Nine riders met at 10.00 and set off in partial sunlight on a cold and windy day. We headed west through via Umberslade Rd through Kemps Green on Nuthurst Rd we encountered standing water covering the entire road. We made our way carefully through the water, with a few wet feet but clean wheel rims. We continued to Lapworth Street where we waited a brief time for the back markers and Nigel to catch up. Bob decided to take a drink and Nigel continued by himself, this was the last time we saw him until we reached the Pub at lunch. We made our way to Preston Bagot then up Osset's Hole Lane stopping for 11's at Lye Green where Joan noticed her front Mech was broken leaving her in the small ring for the rest of the ride. We made our way to Kenilworth via Hatton and Beausale for the last 10 mins we battled against the elements wind rain and hail until we reached the Cottage Inn where Nigel was sitting in the dry. The Pub management had changed hands on the Monday and after a bit of a delay changing the beer barrel, we had a good meal and were joined with Tim (yet another puncture) and Judith. After Lunch Bob set off back on his own to Stratford and the now 10 riders set off back via Warwick Uni cyclepath passing through another HS2 road closure and struggled against the wind through Barton Green, Balsall Common and Chessett's Wood to Packwood. At this point we lost John (he decided to head straight for home without telling anyone) so the Captain recycled part of the route to try and find him. Tim punctures reappeared which meant a further delay and we finally made it back to Earlswood in two separate groups 44 miles in total. First time leading wasn't too bad after all.
