It was a nippy start, and we avoided WW3 in the Stokell household when Pam caught us up outside her house. Event-free, we rattled along, helped by the tailwind, and had to add a loop to avoid getting to Aston Pottery before it opened. On the extra loop, Steve punctured, so we split the group into the hungry and toilet-seeking advanced guard, while the rest enjoyed the sunshine and the puncture.

Aston Pottery is in full Christmas mode already, which was nice, especially as they had mince pies in the offering. Tailwind turned into headwind as we deviated from the route to take in the lovely lane to Old Shifford, and then returned into the wind. Exactly half of the group enjoyed a convivial end-of-ride stop in the suntrap at Alfie's.