Here goes Matt - Reliability Ride 28th January 2007

80 Riders including 24 from the Wheelers signed on at Withy Trees for the 2007 version of the Reliability Ride,In fact the car park was full, at 09 00hrs a small group not wishing to hang around set off.
This was followed by larger groups and by the time we got to Longridge it was all together, pity any cars trying to get past us it must have taken at least 30 seconds but no problems with the traffic.
By Whitewell the sky looked a bit leaden and a short shower followed (rain that is)
by Dunsop Bridge the large group had split and by the turn off for Bowland Knotts the usual procession of cyclist climbing the hill.
The ascent of Bowland Knotts was difficult with the side wind and even worse descending on the road to Clapham, many stories of the descent followed at the Soup Kitchen - Thanks Cyril and Kath for what must have been a catering nightmare.
The little barn was full of Mist, Steam and Smoke among other things, some one said it was like the film "Apes in the Mist" cheers Stelly any way the first arrivals set off (Gethins group inc Cranky, LLR,Mustang,Ken Roberts and I think Dodgy ) which left room for the second sitting.
The main group of Wheelers now suitably refreshed and not wishing to get cold set off into the wind, these where as far as I know Me (GeeDee) Ric, JPS, MickB,Brayster,Bolster,JoeD, Paul Fleming and maybe some others including Robbie and the Preston CC lads.
Any way we kept together as a bunch over Quernmore with a reasonable side to tailwind and on the A6 - still nothing silly had happened yet.Got to the Garstang turn and me and Rob Waterhouse decided to do the official way thro' Garstang, others straight down the A6 only for us to come out a Brock right infront of the others.
At Bilsborrow some peeps now decided to do the usual thing and off into the distance they went, me and MickB just about hanging on - until Broughton traffic lights which where on Red which was the best thing that could have happened, so altogether again or at least in a stretched out line to the Wythy Trees.
I think we all did it in about 4hours 50odd minutes give or take a minute or two.Not so sure how far though, my computer said 74ish miles which was good going.
Other riders only seen at the start where Roger &, Tony, Craig &, Dave Sharples. Howard and Bob on the tandem, Dave Goodenough, John Ward, Andy Waterhouse, Arthur Trigg, Bill Corless, Harry Smith plus some more I'm sure but I hope you all got round safely and in a reasonable time.
Back at the Wythys Gethins group where long gone and possibly in the Bath/Shower by now.
Oh and thanks to Terry and Royston for taking the names.

That's all folks - sorry if I've missed some one out.