Jubilee125 All Night Ride to Avebury 18/19 June 2016

As part of Gloucester City Cycling Club Jubilee125 celebrations five members of the Club set off on an all night ride to Avebury. The route took them to Avening where refreshments were taken before setting off into the dark moonlit lanes. There was very little traffic around apart from rabbits dashing across the road caught in the light of today’s powerful cycle lights, a far cry from the dim dry battery ones of old. A night cap was taken at Charlton and then more dark lanes cycling between banks of raod side flowers which looked more graceful in torch light. The shadows cast gives the impression that you are cycling far faster than you really are as you hurtle along the lanes. Seventy five miles later the Avebury Stones were reached. Due reverence was given to them and they felt warm in the now cold night. Sheep scuttled away from us as we sought somewhere to have a rest but the sheep had bagged all the best places so we adjourned to the nearby church where a nap was taken in the lych gate of the church. No-one slept and it was a relief to hear the dawn chorus welcoming the rising sun. Back on the bikes at half past four we cycled along a Sustrans route; hugely overgrown with tall grass and tricky riding but no casualties. There was plenty of wild life around, rabbits i hare and a deer plus several squirrels and an unidentified large bird, possibly an owl. Breakfast was taken at Minety where a 100 mile time trial was taking place. The night riders met up with the morning Club ride from Gloucester and we were all able to cheer on veteran club rider John Murphy who was competing in the event, he took 5 hrs 33 mins and 59 secs. The return to Gloucester was via Somerford Keynes and Frampton Mansell for lunch. A very enjoyable ride of 133 miles which will count for the Clubs Jubilee competition to cycle 1125 miles in segments of over 125 miles.