I did a ride in 2001 that I do every year. It is in October and normally in good weather but this year was different. Circular route so wind should not have been a problem. It was. It changed so that for the majority of the ride- there was a headwind. The stiff breeze tuned itself up to 70mph winds. Oh and it rained aswell. Horizontal rain in the face required a face mask but who carries them on an Autumn ride- I did. The only way we could progress forward was a pace line. Sounds great, a pace line at 5mph but that was the best we could do in the exposed parts. If you tried riding on your own- then you were finished in 5 minutes, but with that pace line of 8 of us- we took about 1 minute in the lead and then 7 minutes rest. It was only a century, but it took 1 1/2 hours longer than usual. Oh and a new rear wheel cos the seals blew on the Freehub and the pawls never did engage again.
I still do that ride but check the weatherforecast, Rain or wind forecast and I don't bother going to that ride.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan