Eight of the fast boys left the Square for a ride up into the Cotswolds on a very warm morning. We went out of Cheltenham past the reservoir to hit the first sharp climb up past Dowdeswell Estate. Onwards then, rolling up & down into Withington , then up the next climb up through the woods which split the group.
Regrouping at the top we went on to Chedworth, Bibury, Barnsley then through the lovely village of Ampney St. Crucis and into Cirencester. Once we reached Stratton and turned to take the back road to Cheltenham, it was obvious from the power on the front that splits were going to occur, as they duly did on the horrible long uphill drag all the way to Severn Springs. Continuing through the back roads of Cheltenham, Leckhampton, and Shurdington, everyone had a well earned coffee and rest at the end in Brockworth.
With over 58 miles & 2400 ft of climbing and an average speed for some over 20 mph everyone will have got something out of it, and we were back in time to watch the Road Race in the commonwealth games.
