With the team roster for 2012 recently established, team captain Nic Bertrand thought it would be a good idea to organise a team ride to our title sponsor - Biketreks in picturesque Ambleside deep in the heart of the Lake District. This was an opportunity for riders to begin to get to know each other better, for a relaxed but long distance training run to get some all important base miles in and most importantly for our new riders to visit Biketreks to meet the shop staff and get a better understanding of who and what they will be helping to publicise throughout 2012 as well as seeing first hand the sort of excellent service, advice and facilities that Biketreks have on offer to customers.
A foggy, chilly but dry day greeted a large cohort of the team with some notable exceptions who were sorely missed. In attendance were Jonny Cregeen - the Manx Missile MK2, this version reaches a higher altitude much quicker than the original! Callum, Kieren, Johnny D, Chris and the only rider to develop tendonitis of the jaw through talking too much in cold weather Sandy Lockett. Sorely missed today were Gaz, Connor (who made an appearance at the shop nursing a dodgy knee - get well soon Connor) James, Jonny Evans and last but very much not least team captain Nic Bertrand, another unfortunate victim of a dodgy mid winter knee injury - goes without saying how frustrated the team's lynch-pin was at not being part of this ride.
With a route that stretched from Lancaster up into the Lakes to Ambleside the riders took regular turns at the front to keep the pace 'healthy' and with a nice even amount of 6 riders there was plenty of opportunity for riders to swap formation and chat to each other. With a combined age that would make Joan Rivers nervous Johnny D and Chris played the joint role of patron - dictating the pace, making sure no one was left behind at any point and trying (without much success) to keep the intermittent heckling to a minimum.
With the team arriving at Biketreks, Keith the shop's official fashion expert stoked up the espresso machine and served up some great cappuccinos while riders chatted to Mike, Colin, Piotr and shop manager Sarah who where all running the shop that day. Unfortunately Andy Stephenson shop owner and Biketreks visionary was not about - hopefully he was out on his bike somewhere, it was too good a day not to be!
A long undulating ride along the opposite side of Windermere going south towards Newby Bridge provided varying pace and a chance for more chat, as Chris turned for home towards Barrow it was just the young guns left with Johnny D representing the over twenty fives, alright - he was also representing the over thirty fives, but we'll gloss over that! A big climb into Grange Over Sands followed by a long flat fast ride into a direct headwind all the way back to Lancaster had the team riders switch into 'quietly committed' mode and it was time for the banter to stop. With the remaining riders all doing their turns on the front it was a tired but fast moving group that arrived home with over 80 miles on the clock, some good base miles in the legs and plans to do another team ride hopefully with a full cohort next time.
