out (no names mentioned) at Tur Langton. We carried on through Saddington, Shearsby and Gilmorton to Walcote, where we turned toward home and were blessed with a tail wind. This took us through South Kilworth, Welford and Sibbertoft and then on past Clipston to Great Oxendon. On arriving at Waterloo Farm we met Eileen and Norman, who were about to set of for 'points East'. Cake and coffee were very welcome before we set off for home, completing a ride of 52 miles in total. According to the BBC rain was forecast but this held off and we remained dry.

What a lovely day! Warm sun and everyone in shorts - almost like summer. Lots of other cyclists about on the route around Kings Cliffe and Fotheringhay. Here's a photo of Julian in 'reflective mood'

I think about 20 of us started out for Venoux in two groups. We all arrived there eventually, anyway. Weather was good and a  pleasant, though rolling  route through Billesdon, Hungarton, Baggrave Park and Owston. A couple of people developed slow punctures but no mishaps otherwise. Here's a photo of the last ones to leave.