A bright yet fresh morning greeted the riders who ventured out for some more leg-punishing hills and two-wheeled fun. Arm warmers were earning their keep for many, although sunshine all day was forecast and indeed was the order of the day – not to mention ice-creams.
11 riders left the Square promptly at 8:30 and rolled out heading east towards the hills, making good time out of town and past the first of the day’s many roadworks, before tackling the steady climbs of Nut Hill and Fiddler’s Elbow up to the Cranham junction. This route has become anathema to many due to much repeated use, but there are few options unless one takes to some of the extremely steep alternatives – in fact at least one rider did ascend via Portway and joined us at Miserden, with another catching us just beyond Cranham. We welcome the finishing of the new road beyond Crickley Hill that will also provide new options for walkers and cyclists to access the area.
But to return to the present, the next stage awaited so after regrouping at Cranham junction, was achieved by descending towards Sheepscombe then climbing up past Cranham church and school to cross the common and finally achieve the top via the last steep bit past the houses – on a bit of closed road which made it nice and quiet save for the sound of suffering (and my recalcitrant gears).
At the next junction we regrouped and contemplated one rider’s front tyre which was deflating – but bubbling sealant from the hole, being tubeless, and we were able to continue with little delay. Through Whiteway we descended then turned off on a slight detour to take in the sights of the picturesque estate village of Miserden. Beyond, it was time for the next major descent and climb heading through Bull Banks, normally a green valley but looking distinctly beige for the first time in probably 50 years.
Our next village to pass through was Winstone, quickly despatched but with great views to the south east from the ridge road coming out of the village. Skirting the A417 we then plunged towards the Duntisbournes, lucking passing several horses waiting at a side junction to turn onto the same road as us, thereby allowing us to retain our speed. At the very picturesque Duntisbourne Abbots we again regrouped allowing one rider to retighten a shifter/brake lever then headed back to Jackbarrow Road and then onto a road not visited by the club ride for some years, which very much lived up to its name (Longhill Road), fortunately for us downhill when heading towards Cirencester.
Regrouping again (we try not to lose riders en route) at Daglingworth we headed for the old main road at Stratton, where we normally head straight on into town, but no – this time there was a sting in the tail as we took Baunton Lane (never previously used by most of the group) thence to cross the A435 and passing through the village of Baunton itself took one final climb of the morning up to the White Way, where the smooth surface and gradient took us swiftly into town (and the lights changed to green at just the right moment) where we found the coffee shop at just after 11am – but it was no longer open on Sundays so we crossed the road to Hugh’s where our more than a baker’s dozen found plenty of room and sustenance for weary limbs after about 2000 ft of climbing.
Approx 26 miles from the Square.