Training continued with a meeting of four of our number for a pleasant ride on Easter Monday. Everything started well all turning up at Iain’s on time and raring to go. Eventually we set off and within 2 miles the curse of my pedal reared its ugly head again when it duly fell off. I had by now revised my Scout motto and was now prepared so a quick stop later we were away on a steady ride down by the Trent to West Stockwith stopping outside the pub where we resisted its calling and drank water instead.

Progress went well until Richard realised that the going had rapidly got harder and looking down realised he was travelling on a very flat front wheel. Repairs were soon organised, wheel off in no time Simon soon had the inner tube out thorn found and removed, inner tube hole found and repaired, posh gas cylinder out and tyre and repaired wheel inflated. Unfortunately as soon as it was blown up a loud hissing indicated a repeat performance was required as the tyre flattened before our eyes. On finishing the second repair we returned to our bikes where Iain discovered his front wheel had come out in sympathy and was also flat as a pancake. After helping with Richard’s wheel he was well trained and was off like a shot inner tube off in no time but then couldn’t find the hole, seconds later he was charging towards the canal dunking the whole tyre in the freezing water, hole found and soon repaired but we now had two problems, we were rapidly running out of the posh carbon dioxide cylinders and Iain was suffering frostbite in the wind from his wet hands.