it has finally dawned on Tom and i that we have a 24 hour race in just over 2 weeks! I am so not ready, so we decided to ride out tonight. It was always going to be tight. Leaving the shop  at 5pm and heading over to Bickley gate for the start at 615pm. As with all best laid plans it went wrong right at the beginning. It was after 10 past before i left the shop. Tom was having a quick chat with Squeak, as far as i was concerned every second counted so i politely snarled 'get a move on' and we were off. Apparently he likes my bossy side! Squeak passed in the car near the Everley and slowed to ask why was i struggling for breath and Tom was cruising? I decided he probably isn't so keen on my bossy side so refrained from making any comment. Up Wrench Green we went, at the top i ordered, sorry i mean asked Tom to go ahead so he made the start at 615. He seemed very happy to leave me! Pete reported later that Tom flew in! I would have made it if i had left in time, nothing like a bit of pressure to get me moving. I flew by Pete Blood leading the beginners group on their first ride out. Sorry not to stop and say hi. I caught up with Tom and the rest of our group at Crosscliffe and we were off towards the Hole of Horcum. Back out after quite a break was Matt Goy, he did look a bit puzzled as apart from me he knew no one. great to see mark out again tho, a regular rider from the past and one of the “what happens in Scotland stays in scotland” gang, i carried his shopping all the way until the end of the ride. I do have my nice side even if i did bring one wrong pair of brake pads! We kept up a good pace, certainly faster than a 'social' group ride, at one point father baked bean asked 'where's the social group?' Then he looked at Ravenscar Chris as he said 'we are it!' grins all round, they both kept up with the pace no prob tho. Oliver B kept us all entertained with his creaking bike, we think a new seat post or some grease is in order! Orange Matt and Orange Lee were both out bringing along their more famous mate, Michael Jackson, not sure where Elvis was tho. I have decided to re christen orange matt 'Matt the Branch' so he can happily recall every time he hears it the joy of hitting every low branch on one section, nearly garroting himself at one point. We were sparse with our sympathy. After the Horcum section we headed back along old wives way, picked up Matt the Branch's trail and then i decided to take some old single track, which as i explained involved a right, a right and another right. Some bright spark said 'a circle then debs?' I really thought nobody was going to follow me and ride it at one point! We made our way back to Crosscliffe and then split, sandwich chris, leading the group back via the red whilst Tom and i blasted back home. 40.2 miles in just under 4 hours for Tom and i, only another 20 hours of riding for the 24, no problem! 

Sounds like another two good rides.  You lot were probably warmer than us TTers too, goosepimpled in skinsuits in the wind coming over the Marishes. We'll be back with you on knobbly tyres next week. (TTs are fortnightly.)

You need a new bike like Tom's, Deb. They'd be matching, although I don't think you'd mix them up.