I was expecting the usual trip up the Southwell Trail and into Sherwood Pines but instead The Fun Hoover took adavantage of the still dry conditions and took us north from Bilsthorpe instead. We ended up doing a lap on other trails I haven't ridden for absolutely ages. We looped through Rufford, Ollerton and Sherwood Forest to get to Edwinstowe and then back to Rufford to return the way we had come.

The pace was fast and I immediately found my place at the back of our group of six. The fact that the route is nearly all on smooth fairly non-technical trails meant that there was no respite. However I still really enjoyed the workout and the actual riding.

The return journey was hampered by headwinds with the open section of The Robin Hood Way from Edwinstowe being particularly unpleasant. I'm not ashamed to admit that once we were heading back down The Southwell Trail I got on the last wheel and slipstreamed all the way home! We were out for two and a quarter hours and I was ready for a pint by the finish. Knackered but feeling good!