Never did find out who Alan Furley iswas, but took myself down to High Beech (south of Reading) where I met up with Alex & John.  This was for a 106kms loop in the countryside around Newbury.  Et quelle horreurs – I got a puncture.  Being that I don’t usually suffer from these nowadays, as when audaxing I’m usually on bulletproof tyres, this presented a minor problem further exacerbated by the driving rain.  Got back about half an hour after the other two as I was already dropping off their ferocious pace-setting.  A not unpleasant day out, bit of rain, few hills (nothing major), one puncture.  PW.