At the Square we were joined by Phil Griffiths, his wife Jacqui, and several of their old friends. Phil founded and until recently owned the Club’s sponsor, Yellow Ltd., but these days is a rare presence in Gloucester. The planned Club photo and good weather had tempted him out, but Covid regulations on large gatherings required that we postpone the picture – no one had a wide enough angle camera to accommodate the necessary social distancing!
The sports ride got its early exuberance out of the system on Stroud Road, before settling into a good pace through Stonehouse to Frocester. Chatter was replaced by panting as they tackled Frocester Hill. After re-grouping, they took a sketchy descent to Ozleworth, which led to the beautiful Ozleworth valley, and back to Wooton-under-Edge. Stinchcombe Hill is never enjoyable, and today it maintained its reputation, but it did drop them into coffee in Dursley where they found the A & B rides already settled in.
Phil & Jacqui had chosen the B ride despite his recent health problems that have required several operations to deal with cancerous growths, so it was a pleasure to see him well enough to tackle Frocester Hill, albeit with assistance from his ebike. Jacqui had no such problems and reached Coaley Peak unassisted, as did the Scott duo on their tandem, and the ride regrouped for a pleasant run through Cockadilly to the trig point that marks the beginning of the long descent down Whiteway into Dursley. One rider likened the scene in its pedestrianized area to Majorica, as several small groups of cyclists sat outside enjoying the 26 degree temperature, coffee, and cake from the Old Bank cafe.
The sport ride leader promised a flat ride home, as the peloton reminded him complainingly on the steep Drake Lane climb out of town, but after that their route lived up to its billing, returning via Saul. Phil was glad that his battery held out and commented that Club rides were at least five miles an hour faster than they used to be, a feeling perhaps shared by other senior members of the Club.
The all day group headed instead through Stinchcombe and Cambridge for midday refreshment at the Beacon Hotel in Haresfield which, as always, made them welcome.