We were fortunate again this Sunday with a dry, sunny day after a wet and blustery Saturday – but with rather a cold start. 8 riders set off from the Square, via Podsmead and Tuffley on black-slick wet roads to Kingsway; however no ice was encountered, probably due to a combination of grit and temperatures not quite reaching zero. Picking up another rider near his home we continued through Hunt’s Grove (roads much drier here) and made our way past the next set of groundworks onto Haresfield Lane, thence via Standish to Stonehouse, where one rider left us for another engagement.
After regrouping, we set off again to take the old road via Ryeford, Ebley and Cainscross – all very quiet regarding traffic, apart from one driver who sounded their horn impatiently on the approach to one of the mini roundabouts. At Stroud we climbed up through the centre of town and down again to continue west on London Road, turning off at the first traffic lights to begin the Butterow climb – to the predictable sound of complaints from one rider whose Garmin seems to overreact at the prospect of impending gradients. And indeed the middle section of the climb did seem harder than I recalled… at least the climb served to warm us up thoroughly, and even hands were hot by now, encased in thick gloves that were certainly needed first thing.
Regrouping in the sunshine, we descended slightly, passing Winstone’s ice cream (we weren’t that warm) and along the lovely little lane to Burleigh, which was also mostly in sunshine and giving great views over the Brimscombe area. Emerging from the leaf-strewn Burleigh Lane we negotiated Minchinhampton via Dr Brown’s Road and onward to the interestingly named Woefuldane Bottom. No woe for us though as this was followed by a fast descent on a fairly good surface into Avening, where we did a sharp left onto Star Lane, the last climb of note of the morning. Regrouping at Star Farm (lovely stone stables) we completed our run-in to Tetbury via Cherington Lane, arriving at the café at ten past eleven after 25 miles. As usual lots of bikes were parked outside but the queue wasn’t too bad and the gentle warmth from the underfloor heating was much appreciated!
Picking up another rider after elevenses, we stuck together for the return which was via Chavenage, Kingscourt, Frocester, Eastington, Stonehouse and Haresfield. With rather a strong cold wind from the west meaning some tired legs later!