Coffeeneuring Challenge: Ride 4

Destination: The Gary Cooper, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU5 4GP
Date: Sunday, 10 November 2013

Hot drink of choice: Tea

Total mileage: 35.5km

Ride details/report:

The local cycling group has been working hard the past few months to develop a programme of led group rides suitable for beginners and returning cyclists. The first series was held the last two weekends of September, on both the Saturday and Sunday. The route was almost entirely traffic-free (what is called "off road" in the UK), totaling about 7 miles along part of the new Busway and returning along part of the local section of National Cycle Network 6. We've had more interest than we expected! The first two weekends, we had more Forumites than new cyclists, but the fourth and final day saw several returning from previous rides, with a ratio of 5 new cyclists to 4 Forumites. 

Five weeks later, we are kicking off a new series, this time every other Sunday and featuring a variety of routes, each one approximately 15 miles. Today saw the launch of this series. The route involved going the full route of the Busway (not just part way), past Luton rail station into High Town then up Old Bedford Road hooking up with NCN6 to return to Dunstable via Leagrave and Houghton Regis. The plan was to then retire to the Gary Cooper pub, so I thought this would be a good coffeeneuring opportunity.  

Meanwhile, today is Remembrance Sunday. Adam's son is in the Air Cadets (the training organisation for teenagers interested in serving in the Air Force). In Dunstable's town centre park, Grove House Gardens, a procession of military cadets kicked off local Remembrance Sunday proceedings at 10am.  Our group ride was not until 11am (with the starting point being exactly where the cadet regiments organised themselves to go on parade), so we cycled down early to catch a glimpse of Sam in uniform with his regiment before they commenced their march round the town. 

some of the assembled regiments,
with the Air Cadets in grey to the right of the large tree

Army officers and cadets 

Sam's regiment. Sam is in the last (nearest) row, third from left -
unfortunately with his right trouser leg slightly rucked up over his shoe!

Soon after they all marched off, cyclists began arriving, gathering in front of the band stand.

Unfortunately, once we set off, I didn't take any photos. In fact, this is a problem that is becoming a pattern. It seems that when I ride alone, I make a decent job of coffeeneuring: more photos of a wider variety of things and, crucially, a photo of my hot drink. But when I ride with others (especially with Adam), I get caught up in conversations and observations and forget to take photos... of anything, but especially of the hot drink! (It doesn't help when everyone else is drinking beer!)  

Nonetheless, I rode my bike at a pleasant sociable pace with friends, ending with a hot drink. Or, ending with an empty mug which had, in the not so distant past, held a hot drink. Namely, good old fashioned English-style tea. White, no sugar.