After yesterday’s rain, there was a mix of summer and winter bikes in the square this morning, with one rider even opting for gravel tyres. A good tailwind and a flat parcours made for a swift and uneventful ride to Clives of Cropthorne. Although Clives was busy, service was swift, and cake excellent.
Two riders, who would have been extremely useful into the headwind home, got side-tracked with the cider, and were left in Cropthorne, never to be seen again. The rest of us battled into the wind, sometimes working well as a team, and sometimes fragmenting. In order to make the most of her gravel tyres, one rider suggested we returned via the airport to Churchdown, which was a little dicey on 100psi 25mm slicks.
A good morning out. 60 miles, 2,250′ ascent @15.7mph