LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 479 Sunday 31st December 2023.
The last ride of the year and at 8.30 the rain started to fall only lightly and a stiff wind but nothing too bad so at 9 I rode to the club and by the time I had unlocked the sky looked remarkably black and the rain was heavier but with the urn on no one had turned up and I was thinking probably for the best, but then something very rare happened, Andy Christy turned up, I didn’t think he took his car out in the wet let alone his bike but he said he was bullied into riding by Owen who arrived just after Bob and Maggie so we were on and Wayne as ever not letting us down bang on time rolled in so with the rain easing we all decided to ride the intermediate as a group. Barn lane and Moorend rd took us through to Pendock and the skies looked threatening over May hill so as we turned down Whittings pitch the heavens opened and continued to do so through Birtsmarton, Castlemorton and it was only when we were on the common that it eased but we were out and wet now so it didn’t matter as we turned across the common through the gated lane called Hancocks lane emerging on the Little Malvern rd then we dropped down into Welland a slight respite from the rain but the spray off the roads was just as bad. Upper Hook lane now off the main rd through to Tunnell hill and the rain started again I’m not sure it ever stopped to be honest but this was heavy so now a head wind and rain so it was nice to turn up the Hill End rd to the view point where all we could see was floods and a wet looking view back home, there was a deep flood at the bottom of Hill end and I think it was here a group decision was taken to head for home via the fastest route so we headed for the main rd at Castlemorton village hall down the hill and we rode home via Pendock as a group with lots of surface water lying about. It was nice to see the club and get a warm brew made if only to warm the hands.
Not the last ride of the year I had imagined but it was better than the turbo trainer.
Thanks to everyone who turned out and rode today, and I will finish by wishing everyone a very happy new year and looking forward to as many good days in the saddle as we had this year.
Yellow leader.