With the fast riders joining us, a very large group, way beyond my counting abilities, left King’s Square. We stayed together. at a brisk pace on the lanes through Saul. Frocester Hill split the group, as was to be expected, and we were joined at the top by an additional two riders, making the group even larger. No incidents on our approach to Tetbury from the South, but finally, the group split, with some going for coffee and excellent cake at The Engine Shed, while others headed straight home.
The climb from Avening to Minchinhampton once again split the group, and we lost a rider at Bulls Cross, where he mistakenly turned to Sheepscombe, but otherwise an uneventful and very enjoyable morning, with beautiful autumn colours in the beech woods above Cranham.
56 miles, 3,250′ ascent @14.9mph
IW