The official start and meeting point was Wye. Three group members left Lympne by bike amid great clunking of gears as Martin, our newest member, learnt what the levers on the handlebars did. Resplendent on borrowed bike with borrowed hat and gloves, Martin had not been on a bike since gears were invented. He had decided that to borrow padded shorts was a step too far, a decision he may have regretted later.

As Martin zoomed off to start, Peter and Judith exchanged knowing glances. This man would not make it beyond Wye.

The group assembled outside the parish church in the pretty village of Wye. This is where the first whole village recycling scheme in the country was set up before it became the norm. In 1686 the village had reason to be grateful to its vicar whose quick thinking saved the people in the congregation. When the church bells started to ring by themselved during the service, the vicar realised it was less likely to be a sign from the Almighty and more likely to be a sign of impending doom. He evacuated the church moments before the tower collapsed destroying the east end of the church.

We cycled along the contours of Wye Downs then up the steep hill to Hastingleigh. The silence of the countryside was broken by the sounds of pounding hearts and creaking knees. As Martin raced to the top, Ruth and Norman exchanged knowing glances. This man would not make it back to Wye. At the top we were rewarded with magnificent views of Ashford Steppes.

The intrepid cyclists sped on to Hassel Street then onto our first off road section along the Crundale Downs. At the end of the track we stumbled across Crundale church, a flint built church with magnificent stained glass windows located some distance from the village of Crundale.

Back on the road, and our progress was slowed by a puncture in the only bike designed for off road use. There were the predictable comments about causing hassle in Hassel Street, but instead of joining in the banter, Peter set about changing the tube. Thanks to Peter's foresight to bring spares, and his experience with a set of tyre levers, the problem was soon sorted and we were off again to check out the second off road section.

The map showed part of the Stour Valley Walk as being a track which we thought would be suitable for bikes. It was, so we enjoyed a long section free from traffic before re-joining the road for a final whizz down the hill into Wye.

We had worked up quite an appetite and were ready to try out the Italian restaurant at the King's Head. All agreed it was first class. John chatted up the waitress in his best Italian and earned himself a complimentary glass of desert wine. He failed to procure an extra chocolate though! Martin consumed an enormous dinner, pudding and copious amounts of alcohol. John, Norman, Peter, Ruth and Judith exchanged knowing glances. This man would not make it back to Lympne.

After such food, drink and bonhomie no-one wanted to go straight home, so we got back on our bikes to do a few more miles.

We stopped to admire the porch of Hinxhill church then came the parting of the ways. John cycled off to Willesborough, Ruth and Norman back to their cars in Wye, Peter, Martin and Judith to Lympne. Back in Lympne, Martin parked his bike and Peter and Judith agreed that he must be in pretty good shape. We had just cycled 40 miles and Martin had not been on a bike for 15 years.