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LINX / Field notes
LINX × GripGrab Social Ride 002 took us 52 miles out East from Wakefield. Rain, sun, and wind. Four riders tied after the segment challenges. There was only one sensible way to settle it.
We called it The Flat One. For a while, The Wet One would have been more accurate. Our second LINX × GripGrab social ride rolled out from J’s Pugneys in Wakefield for 52 miles out East, with two segment challenges and a crew who turned up despite the forecast.
All photos · Tom Joy
Ride all year, apparently
The early drizzle turned into proper rain. At one point the roads felt more like rivers, and the idea of calling it a day did get a mention. Nobody quite had the heart to do it. GripGrab’s Ride All Year line was getting a fairly thorough test.
A stop at Birkin gave us a chance for coffee and to discuss the ride format again. We call it the “sandwich ride”: thick slices of smoothly buttered social bread, with an optional spicy kick in the middle. We'd picked two Strava segments that we'd combine riders times from, at the end, and chatter soon turned to question who had picked segments that start just 5 minutes after the cafe stop.. Joe kept quiet.
Then, just as we were ready to saddle up, the sun finally came out. Jackets had earned their keep; now there was a bit of drying out to do before everyone started chasing times.
Photos · Harry Sampson and Jordan Green
Rain turned into a headwind.
Segment 1 was 1.8 miles, and direct into the headwind. We had reached the halfway point and now heading back West.
A quick regroup had all riders debreifing the last segment amongst themselves.
Segment 2, a short sprint, was not far off.
The "sandwich ride" came back together, with the final slice of carby social bread bookending the ride. Good safe group riding, better together.
The segment challenges gave everyone something to go after, but they didn’t give us a clear podium. Four riders finished tied, which left us needing a decider.
The answer was a trackstand contest. After all those miles and all that effort trying to go faster, the podium came down to who could stay upright without going anywhere. You’ll have to watch the vlog for how well that went.
Massive thanks to everyone who came out and got stuck in, and to GripGrab, OTE Sport and J’s Pugneys for backing the series. Rain, mechanicals, fast turns and plenty of laughs. Another proper day out with the crew.
All photos · Tom Joy
Watch the full video below, and let us know what sort of rides you want to see next. RIDE ALL YEAR.
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