The Intermediate and Tempo rides were both heading to Coleford; the Intermediate route was shorter but with some off-road, ours longer with more climbing. It was a straight showdown; tortoises versus hares!
Us hares shot off, only to be caught by the tortoises at the Quay St lights, and again at the start of the Over Causeway. Very demoralising.
We’d only got to Tibberton when the lead hare felt unwell and had to return home. Shortly after that one unfortunate hare had two visits from the puncture fairy within a couple of miles. Having run out of both spare tubes and enthusiasm, he too headed home.
That left three hares to push on through Huntley and Blaisdon – with a half hour delay to make up if we were to beat the tortoises to Coleford.
On the road to Flaxley we passed the Steady ride. Aesop failed to allow for a third animal which was slower than the tortoise but smart enough to leave early and ensure a good spot in the cabbage patch for lunch. What shall we call them? Well since they were spread out all over the road, how about hedgehogs?
The hares tackled the climbs up Flaxley, Stenders, then Tump lane from Lower Lydbrook to Coleford. The tortoises were already settled in the cafe, and they delighted in telling us how long they’d been there. The level of smugness had to be seen to be believed.
Having refuelled we chased off through Parkend, Soudley, Littledean, and Birdwood, arriving at the A40 just in time to see two of the hedgehogs disappearing into the distance. We put our high-power-diesel-engine hare on the front and passed them before the Highnam roundabout. Unfortunately it was a double whammy of woe for the hares at the traffic lights, which turned red just as we arrived. The delay allowed the hedgehogs to catch up again, and even worse, the tortoises nipped out ahead of us having descended from Highnam.
And so, rather fittingly, the hares, tortoises, and hedgehogs all arrived at the Over roundabout at the same time, each having enjoyed their chosen ride with their chosen companions at their chosen pace. Isn’t that, after all, the whole point of the club?
54.5 miles, 3,740 ft, 15.6 mph.
One toasted tea-cake, one baklava, and two tuna-mayo baguettes (both for the high power diesel engine hare).
SP