We left the square with six, crawled through the Bristol Road traffic, then picked up number seven in Quedgeley. It was an excellent spin through the back lanes of Elmore and Epney, then across the bridge at Saul Junction (open to bikes and pedestrians only) before cutting through Whitminster and Westend to come out in Stonehouse.
Here we lost a rider due to work commitments but carried on through Ebley to Stroud for the main event of the day – the climb up Slad valley.
As usual this was a delight, very little traffic once clear of Stroud, and beautiful views (I’m sure you enjoy the views more when climbing up slowly rather than whizzing down). While regrouping at the top of the climb rider number eight appeared! Mechanical issues had delayed his departure and he’d ridden hard to catch us.
We took the Buckholt Road descent, then down Painswick Road and back into town through Barnwood.
People must have been enjoying themselves as nearly everyone made it to The Docks for an extended coffee and gossip in Deli Greek – sat outside in the sunshine.
An excellent club ride.