My New Year’s resolution to keep riders together lasted until Fiddler’s Elbow, where we shed our first rider. As we puffed and panted up to Cranham Corner, we were all envious of a lady on an e-bike, who quietly joined the back of our peleton with seamingly minimal effort. We could have done with her as we battled the stiff headwind around Foston’s Ash, but she had taken a different route by then.
The descent of Slad was remarkable only in that it required constant pedaling to overcome the wind, and the ascent to Selsley Church felt as brutal as always. We lost another two riders, who did not want to return to Gloucester, only to battle the headwind once again, and the remaining riders headed for Claypits, and the anticipated tailwind along the river-bank through Saul.
A very enjoyable morning out. 40 miles, 2,000′ ascent @ 14.8mph