The weather forecast proved unerringly accurate for the 9th week of the Witham Wheelers reliability ride series, with the forecast steady rain arriving on time just after 10.00. There were still 16 riders ready to give it a go setting out on the 58 mile route out past Belvoir castle to Scalford before heading south to Wymondham. At just over the half way point and with no sign of the rain relenting and the temperature dropping half of the riders decided that discretion was the ‘better part of valour’ and took the short cut back to Grantham, still completing nearly 40 miles.

This left 7 riders continuing, one punctured for the second time and took another shortcut which left 6 riders reaching the Bythams, before turning north to Ingoldsby and Burton Coggles, completing the full distance at around 17.5 mph

The ‘hardy’ souls braving the elements deserve a mention.

Short route – Geoff Stone, Julie Clark, Tony Mendham, Andy Hayton, Peter Weekley, Carol Milne Martin Milne, Stephen Hobday, Crispin Bridges-Webb

2 Punctures – Mark Taylor

Full Route – Russell Newman, Dave Strickson, Ian Metcalfe, Dave Miller, Simon Cocker, Paul Conneely

Next week its the penultimate ride with a choice of 61 or 49 mile routes heading down towards Rutland Water. Note slightly earlier start time of 8.30 at the cricket Club on Gorse Lane, all welcome, full details on club web site.