LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 467 Sunday 17th September 2023.
With a lot of roads closed due to the car rally taking place all around Staunton towards Newent it was a safe option to head away from that area, and Andy Christy found it very difficult to make his way to the club, but he did and he would be joined on the Sporty ride by Bob, Owen and Alan and Terry who had turned up before the off for a quick chat and to show off his new bike, the rest of us would ride the Advanced ride with a slight route change introduced by Michael.
Everything done and we were off Terry shooting off with the sporty group on his way back home and we followed on, I had a sneaky feeling with Wayne, Professor Andy, Steve and Frank who is always up for a faster ride this was going to be quite quick no way we’re they going to take it easy. A sensible pace was set away from the club and the first climb of Hoggs pitch behind us and as we crested the next onto the Pendock rd Frank had a little puff of something out of a brown bag, no questions asked he said it was medical, but after the drag up from Pendock he was on the the front down Whittings pitch past Berrow Church, a lot of people seemed to be walking probably like us hoping to miss the impending rain forecast for later. We were winding our way through the lanes which was very good as a stiff breeze would have made it hard work but we hardly noticed it. Castlemorton Church and a brief stop to remove clothing and a quick drink before making our way on to Castlemorton common, where we enjoyed the nice decent down to the main road and a regrouping before pushing on across the common through a gated rd which Wayne kindly opened, it was a way of slowing him down, as we climbed up to the Welland to Malvern rd which we crossed and headed to upper Welland, which is a cheeky little pull up to the Wells Rd, after a quick stop to get ones breath and begging Frank for a look in his bag, Micheal led us away on the route change along Holywell rd I was expecting a near vertical climb but what we got was a gentle pull up past the Cottage in the wood hotel before dropping back on to the Wells rd before turning down Peachfield rd a strap decent a decent road surface and Frank led us well down to Poolbrook rd and on to Guarlford straight, a slightly down hill rd with a slight tailwind so you can imagine with Wayne on the front the pace was brisk o lye slowing when we turned towards Hanley Swan Frank once again pulling us along to the X roads, through the village and along Upper hook lane the pace not slowing through to Tunnel hill, and along the Gloucester rd to the saw mills where we turned up the Longdon Heath rd to the Hill end rd and we stopped at the top to listen to my recount of my trip to the Millenium Stadium which included a lot of false information, meaning I didn’t listen to the guide, but was soon put right. The legs were now starting to feel the pace so as Adrian took the front the pace increased even more through to Castlemorton church and Birtsmorton he put in a good shift on the front and we were soon on the upper Pendock rd now the going was getting tough as we crossed the motorway to the junction where when Me and Frank arrived Adrian had had a clip moment and was picking himself up off the road, I think he might have been distracted by the hedge curing going on at the junction. No damage and no let up in the pace with Andy, Steve and Wayne pulling us along the Pendock rd to Gadfield Elm, this is where we split slightly we couldn’t quite hold the rear wheel and once it’s gone your not getting back on so we cruised in a minute is behind the front group.
Di and Adrian were back and had opened up so by the time we had brewed up the sporty ride were home.
That was a hard day in the saddle for me after a weeks holiday but loved every minute of it a bit of everything.
Thanks to every one who rode and a special thank you to David Price who took control in my absence last week.
Yellow leader.