Sunday 30th January - Sprint to Deep Mill Diner

Alas our team President was tucked up in his sett this morning so it was just the Team Badgers Hewitson and Hems heading out to Amersham via the badly tarmacked Nightingale Lane (past Chalfont St Giles).  Due to the frost and icy weather we stuck to the main roads and took the Amersham bypass around to the A413 towards Wendover.  To allow time for the coffee stop we cycled only to the Deep Mill Diner at a good pace and nearly wavered on our loyalty to Seasons before seeing sense and heading back into Old Amersham for the obligatory granary toast and latte.  Our mate was again waiting for us in usual position.  Good ride and fine hangover cure for Ed at quite a good pace - 22 miles at 15.5 mph average.

Sunday 23rd January - Ed Puncture and Sprint to Seasons

The pace was good going out from Chorleywood and into Sarrat and then Ed spoiled it all with the first puncture in a long time.  How many men does it take to fix a puncture?  3 to get the tyre off - that is before trying to fix the puncture and then to pump up the tyre with a small and delicate (i.e. ineffective) pump.  Just as well that David mentioned the imperatives of the CO2 canisters securely zipped into his saddle bag as we cycled off.  A Wiggle purchase this week.  After the roadside maintenance was done it was a race against time to get to Seasons for the usual and then back in time for 9:45 am.  It never disappoints although our mate must have been fed up with the usual company (thanks Tom).  We made it back in time and were all the better for a 17 mile cycle at just under 13 mph average.  We are starting slowly and still in January - the improvement comes in March.

Sunday 16th January - First Pednor Loop of 2011

A mild January morning required a removal of winter gear on the way out of Little Chalfont.  The core Badger Racing MAMILS (and Ed) were joined by Andrew Morley who, as one of Chorleywood's seasoned professionals, pushed the pace.  To meet the Sunday morning time requirements, and of course fit in some granary toast and coffee in our favourite Amersham establishment, we opted for the Pednor loop (the left hand way).  We headed out to Amersham and into Chesham before the grade 1.5 (the other side is harder) climb to Pednor and into Hyde Heath before descending into Old Amersham.  As "Seasoned" cyclists our table was reserved in Seasons and our new mate waiting there to hear this week's cycle tails and yet again the skinny latte and toast (and carrot cake for the fit guy) did not disappoint - thanks for shouting Andrew.  A quick ride back along the A404 and we were nearly there for 9:30.  Enjoyable ride - 21 miles at just below 14 mph average.

Sunday 9th January - Frosty Amersham Circuit

On an icy morning it was careful on the roads down to the Sett HQ.  Is cycling really a good sport in January?  Concensus was rather than go for quieter roads which would be quite icy we took the safer option on the main roads.  Thinking about the obligatory stop off more than a scenic route we headed to Amersham and around the back circuit before a very enjoyable latte and toast in Seasons.  What a fantastic stop off location for cyclists.  A 9:30 return time forced us to cut short out investment discussions and head back on main road to Little Chalfont.  The first ride of 2011 and an easy start.  More impressive rides will be surely logged here in the Team Blog.