I am not sure that the Vice-captain’s reputation is entirely justified, but I think it was the main reason that only five riders headed to Lydney. It was a cold dank December morning, and the dampness only got worse as we headed into the Forest.
In the style of a Tour de France litter zone, one rider sent a bidon flying over a hedge, with other riders expressing a sense of shock at the littering, until they realised it was his own hedge! On the climb into Littledean, E showed the benefit of a lighter body as she flew up the hill, leaving the rest of the group struggling behind.
It was my first visit to Lydney Harbour, and it was quite disconcerting going through derelict industrial sites, trusting that Google was correct and there would be a cafe at the end. In an attempt to educate and inform, our local rider stated that the site used to make aircraft-grade plywood for the Mosquitos.
After coffee, the long slightly uphill drag through Parkend and Cannop Ponds proved to be the warm-up for the main event, which was billed as the Joy’s Green Zig-zags, although the climbing continued long past the zig-zags to the Pludds junction. Compared to that, the other climbs of the day were mere undulations!
As I write this, having showered and put on warm dry clothes, I can say it was an enjoyable ride, although I may not have expressed that view at some points during it.
64 miles, 3,900′ ascent @14.7mph.