Knee-warmers? – check, Base layer? – check, Winter gloves? – check, Gilet? – check, Second base layer? – Check. It was definitely autumn this morning. The sun was threatening an appearance, and with dry roads and a dry forecast the summer bikes were all out for maybe one last time this year.
Once again I failed to get the fast and tempo groups to agree to split from the beginning. Everyone is either ‘tapering before an event’ or ‘feeling a bit of a twinge’ or ‘happy to bimble along’. Nobody actually says ‘let’s just thrash up the A38 as fast as we can’, but this is inevitably what happened.
By the time we’d been through Wainlode and turned towards Tirley we got ourselves sorted out and started riding properly as a group – two up, sharing the work on the front, someone new to chat to every few minutes. The sun came out as we passed through Forthampton. Perfect. Good behaviour was maintained through Longdon and Tunnel Hill, but once we turned on to Hanley Road and started the climb it was every man for himself. With the current and former club hill climb champions in the group we were soon spread out over half a mile of road. Don’t ask me who was first to the top – I was way behind.
We don’t go to FAUN Bakery and Cafe very often, we had returned at the special request of a Tempo regular who remembered it from one of his first rides with the club. On that day he struggled to keep up on the way home, a few years later and he’s more likely to add a bridge loop than get dropped. It was just about warm enough to sit outside in the sun, which was just as well as it was packed inside the cafe. It took a while to serve a group of twelve of us, but the drinks and eats were all first class so worth the wait.
There was more hard work after coffee as we climbed up to West Malvern then made our way along Jubilee Drive to British Camp. We were just enjoying the long fast descent towards Ledbury when the puncture fairy became the second mythical creature to appear in today’s tale. Fixing a flat is not so bad when the sun’s shining and the view is agreeable.
We got very spread out returning through Eastnor and Clencher’s Mill; not the sort of roads for close group riding. Things improved after crossing the main road at Hethelpit Cross, and we made good time back to Hartpury and Maisemore.
A grand day out in beautiful if chilly conditions, and a great group of people to share the fun with. Thanks everyone.
53 miles, 2,556 ft, 16.5 mph.
SP.