LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 433 Sunday 4th December 2022.
First ride in December and the first cold one the car said 3 degrees but with no ice on the bird bath it was decided to ride, with Terry waiting at the club all recovered I knew I was glad I had the winter jacket on and some leg warmers for the first time, with the urn on and a huddle around it before venturing outside where Andrew Gillett was rejoining us after his ankle injury looking remarkably underdressed, Ken, Doc, Chris and Maggie were the only brave or stupid soles to take up the challenge of today’s ride. It was decided that we all ride the Advanced ride and before we could get to the Swan, Ken had stopped for a mechanical Chris had turned back flat battery on the gear changer, I will gave to remember that one, Terry Andrew and Maggie had pushed on so after all the chaos they were waiting for us at the bottom of the Down House hill so we were all back to get her apart from Chris who was back in that warm car. Redmarley hill behind us and the 3 climbs to Bromsberrow not seeming so bad riding them that way but it was cold and Crowfield lane to Dymock the rain started to fall adding to the already challenging conditions but we pushed on with Terry setting a good pace sat on the front with Andrew for company, and on the hills a little too good for me but I could catch them up on the down hill bit. Dymock had a couple of water leaks covering the road so as we climbed up to Kempley we had our first taste of that cold Easterly wind which soon we would be riding into and the wind turbine above us was merrily turning facing back towards home which meant we had to ride home into a headwind but not yet we turned to Much Marcle and turning into Watery lane just below Weston’s. This undulating stretch of road holds a lot of memories for me not all good but memories, it’s where Brucie broke his collar bone, it’s where we lost Charlie, I mean we lost him retracing our ride in the cars from both directions only to find he had taken the Woolhope rd to Hereford where he knew where he was and was able to find his way home from there, oh how we laughed.
So I was glad to get to Little Marcle without any upsets and it wasn’t long before Ledbury town centre was on us it was here that Ken informed us his sense of humour had disappeared, so as we started to climb out of Ledbury the cold was beginning to go through to the skin but the climb to the Eastnor Junction certainly helped warm us up a little only to cool down again on the decent to the castle and then warm up again over Holybush everybody waiting for each other which was very important on a day like that and soon we were flying down Xooks lane directly into the wind which now really did feel very cold but soon with Pendock behind us and Terry still sat on the front pulling us home we were all together as we got back to the club.
Hats off to Di and Gill who rode the scenic ride but decided not to join us for a brew, but we were joined by Bob Spry who is down to one walking stick and walking very well only 8 weeks after his bad fall breaking his hip and was only too pleased to share the photos of the pin which is holding his hip together.
Thanks to all who rode today, yes it was cold but looking at the for sat not as cold as it looks next week so good to get one in.
Yellow leader.