"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain

Sorry for the delay, slight virus problem. Not a destructive virus, just an annoying one. No viruses were sent out by myself to any of you because the mail scanning was working. It was caused by a fault in Norton Anti-Virus, part of Norton Internet Security, caused by a virus that attacks popular virus checkers when surfing the web. I got rid of it by downloading a free virus checker.

Bike ride, despite the complaints that not only did I blow away the cobwebs, I blew the spider away as well, every one seemed to enjoy the ride. We cycled from the Usher Hall, through the Meadows, down Ratcliffe Terr, up Mayfield Road, down to Kirk Brae, up Kirk Brae, along Lasswade Road, where Neil was accused of being an obstacle in the Cycle Lane, to (yes you guessed) to Lasswade. Up Polton Road (one peron's first puncture) to Rosewell, where we took the A6094 (2 mechanical failures, a broken spoke and a limping bottom bracket) to Leadburn.

A fairly short(ish) lunch and back along the A701, A703 and A702 to my place ( at a rapid speed ) for Mince Pies, coffee or tea and small home baked muffins kindly supplied by ride participants. One Person had another puncture, and was kindly guided to Bike Co-Op by Mark Symonds (Did you get there OK?) for new tyres, hopefully in the sale. Hopefully the rest of you got home safely.

Hope the minor mechanical failures two others participants experienced were quickly fixed.

Stats

Total Distance  46.7km (29.19 miles)
Total Climb    532 m (1,745 ft)  (Max Altitude 279 m (915ft) aasl)
Avg Speed       20.3 km/h (12.68 mph)
Avg Temp         4 deg C (39.2 deg F)

I need to know whether you are a Spokes Member, a CTC member, a member of both, or a member of neither one nor t’other. (I am now a member of both again). I need to know this for insurance purposes for Spokes Rides only. If you don’t want me to know, that’s fine, I’ll assume you are a member of neither. I don’t need to know any person’s address or home (or work) phone number.

Spokes and CTC members should be aware that I am the designated leader on the Spokes Sunday Ride. You will shortly receive an email relating to organiser’s liability and your behaviour on a Spoke’s Sunday Ride. Those of you who are not members will receive the standard Spokes limitation of liability notice.

Lastly, if you get time, could you please pass on to me any constructive comments (apart from it being out of date), on the old Spokes Web Site. All comments gratefully received.

Best Wishes to you all for the New Year, hope to see you in February 2004.

Remember “Explore. Dream. Discover.”