Having just returned from Scotland I was hoping for perhaps a nice 'flat' ride to Diss to try and get back in the swing of things but the blast from the west convinced others that Clare was the only option and my heart sank thinking of all those hills.

However I was in my Tour de France yellow top and thought I might well get the protection it deserved. Six of us left the bus stop, Justin, Peter, Stephen, Ron and myself along with a late arrival Sharon from Diss.

Now Sharon is a tri-athlete and is a physical trainer at L A Fitness and she is fit - in fact, very fit. Having been off the bike a couple of weeks (I did have fun on our 'fold -up' bikes) I was surprised at the fitness I had managed to retain and had no problem going out to Clare where we were well received by the charming Sarah (Who was shocked at the size of my sporran when I lifted up my top on paying!!).

Following pots of tea and blueberry muffins we charged off on the return through Poslingford with a tail wind and it wasn't long before the legs started to tell me they did'nt like the hills. This was where my so called 'Team' deserted me, not only me but Sharon too! I, of course, stayed with her on the pretence that I was the perfect gentleman when in fact I was trying to hide my incompetence of staying on their back wheels.

However, it all came together and we sailed along home - just about fifty miles. Although it threatened, it did not rain and we had a nice ride (although I only rate my team 8 out ten)

It's somebody's birthday next week but I must not tell anybody!

Tony (Lance)