The President’s arrival at the Square was met with some surprise, for he normally stays home in wet weather, and delight, for he came bearing gifts. Thanks to the generosity of SIS there were free samples of their isotonic gels for everyone. Even if you don’t know how far it is to the next cafe, with a gel in your pocket you know you are only an arm’s length away from a sugar rush.
This, the Club’s first gravel ride, began with a caution. The planned crossing of Alney Island was off, due to there being an inch or so of water on the cycle path. Given how wet everyone ended up later in the ride there was an irony about this diversion but at least it showed the leader’s good intentions. Eight set off from the Square, and were joined at Highnam by a ninth. His ride was short lived though, for a handlebar problem (fortunately less serious than the one that affected Hugo Hofstetter) quickly saw him turn for home. After a run through the lanes and a burst of A road to Mitcheldean we picked up two more at the top of Stenders and hit the trails. Some confusion was caused by the leader’s failure to follow his own route plan, but the group reunited before Cinderford’s linear park. The ride past the Dilke along to Mallard’s Pike was trouble free, with everyone making a fast descent to the road. Some confusion on leaving the car park led to a technical and rooty segment, which was brief/interminable (opinions differed!), before finding a hard packed surface that took us to Cannop Ponds, crowded with downhill riders who were avoiding the parking fees of Pedalabikeaway. A path west of the ponds through Barnhill Plantation, instead of the family trail, kept us alert for crossing traffic from the downhill trails before we arrived a little late, a little wet, and really quite muddy at Hopewell Colliery cafe. Despite that, we could not have asked for a better welcome, as seating was rearranged and protected with bin bags for us to sit in comfort. Flapjack and rock cakes were washed down with hot tea and coffee. We left in good time for the evidence of our presence to be erased before the lunch reservations were filled.
Refreshed, the riders joined the family trail for the gradual but extended climb through Trafalgar Arch to Drybrook Road station and beyond. A road section through Cinderford was cunningly chosen with a couple of level sections to break up the climb to Littledean Hill after which the last off road segment from Edgehill to Plump Hill provided fabulous views across the estuary. Passing the radio mast and reservoir told everyone the climbing was over, as did our penetration of the cloud base. Rain became heavier for the descent through the breaker’s yard on Spout Lane after which a familiar route through Flaxley to Birdwood led us inevitably to an increased pace home along the A40.