Thaw in the Thaddle - Chaingang Feb 15

About fifteen of us gathered after nearly a fortnight of ice. Simon N. dropped a light early on and stopped to retrieve it , so we eased up a bit  - but not enough for Simon to catch up  as we found out later. Ivan Johnson and John Tagliatelle had lots of good reasons to be off form but were clearly the strongest and drove it along at the front, with Swavek and I sitting in. I had to stop to mend a flat tyre after Spooky Hill, in a particularly dark corner, and was very grateful for Ivan coming back to help with  a light and a decent pump - mine cracked and failed. I almost snapped my fingers off undoing the rear fixed track nuts with a short spanner - but the clock was ticking - could we reach the rendezvous before the others set off for home again? Chris Parker stopped by next, having missed the start with his own mechanical delay. We trundled off together, expecting to see a line of headlamps speeding towards us. And then we did, so we stopped, ready to U-turn and latch on, but it was just a couple of cars, and then we saw the real line of lamps snaking along in the distance like a chinese dragon at xmas. U Turn and soft pedal in the other direction -  it seemed to be taking a while for them to catch us, then suddenly a trio zipped past us and off we went.  Apologies to Simons N and G who were hanging back and going to stop and help us mend the puncture - we had a triathlete in full tuck to catch - it crossed my mind that I should mention using tri-bars in a bunch is strictly not OK - not least because in a close bunch like ours on a dark road with potholes, pebbles, rabbits, people puncturing or touching wheels and crashing right in front of you, blind corners and dozens of other unforeseen hazards - its better for hands to be an inch rather than a foot from the brakes - but in the heat of the chase I totally forgot.  Basically if Max were here he'd instantly shout some much more blunt advice. Anyhow - comments are open to all now, so feel free to post.