Skies were overcast and showers were forecast but many members bravely (foolishly?) left their mudguards at home. Four of them and the suitably protected ride leader left the square on the steady ride, bound for Longhope. Passed by the fast group at the Quayside (blink and you’d miss them) then by the tempo riders on the causeway the pace was steady when Jim bravely signalled the right turn at Over to cross the carriageway for the cycle path to Highnam. Maz gained her first QOM points on the Col de Lassington Hill and after a short stretch of main road we tackled Whitehall Lane where George took one for the team by attracting the famous dog. leading out the chase. Fast though it was, he was faster and escaped unbloodied. The others slipped past untroubled.
The tempo group repassed us (had lost their way, or where they just avoiding Rudford’s dog?), leaving one rider to join us at our steadier pace. His first question was whether we were going to Clifford’s Mesne, perhaps concerned that there would be more climbing after our ascent from St Anthony’s Cross. We were indeed heading there, where we stopped to admire St. Peter’s church, its stained glass window honouring falconer Philip Glasier, and its bench. While we enjoyed its fine views Daryl took the opportunity to practice his puncture repair skills.
To Glasshouse, then. The verdant greenery of Newent Woods obscured the views so much that more than one rider noted that he had no idea where we were but at the Glasshouse pub all became clear as we demonstrated that the climb to St, Peter’s had not been the last of the day. At Folly Lane our late recruit declared that enough was enough, that he’d spent his matches in the tempo group, and was heading home. Everyone else took Folly Lane to continue the circuit of May HIll before dropping to the valley, under the disused railway bridge and into Boxbush. A lovely gentle downhill run took us past the bakery and into Longhope for a final pull along the busy A4136. The leader took an unexpected diversion off the tarmac into a layby not, for once, following a quirk of ridewithgps route planning but in this case to ease the passing of motor traffic.
We were welcomed at the Old Dairy Tea Rooms with advice on where we could safely park our cycles. Fearful of a rain shower, one member of our party had to be persuaded that there really was no cover and that he would have to accept the risk of a wet saddle. It seemed strange that a group of businesses which includes bike servicing had no bike parking provision, but there it was. Table service and table clothes told us we were in for a treat and so ordering of comestibles began. It was like an auction: you say “teacake” and I raise you “buttered scone, scone and jam”, then “scone, jam and clotted cream”, and finally “cream tea”! The inevitable discussion began: cream first or jam? Jim decided to perform an experiment by trying both and was equally pleased with each half of his scone, leaving the question unresolved.
Despite rather poor mobile phone coverage Daryl was able to access bikeroom.com, a site selling used bikes from the professional circuit. It seemed a bit of an over reaction to his puncture, but we humoured him. However, when his eye was caught by a bike valued at 32,000-euro even though it was reduced by 30% we felt we had to intervene.
Seeing our sparkling white kit Dave Rolly, a former Club member introduced himself before confessing to having ridden with former President, Ted Tedaldi, to whom he wished to be remembered. He gestured with his walking stick to demonstrate how much good it had done him, then told us that there were no stops for tea and scones on Ted’s rides. I rather imagine that they weren’t taken at a steady pace either, so we counted our blessings as we cleared our plates. Another interruption came when three other Club members, on an independent ride, showed their faces. We decided the Captain should decide whether they deserve Dancey points for their appearance and then departed, turning back the way we had come before taking Venthouse Lane to avoid the climb to Little London. An uneventful ride through Blaisdon, Huntley, and the lanes north of A40 saw us safely back to Gloucester before the rain started, with Daryl some twenty grand better off than he might have been, thanks to the counsel of his clubmates (or perhaps the lousy phone coverage in the Forest).
MT