OGIL ride report 9th November 2022
When I commented on my lacklustre performance riding to the café, my legs feeling leaden and energy levels low, our illustrious leader gave his diagnosis as Report Deficiency Syndrome. I was already feeling guilty about not writing reports for the last two Wednesday rides I had been out on, and this comment cut me to the quick. But I have to say it did the trick, and herewith is my summary of the events of the morning of the 9th of November. For the record, on the 19th October we went to the Blue Bar café at Porthtowan, where Simon (eventually) bought us all coffee/tea to celebrate his birthday, and the following week we went to the Milk Barn Café at Mullion. Both of these rides are too long ago for me reliably to recall any detail.
So, on my way to Union Corner I espied a young, very fit looking cyclist just leaving his house. There was an exchange of greetings, but my hearing was not good enough to discern exactly what he said. I made a guess and answered “No way” and continued. On arriving at UC, said cyclist appeared wondering why I had denied that I was on my way to the Wheelers’ ride. A bit embarrassing, but it turns out that Joe (for that is his name) is a junior doctor, and one of his forthcoming rotations will be geriatrics. I presume this meant he was sympathetic and made the appropriate allowances, which is just as well if he intends to ride with us again.
After picking up the out-of-towners at TOP, it was proposed and not contested that we go to Godrevy, and so we did. We followed the tried and tested route up to Nine Maidens, then Bolenowe, Barripper, Penponds and Coombe. We had a short shower just after the top of Carnkie Hill, but otherwise the ride was dry, albeit on wet, and in places muddy, roads. We noticed after getting to the North Cliffs on the way to Godrevy that the Hell’s Mouth café was shut. There was some concern that we had lost Ben, who had stopped to don his gloves on the way to Barripper, never to be seen again despite our illustrious leader stopping and waiting at the next junction. We were re-assured when Ben eventually sent to a message to say he was in Portreath, and asking where we were. He gallantly agreed to ride to Godrevy to meet up with us again, even though that meant riding along the North Cliffs into a stiff WSW wind. We were also joined there by Robin, who had been doing his own thing.
We (mostly) sat outside to eat our snacks and drink our drinks, although the wind was becoming a bit gusty and a couple of bikes which had been left leaning against a fence decided to adopt a lying down position to gain shelter. The advent of another sharp shower persuaded us to climb the stairs to the inside seating, which I must admit was calmer and warmer. Amanda was already there, no doubt wondering why we had braved the elements in the first place.
As we prepared to leave, Ben turned up. He then had to make the difficult decision as to whether to stop for food and coffee, or come with us on the return leg. He bravely opted for the latter, although this did mean he had to make an emergency stop later in Praze to refuel with chocolate. Our route home was the usual Gwithian, Prosper Hill, Connor Downs, Praze, Four Lanes and Stithians. At Stithians we took the now-preferred route of going straight across at the cross roads to meet the A394 at Longdowns, then home via the Donkey Sanctuary and (for those heading back to Falmouth) the lane up past Argal Home Farm.
A good ride, although I personally found it hard work. It was interesting observing Joe pedalling apparently effortlessly up hills that left us puffing and panting in our lowest gears, although I did have to resist entertaining feelings of envy. The rain held off, which has to be a good thing – about 72 km for me. Just under 14.8 m/km of climbing, which makes the route moderately hilly.