LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 485 Sunday 11th February 2024.
Franks suit ride today and as David pointed out yes it was the same area as last weeks rides but different and probably a good job we did go out this way due to the flooding around again. Good numbers out again it must be the spring like conditions a still morning the sun was out and a slight chill but almost perfect overhead conditions.
Ken and Favid were making the step up from scenic to intermediate this week and were joined by Brian, Bob and Owen were on the Sporty and the rest of us were on the Advanced.
We left the club and rode Oridge street over the Leadon it was hard to believe that this was underwater on Friday but not now and we pushed on straight to Upleadon cross where we had a regrouping and then stayed together through to Newent where the lights were kind and we were soon up Oxenhall hill and on to Queens wood where David met us after a few laps of the wood on his gravel bike and in shorts, but it was good to have him along, Wayne and Steve were putting us through our paces on the climb up the Kempley ridge where we saw farmer Hulls chewing a piece of straw on the gate as we passed, but up we went right out to the golf course on the Gorsley road, we followed the side of the M50 for a while then started the climb on to the Linton ridge this is where the elastic broke and Steve and Wayne were gone Stuart had left us to pick up another drinks bottle from home so that left five of us. A nice drop down to the Lee and on to Mitcheldean, and the sharp climb up to the Dene Magna school now knowing that all that climbing results in a lovely flowing downhill section through the Flaxley valley the water was particularly noisy as it rushed along the stream which runs through the valley, and no sign of the flowers Frank planted in a field by the church, probably a little early but not to early for a beautiful show of crocus’s on the side of the road as we climbed up through Blaisdon and on to Huntley, we were keeping up a fair pace around the lanes with no sign of the Wonka man David had made friends with a couple of weeks ago, and this week we would take the Tibberton rd in Taynton a favourite of mine especially going this way which bought Tibberton on us on no time and the bit of main rd to Highleadon behind us park road was quiet and surprisingly dry after once again being flooded on Friday, we could almost smell the tea pot know catching Di and Adrian around Blackwell’s end and Di determined not to press her sonic button up the hills gave her so much pleasure, and soon we were all back to the club.
Thanks to every one who rode that was a very enjoyable hard morning in the saddle, I’m sure we are getting a bit closer to Wayne maybe one day we will keep in touch with him.
I’m glad to say Alan has been reunited with his phone, and I found out it’s quite stressful having someone’s phone unable to contact the said person. But all ended well.
Yellow leader.