The clocks have definitely shifted, and with temperatures hitting a glorious 20°C all day, there were absolutely no excuses for missing tonight’s assembly. It was a stunning evening for a bike ride, and the extra daylight meant it was still bright as everyone finished, though the low spring sun is a timely reminder that a decent rear light is still needed in the evening, and post-beer lights for the ride home are a non-negotiable requirement.
The roads were relatively kind this week, with no major disasters to report, though we came hair-raisingly close to total carnage on the A38. Heidi’s double apparently thought it was a wise move to scoot out and attempt to clip in directly in front of a Mag7 groupetto hammering along at 52 km/h. It was a heart-in-mouth moment that could have ended in a very messy pile of carbon and Lycra, but thankfully, everyone stayed upright to ride another day.
The A38 itself was feeling particularly "Paris-Roubaix" tonight, which is fitting given the time of year. We had a great ride and social watching the Tour of Flanders last Sunday, but the "Big One" is this Sunday, can Tadej complete the all-in-one-year set?
Talking of the elite, even the very best have their vices. Despite their blistering pace, the Mag7 were overheard in deep, slightly anxious conversation this evening regarding their power-to-weight ratios. It seems a heavy rotation of Domino’s and late-night McDonald’s runs has left the group’s "big engines" fretting over their body-fat percentages. It is a classic cyclist’s dilemma: trying to hold 52 km/h on the flat while wondering if that extra "wrap of the day" is currently acting as unwanted ballast.
In the world of aquatic entertainment, Tim’s quest for swimming music continues. While swimming isn't an official club activity, we’ve made some progress; his bone-conducting headphones are now loaded with MP3s, though clearly not enough to satisfy him just yet. They are currently still in my possession for a final top-up, and I’ll be adding some Becky Hill to the mix before his next dunk in the pool. It turns out that while Pirate Bay and LimeWire might be considered ancient relics of a bygone era, they still do a grand job of sourcing the hits when the vintage tech demands it.
Looking ahead to Sunday, we have a simple request for the membership: you don't need to do much, but we do need to hear from you. Please let us know if you’re coming along so Sarah knows exactly how many baguettes to bake and how much cheese to churn. We wouldn't want anyone going hungry after a long stint in the wind. Finally, don't forget to cast your vote in the most improved rider poll if you haven't already.

If you weren't out with us tonight, you truly missed out, it was a spectacular evening to be on two wheels.

Stay safe and see you next week!