Cycle Review - Day 2
Thursday: Bedford - Oxford
63 miles

7am: Wake up. Drink Rice Krispies from a mug. Novelty soon turns to frustration at not getting a good mouthful.
7:45: Move bikes downstairs, and outside. Lots of checking of tyres.
8am: Off on time, very strict on this today, well we would be after yesterday.
8.15: Bedford in rush hour, is a place for the fearless, namely Greenleaf, whose method of cycling up the middle of the road past stationary vehicles, although initally suspect is soon adopted by all.
8.45am: Lots of bemused schoolkids in suburbia.
9am: The cheek of it! A hill appears for the first time this week and a thin line of cyclists snakes its way up. A bit windy as well. A impressively long trail of cars is left behind us. A photo stop is taken for posterity, but as Leon points out, not quite at the top of the hill, leaving a slow start to get going again
9.30am: Pace going well here, out in the country now, certainly not flat like yesterday, but no King of The Mountains points on offer as yet...
9.41am: Smash, Bang, Wallop!! Steve hits the deck with a nasty thud, having clipped the slowing Machine. Luckily the car behind stopped in time. Apart from ripped trousers (ironic given what's in his luggage - more of that latter) and bruised pride, it's all OK though.
9.52am: Through Newport Pagnell, though Maverick Davies is slightly concerned at the signs for Northampton.
10.11am: Bit of a bonk kicking in now, but Machine had us on the right course, we look in some random village for a shop, but there is a sense of achivement so far today, so we decide to nudge on a bit further.
10.20am: Cross M1 and West Coast Main Line in quick succession.
10.27am: A proper hill! Over the Grand Union Canal and up towards Watling Street. Greenleaf claims the points.
10.32am: Bit of a busy section here over the A5
10.45am: Stop for some food, in the delightfully quaint Deanshanger. We're doing well. Martin looks fresh as a daisy. Route ahead looks a bit more undulating, but the carrot of a pub lunch is a good one
11.01am: Rich takes some more action shots
11.12am: A lot more undualting. Some splits in the ranks appear - The tete de la course is Rich Martin and Andy, with Machine hovering in no mans land, and Leon and Steve keeping their noses in front of the broom wagon.
11.30am: Some good speeds on the downhills, it seems to be long downhills followed by long uphills for a good 10 miles.
12.10pm: Still it goes on - but this is what we're here for!
12.45pm: Martin takes Steve's back, sneakily before a massive downhill where the day's highest speeds are attained
13.00pm: Confirmed between us lunch will be in Bicester, and the leaf knows just the place, so when the signs say Bicester 10 (like they do for the next 6 miles) the pace quickens.
13.10pm: At least its flatter now, but this is good training.
13.40pm: We're into Oxfordshire, there is serious evidence of tiredness, and the clouds are closing in...
14.05pm: After a bit of a slight minor diversion, said pub is found. Relief and pleasure in equal measure all round. Especially as it just starts to rain.
14.10pm: Talk of early doors lash subsides, except for the boy Davies who orders a Guiness.
14.25pm: The food is great, the rain is lashing down outside, the barmaid seems friendly...
14.40pm: We don't want to get up, but we must crack on before dark. Barmaid engages Steve in conversation.
14.55pm: Leon, Andy and Martin are 2 miles towards Oxford. Where's Steve and Matt??
15.05pm: Apparently Steve has been 'talking' to the barmaid all that time!
15.20pm: It't not far to Oxford and this is real team effort to get there, fast but pleasurable as the end is in sight.
15.55pm: A sprint for points into the travellodge carpark is won by Martin.
16.00pm: Matt and Andy appear, having gone round the whole roundabout to make sure it was the right one.
16.05pm: Reflect on a day that has gone amazingly to plan.
16.30pm: A bit of rest.
17.00pm: Discover why Steve has to give his backpack to other people. For some reason he is carrying two pairs of jeans - conversely Martin travels so light his shoes are bent in two! Martin therefore coins a nickname of TwoJeans for Steve, which sticks like superglue!
18.00pm: Head into Oxford.
18.30pm: Nice pint of Samuel Taylor's
19.00pm: Andy has to down most of his in time for meal!
20.00pm: Most people have gone for the pasta option, wisely. Discussion of tomorrow turns to Greenleafs local knowledge, mention of some kind of hill, and the major lash planned for tomorrow
21.00pm: On the basis of tonight, lash is under threat as we're all drowsy and ready to sleep already!
21.30pm: The snug sofas in this pub don't help you to stay awake!
22.00pm: Sensibly, it's back to the hotel and ready for the morning strike to Winchester!

Day in Review

Quotes:
'Judging by the fudge factor so far' Rich
'There's been no fun factor' Gasman
'Blenheim Pal-lash' Baptiste
'Stirrups' Woonton
'Two Jeans Woonton' Gasman
'Discipline me' Woonton

High Point:
Pub Lunch
Arriving at hotel before dark
For Steve: friendly barmaid

Low Points:
Steve's mishap
Croissant Prices for Martin

What we Learnt:

• What comes down must come up
• Toe clips are not known as stirrups
• Don't ask for Plasters as this in itself is a health and safety risk
• Don't take a backpack

No of Wrong turnings: 1, into Bicester

No of Collisions: 1: Matt & Steve

Day summed up: Ups, downs, & buxom barmaid

editors note: I find this day remarkabely more difficult to the other two to recall, anyone else find this? Probably cos I wasn't forced to my physical extremes any any point like the other two...