Six riders left Kings Square on a cloudy Sunday morning with a low prospect of rain. Out via Northgate Street and left over Gouda Way, straight past Kingsholm Stadium, and left along Sandhurst Road. Gathering at the pedestrian crossing we safely crossed St Oswalds Rd and then relaxed along our journey into Sandhurst. The wind coming from the perfect direction, it soon became evident the predicted average speed was under estimated and a brief amendment to the route would be required. Swiftly through Sandhurst turning left at the A38 we proceeded up to the Old Tewkesbury Road and turning left at Wainlode Lane one rider was having trouble “quietening” his front brake squeal, and was expecting to “burn them in” on the way down the Hill. Unfortunately, this strategy did not work and it would be back to the drawing board for other remedies to silence them. Turning left along the B4213 with the road surface greatly improved and the prospect of a warm (but windy) day we rapidly went past the Haw Bridge Inn and turned right along Town Steet. The wind still on our backs and the average speed now completely smashed, the decision was to get to Chaceley and check on timings. We decided to turn left at Chaceley and negotiated the steady climb down to the B4211, where a left turn took us on the return to the HQ. The wind now in our face along the road through Corse Lawn we could see what looked like ominous dark clouds approaching from the West, but with the sun still in our faces our confidence was high that we would be ok, or should I say dry.
Turning left towards Tirley and right along Tirley Knowle we hit the B4213 again and a quick Right / left up into our first real climb into Hasfield. We earned our descent through Hasfield which seemed to be hosting a 10k run for the all the Marshalls and “k” markers viewed. At the bottom of the descent there was a discussion that I never encounter before………this was the fact that one rider was off the back with the prospect that he was lost, or at least had not been seen for a while. Having regained my composure it turned out that he had only stopped for a clothing change and sure enough along came the rider with no apparent concerns. “Can Toby ever get lost in Gloucestershire I asked myself”.
Having regathered at the outskirts of Ashleworth our confidence of staying dry was completely dashed. The heavens opened and after briefly sheltering under a tree, and some riders with apparent foresight who donned their rain jackets, we set off in the rain to tackle the last few miles back to the HQ. Through and up the Over Old Road (and through the lashing rain) we made our way to the HQ for the W.T. Henry open 25 time trial certainly colder and wetter that we set off.
Nevertheless, this was a good mini ride out, and notwithstanding the rain the wind support on the way our outbound made up for the soaking we (some of us) got on the last few miles.