United we stand …

OGIL ride 28 April 2021

Miss Molly's
Miss Molly’s

The crew assembling at Union Corner were blessed with a double visitation this week – both Adrian and the hairy man stopped for a chat before racing off to meet their compatriots at the Other Place. We were few in number, and the threat of rain throughout the morning from the forecast cemented a popular decision to head for our wet weather venue of choice – Miss Molly’s, despite the obvious drawback that we wouldn’t be able to take refuge inside from the elements.

When we reached the Other Place the others were still there. Whether they had decided independently on Miss Molly’s or just thought our idea was worth running with, we united to form a ten strong bunch heading up to Camborne. Despite the forecast, there was clearly a surfeit of optimism when it came to apparel. My count was shorts-6, three quarters-2, longs-2. Time would tell who the realists were.

A slightly circuitous route out through Porkellis, Releath, Crowan, Praze, Carnhell Green and Barripper brought us to our destination surprisingly dry, but with the beginnings of doubts being raised by some as to whether shorts had been the best choice for the day. We ensconced ourselves in the newly built lean-to in the car park at Miss Molly’s. This serves its purpose, in that it would keep the rain off if there had been any. It’s construction did not seem terribly robust, though, sporting as it did one of the bounciest floors I have come across. Anyone walking across it started tremors that threatened to bring the various dressers and other items of furniture (all for sale at bargain prices, of course) crashing down about our ears. Still, nothing did fall over other than the quality of service, which was painfully slow. Possibly due to the distance from the kitchen and across the car park to the lean-to the food came out lukewarm, but we sympathised when we discovered that the kitchen was busy doing a community roast “for the oldies”. Thankfully, they didn’t invite us to participate. As the lean-to was well ventilated, as it needs to be for COVID purposes, it was also incredibly cold, and jackets and other items of clothing were donned as the time went by, and exposed knees began to turn blue. The only person with some relief was Ian who positioned himself immediately below a small halogen reading light which gave off enough warmth to prevent frostbite in the nape of his neck.

Not much in the way of news, except that Dean is concerned that his Strava-estimated power output has gone down to 98 watts compared to something well over 100 a little while ago. Phil (1) worries about getting big knees, presumably from all the cycling and running he does, although they haven’t got to the point yet where they impinge on his top tube. The only person experiencing knee rub was Adrian, testing out his new high capacity top tube bag in readiness for a spot of touring. We all participated from a position of ignorance on the issue of when is a wall a retaining wall and when is it just a wall. There may have been other, more interesting snippets discussed at the other two tables, but of course I am too polite to ear-wig.

After a record near two hour stop at MM we ventured home by the usual route round the top of Carn Brea to Four Lanes then straight to Stithians, various riders peeling off at appropriate points depending on their ultimate destination. As far as I know we all got home in the dry, which is a minor miracle considering the weather forecast. We must be grateful for small mercies despite the cold.

A better that expected day. 65 km for me.

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