The daytime temperatures had been oscillating around the 30 degree mark for a week and the weatherperson promised the hottest day of the year. Sure enough it was so sultry in the morning that Maggie's walk was called off but for the few ready to try a ride in the heat it began to cloud over by two-o-clock.
I had other worries; at Beddington Park I could not dismount, my left foot permanently affixed to my pedal as the cleat would not disengage. Was I to be stuck on my bike forever? We planned to visit the Wallington Music Festival after the ride; I supposed I could watch from my bike. But even damnation is poisoned with rainbows; I would not have to go to see the Bridget Jones film that evening. But sleep? And going to church tomorrow? Well, I would be able to get there alright, but we're a bit traditional for me to go riding in to my stall in the choir. While the Beddington Parkers chatted on I bent down and undid the lace on my shoe, dismounting with a stockinged foot. Still could not budge the shoe until with one final wrench, off it came. Phew! Put it on again, re-mount, stuck again.
So with old timers Anna, Roger, Sharon and newcomer Dominika all expecting a ride, Maggie had to take on the leadership of the ride while I cycled up to Wallington Cycles and, literally, into the shop and up to the counter. They told me I just had some screws loose, but Maggie has been telling me that for years.
Meanwhile the astraphobics had overcome their decidophobia (if not their hippopotomonstros-esquipodaliophobia) and opted for an old favourite, not visited since last week. But this was a different starting point and, best of all, they were going to ride the official route back to front, which is difficult on a bicycle.
So off they set up the Wandle Trail and off I set back to Wallington. Problem diagnosed, screws adjusted, I chased them as the warm rain began to fall but only caught up at M.E.D itself, to be met by Anna with a cheery smile and a "We sat out here but it was too wet, so we went inside but it was too hot so now we're sitting out the back where some bloke is wailing into a microphone so you can't hear yourself speak". A good time was being had by all, then.
She proved right, on all counts, so I supped my iced coffee and half a ginger and pumpkin cake and mounted the steed to lead the group back along the way we usually come. It is strange riding a familiar route in reverse; hills you did not know were hills, one way streets to be circumnavigated, but we all got back to Beddington Park from where Anna and Roger led Dominika back to Sutton and Maggie and Sharon and I went to the music festival, which was a lot better than the lad in M.E.D had been.
And we went home and I dismounted without incident. O Joy, O Rapture. But for every downhill there's a climb; I had to go and watch Bridget Jones.
All in all we ended up having a nice easy ride in each other's easy company. We certainly look forward to welcoming Dominika again.
