It was a fine winters morning that twelve loiterers followed John Watson out of Uxbridge to Denham Roundabout. Gaining access to Southlands Road and Hollybush Lane we headed up to Tatling End before heading down to and through Fulmer. We then pedalled alongside Stoke Common and along Templewood Lane to Farnham Common and elevenses at the Burnham Beeches Cafe.
We left “The Beeches” along Lord Mayor’s Drive, descended and ascended Pumpkin Hill before turning int Park Lane and following it to Boveney Wood Lane. At Littleworth Common John led us along Wooburn Common Lane to Cliveden Road along which we cycled, past Cliveden to Taplow and lunch at The Oak and Saw where we found a table laid out for us.
After a fine lunch we left Taplow along Boundary Road and crossing the A4 onto Lake End Road along which we cycled over the M4 and past The Pineapple PH before turning onto the Jubilee River Path. The river was very high but the path was quite dry until we came across the path under the A355. Lawrie Ploughed on in followed by myself and John W while the rest of the party decided try another route. Our feet got very wet but we carried on to the bridge by Agars Plough Playing Fields where we waited for the others who came via Eton Wick. We all carried on through Upton Park to Langley and Trenches Farm to Tea at The Red Lion, Iver. At The Red Lion some carried on home and some stopped for tea before dispersing.
After the dunking the bike had on the Jubilee River Path my bike seemed to be harder to ride, as if the brake were binding but as we cycled towards the tea stop I discovered a lot of play on the rear wheel bearings, the bike was about unridable. Lawrie kindly offered to forgo his tea break and go straight home to get his car to give me a lift home with the bike. When I stripped the back wheel later at home I found that the axle had sheared by one of the bearing cones.
Apart from my mechanical problems we had a fine ride.