LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 430 Sunday 13th November 2022.
Today’s rides were the Hole in the wall group and with no intermediate riders out we all except Andrew and Owen and later to be joined by Richard on the Sporty were all riding the Advanced and having never rode the Advanced ride I was amongst some riding greats so felt a little nervous, as we left the club, the good news was the fog had lifted and the sun was shining, Peter had some misty photos at the club, I would like to see them as he seemed to know what he was talking about bossing us into the right positions before taking the perfect shot.
Maggie would ride for half an hour then get home to release Adrian who was on remembrance duty and Maggie on dog sitting duty.
With the sun now warming us Terry Wayne and Frank set a cracking pace through Upleadon to Newent and it became evident that this group would split and split it did on the Tewkesbury rd so by the time we were through Newent and on our way to Oxenhall they had flown, so as we climbed by the church and on towards Kempley they passed us admitting they had taken a wrong turn but it didn’t take them long to be out of sight again. Queens wood was a magnificent sight of Autumn colours on our way to Kempley Green. Now the serious climbing was about to start left at the church and second right at Fishpool a road I had never ridden and it wasn’t long to understand why, Chibblers hill was a proper climb a proper first gear climb including a wait for about a hundred cows and calves to cross the road right at the bottom of another climb to Upton Crews but eventually wondering where we were we emerged at the Moody Cow inn and took the Ross rd for a while before turning off and crossing the A449 into Gatesford Road and following the signs for the Hole in the Wall, Michael, Peter, David and Derrick had pushed on so Ken David and myself were conscious of the time and as we got to the Wye it was 10.59 so we stopped for the minutes silence , probably one of the nicest places to stop we have had, the babbling Wye was the only distraction, that and Kens gears he was unable to get in the low one so a quick adjustment we were off to catch up with the others in an even better place with two Indian style canoes paddling by and then Peter at the cattle grid got us to pose for more photos, now looking at the Garmin, as the song goes the only way is up, so with the Wye behind us and had not disappointed us we were in How Caple and the long drag as David called it to Crossway, a road I had ridden before its on Micheals Audax, when we rode it before we had had a long hard day and it was here Sue said she may cry, crossing here it bought back those memories and as we climbed some more I knew this is where I had to get off on the Audax due to cramp, but no cramp today and soon we were dropping down the other side by Weston’s and as we got close the roads were very wet with what smelt like pure cider I wouldn’t mind drinking the water around there if it was water the heady smell of fermenting fruit followed us down to the Walwin arms. Once again after that climbing David Ken and Myself were chasing the others down something I seemed to have done a lot of on this ride but we caught up by the Wind turbine and sat in down to Green way cross but we got held up crossing and more catching up to the climb up to Brooms green where once again a gap that needed closing but through the village we were all together around Albright lane where the sporty boys passed us, determined now not to loose them again we all worked hard to stay with Micheal and Peter setting a good pace home down Cooks lane where Maggie had rode back out to join join us. Out on to the main rd at Pendock cross and the push for home was now on Peter now with his nose in front setting a really good pace we were having to fight to sit behind him but we did and he pulled us back to the club where the tea pot was full and ready when I could walk for a nice well deserved brew taken sat outside in the Autumn sun. Di and Gill were soon back as well having to delay their leaving time as Di had some remembrance duties to attend to first. They would love for others to join them on the scenic ride I have shortened it to around 15 miles and it will remain at that until lim told otherwise.
Thanks for a lovely ride a few bad memories put to bed and the Wye was a pleasure. If I get to see Peters photos I will share them here.
Yellow leader.