After a prolonged dry spell overnight, rain had served to damp down any dust and prepared a perfect day for some off-road riding. Two former presidents met at the square, along with a couple of early arrivals for the novice ride. The presidents exchanged memories of a previous off-road adventure, pictured, when we had ridden one of Paul Loosemore’s cyclocross events at Stratford Park. “I looked knackered” said one of them, “but at least you weren’t last” consoled the other, holding his lanterne rouge. The third rider in the picture, for those who don’t recognise him, is Paul Barnard, well known now for the eponymous trophy awarded to the winner of the Club Events competition but then a rising star in the Club whose life was tragically cut short in 2003 in a traffic collision.
As we rode out through Abbeymead Toby had to admit that he was lost. That never happens! Emerging into Upton we started the off road proper with the Watery Lane challenge. Some blacktop relief followed then at Podgwell Cottage we startled a deer in the trail, only to be startled ourselves by oncoming riders.
Scottsquar Hill proved to be covered in cowslips and offered terrific views across the Painswick valley before we hit the woods. The aforementioned rain proved not so welcome here, wherethe exposed tree roots were very slippery, but we crossed them unscathed to reach the first Shortwood of the day, the rather full car park for Haresfield Beacon.
Standish Wood is not known for dogging (at least, not to me) but it certainly should be known for dogs, we met so many. We could probably have avoided them by taking the posted mountain bike route but neither of us felt equipped for it today. Instead, we came off the main path, took in a short road section at Ruscombe then joined the Robbers’ Road section of the Cotswold Way before emrging to enjoy views of the Severn Valley.
A plummet down to Westrip tested our brakes (as did an encounter with an oncoming Land Rover) before a section of canal (more dogs) took us to the Selsey Hill climb. We began it on the road, finished it on the common, then took the posted mobility scooter (I kid you not) route though Stanley Wood. With enough time in hand, we were able to enjoy the descent through Upper & Lower Lutheredge farms to our second Shortwood. No dogs at this one, but plenty of cars carrying amateur footballers in big cars up the hill toward us.
We met the roadies in The Canteen for amicable elevenses then made our way home.
MT