Last night I went on one of Bigfoot Bike Club's weekly nightrides.  My god it was fun, however getting home and to bed for 00:45 and up and in work for 08:00 doesn't do much for the old energy levels.

Anyway meet at the shop for a 20:00 set off, normally get there for 19:30 and have a natter with BigfootMark but he's not there yet this week.  19:45 and Ian turns up, two bikes on the roof rack.  I washoping he was gonna be using his young son's bike tonight, anything to try and keep up with him lol.  More and more people start turning up then Mark gets there and opens the shop for those last minute things.  eventually we are all set for the off, 15 riders tonight with a new comer, John.  Always good to see new faces.

Off we go from the shop with a fairly nice and fast pace along the road to get to Shirley Hills.  Once we get off the road it isn't long till we hit the mud, it's starting to dry out so feels like glue and really slows you down.  Anyway we try not to let that stop us and plod on up the hills.  Great feeling blasting (or at least trying to with the glue like mud) through the woods in total darkness, nothing but your lights and whits about you to get home safe.  Thank god for those new lights I got from Bigfoot Bikes, those Exposure Race Maxx lights are amazing this year, mind you last years were good to lol.  During one of our climbs I hear a bit of a crunching noise then Rick is stood by the side of his bike looking for his chain.  A twig, the smallest twig you have ever seens has gone right through the chain and snapped it.  Luckily Ian was carrying a Powerlink, I carry on to try and catch up with the others and let them know what's happening so they don't turn round and look for us.

According to my gps we do 11.2 miles before we stop for a pint to celebrate Kev's new arrival to the family and if I am honest I really n eeded that pint    Once we all have a pint or two and watched the dodgy goings on with soe lads and a van, off we set for the final few miles home.  A mix of road and off road as it's getting later than normal.  On the way down a particulaly nice section of downhill we come across this fella in full motorbike gear, helmet and all down this dark and in the middle of nowhere gully.  Just standing there appearing to be all alone, probably best not to think what he was getting upto we thought!!  Just after that Paul gets a nice and fast pinch puncture.  So me, Paul and Rick stop to change the tube, Rick and I start getting worried the man in motorbike gear might soon join us, never seen someone pump a tyre up so quickly after that possibility was put forward lol.  After this the group splits in two myself, Paul and Rick choosing more road as opposed to more off road because we are just shattered.  The group that goes off road get a puncture to.  Leaving me stood at the shop waiting for Ian, my lift home   Anyway they turn up and bikes strapped to the roof off we set.

According to my gps we did 16.9 miles and I had an average of 5 mph with a max speed of just over 40mph (told the downhill was good, but dont think it was quite that good lol).  This gps of mine doesnt record speeds hugely accurately I think.  Anyway 16.9 miles and only two punctures and one snapped chain with 15 riders isn't too bad at all I think.

Thanks for reading.  Phil