It was already warm at 09:00, as four of us left King’s Square. The training ride flew past us after Brookthorpe, but we weren’t tempted to try to draft them. The newly surfaced lane out of Haresfield was great, as we continued at a good pace with the tail wind to Stinchcombe. Luckily Cam Pitch is well shaded.
By the time we had reached North Nibley, the temperature was rising, so we decided to cut across to Berkeley. Shunning the Tea Rooms, because nobody wanted a hot drink, we pushed on. I am not sure I have ever enjoyed a headwind before, but in that heat, it was most welcome. The extremely high tide near the Anchor made a dip in the river look tempting, but we continued and eventually stopped for a well earned glass of iced lemonade at the High Orchard in Hempstead.
No incidents, 45 miles, 1,900’ ascent @ 18.0mph, 2 bidons of water.