LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 475 Sunday 26th November 2023.
That was a wet one as the actress said to the bishop, raining as I went to the club and very cold although the frost that was with us Saturday had gone but it was a chilly wet start. It was nice to see Steve at the club finally recovered from his cold but was on grandparent duties so was not riding. So Andy and Bob set out on an adventure somewhere into Worcestershire because Andy had decided to ride most of today’s ride yesterday, we were joined by Wayne, Andy Collop, Maggie, Chris, a cold David and a returning Doc.
We all decided to ride the Intermediate which would lead us down Oridge Street Blackwells end and on to Highleadon where it was decided to split with Wayne and Andy pushing on a bit trying to get warm, the rain was persistent but light just annoyingly wet, through Tibberton and the Huntley rd the now well surfaced road led us up Solomons tump and over the lights in Huntley into Grange court rd where on a clear day you get lovely views of the whole Cotswold escarpment but today I couldn’t see anything having to take the glasses off as they were getting steamed up following Wayne and Andy but the wet was starting to seep through as we cautiously carried on on the wet roads through Northwood Green and on to Blaisdon where we turned along Vaulthouse lane once again wet and covered in leaves but we safely continued to Longhope and through the village past the church and a short bit of A40 before turning into Barrel lane another leaf covered lane which needed caution but other than that not too bad leading us onto the Aston Ingham rd which we followed to the Ross road and Kews lane kept us off the busy road for a while but we emerged by the Kilcot inn and a short burst to the Connigree lane but we were off that busy road and for the first time had to use the small cog a sharp climb caught us by surprise not able to stand on the peddles as the rear wheel slipped so it was sit down and grind, this was a new lane to Wayne so even after 475 rides we haven’t been everywhere. Watery lane and through Newent and now the gear changing was hard work not being able to feel the fingers which were wet and very cold, but the rain had stopped but the damage was done and now the thought of a cup of tea was keeping us going on the well trodden ride home where we were greeted by about a 100 tractors outside the club on a tractor run, and yes that cup of tea bought the feeling back into the fingers and believe me that hurt, Chris and Doc were back before the Tea pot got cold followed by Bob and Andy.
That was as cold a ride as I want to ride in, but strangely rewarding when your home showered and warmed up, so thanks to all of you who rode and helped out today.
Yellow Leader.