After letting the fast ride depart, 5 riders were left for the tempo ride to Tintern. I know its always good to get the 5 miles on the A40 out of the way quickly, and It proved difficult to hold back over-exhuberant riders. The group settled down after Birdwood, when we took to the familiar lanes to Flaxley, Soudley and Blackpool Bridge.
As this was our second “bridge ride” of the season, I tried to alter the route a bit, and the first diversion saw us go past the Rising Sun and down Yorkley Road to Parkend, which was a good choice, and probably a better surface than Fancy Road. The second diversion took us up to Bream on a newly resurfaced road, so all were happy to this point. Parawell Lane started the grumbling, and I would contend that the Ordnance Survey are in error not to award it at least one arrow.
Having been warned off Coldharbour Road, we descended from Hewelsfield to the Brockweir Bridge, and although it was okay, I can report that the riders much prefer our traditional route through Sling and down Stowe Hill to Biggsweir Bridge. Still its not often we do two bridge loops in such close succession to have to vary the route.
Meeting the 08:00 departure at the Old Station, we returned via The Old Ironworks for our last significant climb. Chepstow traffic proved very busy, and the cycle path on the North side of the bridge was closed, but they were our only obsticles to our return to England.
The ride leader paid the price for trying to squeeze one more ride out of a work Michelin with a puncture near Oldbury, but that was soon fixed and a second sustenance stop was taken at Berkeley Tea Rooms.
77 miles, 4,450′ ascent @14.9mph