LEADON VALE CYCLE CLUB RIDE 509 Sunday 18th August 2024.
Franks suit ride today one of my favourite rides and a splendid morning for it as well. Things didn’t start smoothly thinking for once I was in plenty of time I gathered my things and walked to the door and thought that’s a funny sound only to discover a broken cleet, so a quick garage stop to replace it and I was off.
Numbers were down a bit but Andy turned up with a hangover or that’s what he told Owen and they were joined by Rob, Steve Wayne and Alan Aplin joined Maggie, Julie, Chris and myself on the Advsnced and Richard was joining us at the ladder factory that was in Newent.
The early pace was strong and Wayne setting a strong pace as he had a lunch date, so I guessed it would be brisk and turned out to a bit strong for us so the group split by the time we got to Newent, Richard must of tagged on with Wayne and we weren’t that far behind through Oxenhall to Kempley as the sun poked its head out and made the
views even more spectacular as we now turned and started to climb along the Kempley ridge a gradual climb up to the Golf course at Gorsley. On along the side of the motorway leading us up to the Linton Ridge and even more spectacular views in all directions and how these views change with the passing seasons crops that were growing last time are now being harvested and baled. The Lee and Mitcheldean and the climb up to Dean magna school were now behind us and we were on the decent down and through the Flaxley valley the scenic of places to ride a bike from huge trees to a babbling brook, but it’s past too quickly and before long we are climbing through Blaisdon and Huntley and the lovely sweeping road down from Taynton Triangle, this is where Chris put the hammer down and led me astray a very fast decent into Tibberton where we waited for Maggie and Julie before heading up the busy road to Highleadon and Blackwells end back to the club where everyone else was back and Wayne was probably on his way to his lunch. We had a good chat and Richard seemed slightly nervous and rightly so about next Sundays big bash.
Thanks to everyone who ride and helped out today.
Yellow leader.