A day for the diary, for Toby’s route had been published beforehand! Calm your racing hearts, though, for it’s not a change of practice, but a consequence of his deputising the ride lead. Our newest vice President was briefed and duly created a GPS path. His ten followers could tell from the start, as we rode the dragstrip of the SW bypass, that the brief was not being followed to the letter but a turn towards the Barn Owl Centre (or Sewage works, pick your own landmark) and canal towpath indicated a return to form.
Today being the winter solstice we didn’t expect to see much of the sun, but it did make a brief appearance as we circumnavigated Hockley Hill, after which ride leadership was temporarily passed to Jim, who had the honour of leading the first Club ride over the newly opened junction at Hardwicke. A decent looking shared use path could have taken us over the A38, had we seen it in time, but the new road surface was just fine anyway.
Having passed the navigational test, Jim handed back to Malcolm for the bike handling challenge en route to Haresfield. Although some feet touched the ground no bodies did, so thankfully the First Aid kit was not required.
Riding and navigating both got simpler for a while as we headed NE to Hazel Way playground in Cooper’s Edge where we could have stopped for a swing ride (it was requested) but it would have meant curtailing the route or, worse, risking the Tempo riders have first crack at the mince pies. Instead, we crossed Wotton Brook, passing a second playground, then crossed another of the brook’s tributaries to emerge on Ermin Street. Familiar terrain, at last.
After Horsebere Brook, Perrybrook (this one is not actually a brook) marked yet another new housing estate on our tour of suburbia before the joy of freewheeling down Pirton Lane to the green cycle spine, which we joined for a short stretch. Those who had expected Parton Road were taken aback, being led instead through the new estate across the bridge that provided its access to Innsworth Infant School, before finally taking a direct route through Longlevens to the Gala Club. 48km ridden.
Mince pipes, hot chocolate, reflective mudguard stickers, snoods in Club livery, and copies of the new bumper edition of Spokespiece were on offer, but of the Tempo riders there was no sign. Had they bitten off more than they could chew? Apparently not, for upon their arrival more mince pies appeared, and quickly disappeared!
MT
