LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 427 Sunday 16th October 2022.
Firstly thanks to all who attended the AGM subs were set as last year at £15 which is due now, some interest in the scenic ride was bought up so scenic rides will be shortened to Around 15 miles from next week.
This weeks rides were a chance to ride a group of rides we haven’t rode for a year due to a bridge being closed and won’t be able to ride again for a while as another bridge is being closed so this was the only opportunity we had.
All rides set out straight to Tewkesbury along Corse Lawn the sporty ride disappearing into the distance as we climbed up to the Mitre. We said goodbye to Maggie at Long green, as we pushed on to Tewkesbury our group split in two with Micheal, David Derek and Brian pushing on and Ken, David Doc and myself kept them in sight. Over the Mythe and into town, this is where the rides split the sporty group climbed up to Bredon and Kemerton and would wind their way through to Stoke Orchard. We rode through town along the A38 to the Odessa inn where we turned left towards Stoke orchard still maintaining the gap making it easier for cars to pass, once in Stoke Orchard we turned over the Motorway bridge towards the Glos old spot inn on the Tewkesbury rd David setting a good pace and at the junction we had caught the front group up but crossing the rd the gap was reinstalled as we rode through to Staverton Village into a headwind.
We wound our way across the Cheltenham rd and passed by the end of the Staverton airport a great view of the runway and over the bridge which is about to close passed the Dundry nurseries and right at the junction. The pace was a strong one as it had been all ride down Badgeworth lane and as we started to climb over the railway bridge who was coming the other way Terry flying down the hill as we shouted our greetings at him and then we were flying downhill before turning into Brookfield rd over the Bridge which had been closed and only opened Friday, this road would take us up into Churchdown Village before we dropped down Parton lane over many roundabouts and crossing the Chelt rd at the hare and Hounds, now a bit quieter innsworth lane and Frogfurlong, it was amazing how the new housing estate which had started on the Twigworth rd had spread to the Frogfurlong lane since the last time we had rode this way. We had said goodbye to David in Churchdown as he had rode to the club so we now joined up at the Hatherley rd junction as we rode to Wainlodes, the sun was out it was a rather lovely morning, plenty of leaves on the ground the only sign we were well into Autumn, Down the hill resisting stopping at the Red Lion as we knew the Sporty ride would be hunting us down. Along the Ham to Asleworth the pace seemed to increase passing the Hub David put in a push for home egged on by Brian they pulled away from us but we kept them in sight along the main rd back to the club. No sooner I had got the tea pot out the sporty group arrived as if it were planned.
A good chat sat outside in the sun and the teapot even made an appearance outside with us for refills. It was good to have a bit of town riding something we don’t do very often, it makes you focus a little and we all did very well no issues at all with the smaller groups maintained throughout. Thanks everyone for a super ride as I always say a good flat one is as hard as a hilly one in a different way if that makes sense.
See you all next week.
Yellow leader.