Eight riders tonight - a cool evening, and just right for a decently paced ride around the Vale, without ever getting the wrong side of sociable. Many thanks to Louis for local intelligence on closed roads, so we sightly amended the route to avoid Garford. Good to see John out again after his LEL epic - two weeks on and he's still broken!

Most pleasing was to note how tight the group was, in a perfect 4*2 formation, and just close enough to benefit from the draft without being too close - well done everyone. It was also pleasing to note the response from other road users, all giving plenty of space to us, and most overtaking very sensibly - this is how it should be!

We had enough time for a swift one at the King Alfred's Head - bonus.