The Milan-San Remo is the longest and flattest of the classics. The club ride to Stow shared neither of these characteristics, starting with the brutal Ham Hill, which Garmin encouragingly reported as “Hill 1 of 8”. Passing what may be the source of the Windrush, we headed into the delightful valley past Hawling Lodge, particularly scenic in the spring sunshine.
Two riders were under instruction to get home for Mother’s day celebrations, and so left us to return to Guiting Power and Winchcombe, while the remainder took a hilly route through Naunton and Lower Swell before the final climb to well-earned coffee in Stow.
After a slab of cake that was so rich, it nearly sunk the VC, we set off home. Stow is on top of a hill, so all routes are downhill, and we nearly froze on the initial descent to Upper Swell. More undulations took us to a plunge down to Guiting Power. I have only ever ridden from Guiting Power to Winchcombe when my legs are tired, and today was no exception, so it felt like a real drag. However, once out of Winchcombe on the familiar “G” road (Greet-Gretton-Gotherington), we could stop worrying about any more nasty surprises that the route may have.
Of the riders, only one completed the ride with an ascent of the Poggio (aka Chosen Hill).
A really enjoyable morning out to a new destination. Beautiful Cotswold views in spring sunshine. 64 miles, 4,550′ ascent @ 14.5mph