Snow again!; WLCA '25', very cold, very slow; later in month warm enough for some training at last.

542 miles

Wed Mar 2^nd 20 miles Went out training down through Rickmansworth, along the by-pass and home up the viaduct. Another very cold night.

Thurs Mar 3^rd 37 miles Cycled to college today; very nice and sunny and I got home without lighting up. Held a committee meeting in the evening at Brian Proctor’s house.

Sun Mar 6^th More snow – did not get out; I am too fed up to bother!

Wed Mar 9^th 35 miles Finally got out, with Roger Bingham, to Amersham and back through Rickmansworth. Still very cold.

Sun Mar 13^th 84 miles Rode in the WLCA medium gear ‘25’. Up at 6.30 a.m. and off number 64 at 8.04. It was far too cold and I didn’t take the event seriously. I rode around the course in long trousers, track shorts, shirt, racing vest and big pullover, and still got very cold with frozen feet. It was also very windy [excuses, excuses!] and I completed the course in 1.19.10!! Potty won the event with a 1.06. The club then went out on the club run to High Wycombe for elevenses and then through the lanes to dinner at Amersham where we stopped to watch an autocross meeting. We came home through Chorleywood and Rickmansworth. It became sunny during the day, but intensely cold.

Mon Mar 14^th 10 miles Up to the club. I took entries for the next ‘25’ and played darts.

Wed Mar 16^th 35 miles Went out training (real training!) up the A 40 to Beaconsfield, then to Amersham and home through the Chalfonts and up the viaduct. A nice warm might at last and I felt keen. It has been 9 degrees warmer these last two days but there is a threat of another drop in temperature soon!

Sat Mar 19^th 9 miles Up to Gordon’s in the morning to meet the club. Have to go to Eastbourne tomorrow to see relatives – by train, so no bike ride.

Thurs Mar 24^th 28 miles Went out for a training ride in the evening after mending a puncture. Rode out through Wembley to Staples Corner; back through Kenton and Harrow. A much warmer night but still very windy.

Fri Mar 25^th 36 miles Less wind, but heavy rain! The sun came out in the afternoon and it then got steadily warmer until it was 65ºF by 3.00 p.m. Perhaps spring has come? So I leapt on my bike with shorts and little white socks and went for a ride through Watford, Abbots Langley, Bedmond and Leverstock Green to St Albans, and then home through Watford and Hatch End. A very nice ride indeed and the first real day of spring – the flies have even come out of hibernation!

Sun Mar 27^th 81 miles Fifteen people out on the club run today! We went the usual way to Chesham for elevenses and then out through Berkampstead, Ashridge Park and Dagnall to Leighton Buzzard for dinner. After waiting a long time for this, we carried on through Dunstable and Markyate to Redbourne, Hemel Hempstead to Kings Langley for tea, and then home through Watford and Hatch End. A nice day although chilly with some showers.

Mon Mar 28^th 16 miles Went up to Gordon’s in the morning and then to the club rooms in the evening. I entered for the Harlequin’s 2^nd class ‘25’ on April 17^th and paid 5/- towards the Easter weekend to the Isle of Wight. I also paid 3/4d for a photograph, and am now broke!

Tues Mar 29^th 38 miles In the afternoon I went to Eastcote twice and then over to Harrow via Wealdstone. Very windy and it has turned cold again. Went training in the evening via Colin Turner’s at West Hyde and then out through Chorleywood to Amersham and home via the Chalfonts and Ickenham. A cold night, but I felt fitter – I hope that it is real!

Thurs Mar 31^st 41 miles It was cold in the morning but in the afternoon the sun gained strength and it was really lovely, warm and spring-like. Went out for a ride through the lanes via Elstree, Letchmore Heath, Radlett, Frogmore, Abbots Langley Kings Langley and home through Rickmansworth and Pinner. An extremely nice afternoon and there were distinct signs of spring – even though it is somewhat late! Held a committee meeting at Keith Piddell’s in the evening.