LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 428 Sunday 30th October 2022.
This weeks rides were the ones from last week which I cancelled because of rain so we would ride them this week.. What could go wrong.
It started so well a dry breezy morning, the wind from the south so good for the return stretch, the urn was on people turning up in the car park and the scenic ride out at 10.30. The sporty crew were gathering with the promise of no racing, Brucie had been cajoled by Maggie to do the Advanced so with 7 sporty including Andrew Gillett back after a break, and 7 Advanced taking on Franks suit ride the right way round.
The sporty ride shot from the blocks and were up the road, Ken was reloading the advanced so we chased the others into Orridge street where we caught Stuart Smellie up a ladder clearing foliage off his studio, so with a quick shout we pushed on Blackwelks end and Highleadon, it was clear that we would split so Michael and Terry pushed on, we were passed by the sporty group looking like professional cyclists all in a row, making the most of Alan’s slipstream into what was quite a strong headwind so now we were at the back Frank,Ken Maggie me and Brucie, the pace was steady but I think we all knew what was ahead so the pull up to Taynton Cross was steady the skies looked heavy but it was dry through to Huntley and Blaisdon everybody doing ok looking forward to the Flaxley valley and it didn’t disappoint, damp the leaves changing colour and the first shower cooling us down for the climb up to Dene Magna school a long steep at times climb which everybody attacked with great gusto and a drink at the top where we regrouped and Frank reminded Brucie he didn’t like that hill the first time we rode it but Brucie said he was getting rid of his set of Owens lookalike group set and replacing them with some climbing gears so look out soon. A slight Garmin malfunction in Micheldean meant we almost lost Frank but luckily he realised and rejoined us through to Lee and up to the Linton ridge the skies now closing in and looking around at the views from the ridge we commented that we are glad we are not riding in Wales, but as we left the Ridge towards Gorsley it started, when I say it started Me and Brucie stopped under a great oak tree still full of leaves so the canopy was like an umbrella so the macs went on the others had pushed on and the rain was biblical, I thought Noah was going to count us on in pairs, the rain went straight through the tree and the Mac, Maggie rode back to find me and Brucie huddled up against the trunk of the mighty oak, but even that was leaking and as Maggie sad we can’t get any wetter, but I believe we did, we rode on along the Kempley ridge in a monumental rain storm, briefly catching Maggie grabbing a shelter at Kempley church before leaving me and Brucie to battle the elements.
And battle we did I was proud of Brucie after what we had been through, he could still raise a smile even when we bumped in to a flock of sheep coming towards us in yet another torrential downpour. As we passed Stuart’s the ladder had gone and he had his son and wife cleaning up, maybe something we could learn from that. But the club was a welcome sight Brucie heading straight home for a shower I locked up and headed home not realising how cold I had got which made the shower interesting.
I checked everyone was home safely and Di even rode the scenic ride on her own, so well done Di , good to have you back.
One thing I learnt today is I must give David a mention, and I don’t like riding in the rain.
Thanks to everyone who braved that, I hope your still smiling.
Yellow leader.