LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 366 Sunday 18th April 2021..Another sunny chilly start as I left home, but promising to be another amazing Spring day in the saddle, and so did so many of you. Wayne threw a sickie blaming the early Onslaught of cricket, but looking at the score card it was Dan who performed with the ball taking 5 wkts so it must have been one of those proud father moments and probably worth missing a ride. It was also nice to see a new member Rob who joined us after hearing about us I hope through the new advertising push for which I’m very grateful to everybody who has contributed, and on arrival at the club and the village hall carpark full of cyclists, I thought I haven’t got enough milk, then realised it was a GCCC time trial so I could relax and Matt turned up with made from blueberry chocolate for our return. Today’s rides were created from one of Maggies favourites a trip to the hole in the wall in Ross on Wye, slightly different to Maggies but the Sporty and Advanced would get to ride along the Wye, so most choosing to do one of those rides. Di , Sue, Gill and myself chose the intermediate some new roads some I haven’t rode for a very long time and some I never have rode. So with everyone off we rode straight along Orridge Street straight to Newent with Upleadon hill warming the legs up, Oxenhall and through Queens wood where the last of the Daffodils were putting on a show for us but the primroses were making up for them, Kempley green and left by the church and then right towards Much Marcle and now on to uncertain territory, Gill and Sue chatting missed the turning to Gwynns hill and went sailing down past the turning only to be called back by a phone call, and then up Gwynns hill and it was here that we saw our own hole in a wall a house being rebuilt with a big hole in its wall, but soon we were halted by a huge articulated lorry blocking our path and it was in the ditch to let him past then before the decent a huge tractor so this country lane was quite busy. Crossing the main road we had a stiff climb up to Lyme Down a flatter road and as we e erred from the trees the views were worth the pain of the climb fantastic views over the Herefordshire countryside and we were as high as the television mast on Marcle Ridge so quite high before dropping down past Weston’s cider and into little Marcle before climbing back up to Kempley and Dymock. Crowfield lane to Bromsberrow and Albright lane back to Pendock and home to the club. It wasn’t long before the sporty were back and Rob had moved from the Advanced lite to the Sporty, then Maggies advanced came back to enjoy Matts chocolate and a social distanced cup of tea. I had locked up the club not realising that some were still out Frank Alice and Dave were coming up the road after Frank had had yet another puncture. The feedback I had was the route was a success a lumpy scenic ride which most enjoyed. Thanks to all who rode I apologise again for not waiting for Franks group it won’t happen again. Yellow Leader.
