Rob, who passed away in February last year, as well as being a Gloucester City CC member was a member of Bridgenorth CC. A commemorative ride from Bridgenorth was held today, with the Bridgenorth club ride being joined by five Gloucester riders who drove up for the occasion.
Offered the choice of joining the A, B, or C rides we opted for the slowest and shortest. Obviously, we wanted to maximise our conversational opportunities with our hosts; why else? The routes cleverly began and ended the same way so that it was easy for riders to move back or, potentially, forward to a group that suited them better. So it was that we found ourselves in the C+ group. Into a fierce headwind we rode, thankful for the pace making of Andrew, our host for the day. Reaching a decision point at Peaton, we let them continue along the 47 mile route, taking the 36 mile option and easing the pace to one that encouraged sightseeing. This meant we were first to the café, one favoured by Rob, and where his partner, Deb, awaited us with hot drinks, cake, and savoury snacks. Deb told us more about the circumstances of Rob’s death in Lanzarote and how it had affected her. The café is where some of Rob’s ashes had been spread, and has become a favourite of hers.
After a short speech by Deb and the Bridgenorth’s club’s vice chairman we remounted and sped back to town with a ferocious back wind and a 300 ft descent to help us along. The A group was reported to have recently covered this stretch at 40 mph but discretion is the better part of honour – we maxxed out at 30 mph, definitely fast enough on an unfamiliar road.
The ride ended, as all good rides do, at a pub. In this case it was the Woodberry Inn which, by no coincidence, was a sponsor on some of the red, white, and green jerseys worn by our hosts. Other sponsors we noted were a bakery and a bottling business, so it’s clear that they enjoyed good relations with the local hospitality trade!
It was a very enjoyable way to respect Rob’s memory and spend time with what was obviously a thriving and enthusiastic club. We invited them to join us one day and visit a few of Rob’s favourite places in Gloucestershire and hope they will be able to do so soon.
MT