Three Old friends Go For a Ride.

Sunday November 6th and I turned up at the Green just in time to see the tail end of Group 1 going off up the road. I went back to the Crown to find Jenny mustering her troops ready for a ride to Biggin Hill. That left Brian Bulmer and one other ride ( I forget names sorry ), he was making the usual noises about not been out for so weeks not fit etc. Roger turned up thus four of us left the Green heading on what was billed a mystery tour of Brian’s Kent . Not long into the ride and there was only the three “Old Gits” left. (Red rage Bull to mention lack of fitness in front of Brian).Now that there was only the three of us the ride was not going to be a mystery “The Loose Woman’s Institute” via a devious collection of short cuts that some how increased the length of the ride. Having ridden with Brian for just short of half a century and I first met Roger exactly 50 years ago . This did not mean that it was going to be a repeat of a ride we have already done, Brian thought he knew a short stretch of road I would not have ridden down, no chance, but the getting there was interesting. Brian, pointed out the scenic views that made this route his favourite training ride, and if we add a little loop to Boughton Monchelsea we will get the best view of Weald. “I ride down this hill with my brakes on to savour the view and some times ride back up for another look “, Brian related , as I slipped backwards on the extra long drag from East Farleigh.

                                                            Loose Mill as it was in the 1920

Roger was relating the story about meeting with a school boy champion called Dean and how he ended up staying the week with his parents on the Isle of Wight back in 1960. Then they realized I had slipped of the back and waited for me I added my contribution to the yarns, by relating how Loose was once at the heart of Kent industry. The Quarries near here produced the stone for Westminster Abbey and the narrow valley from Boughton down to Tovil had a number of interlinked Mill ponds powering a number of Mills.By know we had dropped down on to the Weald and where heading back into the wind towards Yalding, the many ups and downs of Brians mystery ride began to bite and it was with some relief that we arrived at the Yalding Café. A brief detour to the Level crossing at Nettlestead to see if we could get through the road closer at the Station, we could so we went back to the Café for lunch.
Brian was busy talking to one of the locals who he knew you can guarantee that Brian will know some one if you stop at a café anywhere in Kent. Whilst sitting having our food I could have sworn I saw a small group of Avanti riders pass? More Yarns and it was back to the ride home stiff legged but soon the pace was up again before the long grind up Plaxtol, Roger went his own way at “Piddlers Gate” and Brian mercifully eased me to the top of Polhill from where I made my own way home. It had turned out to be a good ride no mystery for me even down to Brians quietly persuasive left next turning then take a right. This is when you know the ride it is going beyond the 60 miles billed on the Web and becomes 85 miles. When he says it is flat from here, you turn head on into a grinding wind, and he will relate that if you continue up the hill it becomes really steep, “turn left here”, and you arrive back on the road you just left having gained 1 mile after riding five extra. After all if you are new to the sport and don’t have local knowledge how will you know you don’t have to always go the hardest route. I am not averse to the occasional devious route like Brian we really are kindred spirits. After all I had spent Saturday afternoon trying to ride through lanes stay within the M25 and not going through an urban conurbation I started at Dartford Heath and gave up at Westerham Hill. All part of my planned route around London in side the M25 I have worked out most of the route South of the river need some courage to tackle the unknown North West.                  I meet Roger 50 Years ago.
So next time Brian or myself are down as runs leader and you fancy something other then checking out how many meters you have climbed at x mph using y watts of energy on your Garmin, and fancy the old way of just riding and enjoying the experience of looking beyond the wheel in front of you.