An odd ride starting on an industrial (e)state in Crewe. The starter had a very odd way of starting the ride with a le mans style run across a road (yes a road) to jump on the bikes. I wasnt amused so stood back and took some pics of cyclist hobbling across the road to get their bikes - it was gonna be one of those rides. Rode out with a guy called Pete to the first check point - got there in double quick time, so quick the controller wasnt ready! So a bit of a faff we carried on. As Pete decided to jump a red light - mmmh sportive ride behaviour, decided to let him get on with it and rode for the first ride half by myself. Second on the road. Que the second rider - Paul, thought he was a tri athletic with his two bottles attached to his seat post, but it was for his bits and bobs. A seat post bag maybe, but hey, each to his own. Again, let him drift off and rode a bit more by myself. (3rd on the road) A sneaky, direct route thru one of the villages got me in sight of Pete, again let him go and focused on my own riding - which was piss poor, 3 weeks off the bike (I aint counting the failed Anglesey ride). I decided to stop for a gel and noticed that a group of riders behind me who was on the ride as well so I tagged on the back of them. Have to say the skill level was poor, not riding together, some odd riders lines over the nipple size hills of the Cheshire plains. Not good, no - one looking behind when overtaking slower riders. I decided to crank the power and move to the front with ease and quashed someones comments of "these hills" - these aint hills! But that was as good as got I was feeling it and getting dehydrated - wtf, I been up a mountain in Morrocco in 35c heat! Tanked up on water at Old Ma's cafe - this time the service was a bit faster, shame it didnt help. Sense of humour failure was imminent - I was acting as navigation for one of the riders, who didnt even register on the ride (it was for charity as well!) and only had his route sheet in his back pocket. Heavy & crampy legs, I gave my excuses and directions to him. Traffic lights - they werent on my side, everyone red. The larger group caught up - decided to ride with um but I took a wrong turn - a GPS unit was only as good as the person reading it. Probably for the best that I rode in alone, back to the industrial estate in Crewe. Nice ride and peeps, could have done with a control at Old Ma's cafe instead of an info point 71km in - many riders got confused and me ride had a slower average then me 200km ride! mmmh.