It may not be the Galibier and Coix de Fer, but the climbs up through Edge to Whiteshill, and then from Stroud to Minchinhampton felt long enough to the seven riders on the sports ride to Cirencester. The longhorn cows on Minchinhampton Common looked intimidating, but proved docile.
After the short kicker into Cherington, we enjoyed a long slightly downhill section with a tail wind, to arrive in Cirencester exactly the same time as the other group. To avoid congestion, we chose a different coffee shop, and suitably refreshed set off back through Daglingworth and the Duntisbournes. This lane is very pretty, but proves that short sharp rises can be more tiring than the long set-piece climbs of the morning.
All riders thoroughly enjoyed their morning out in the sunshine and beautiful Cotswold countryside.
46 miles, 3,300’ ascent @ 14.6mph
