Bird strike on the way to the Vintage Birdcage

Bird strike on the way to the Vintage Birdcage

The ride started with glancing blow on the shoulder from a seagull in Southgate Street. Although there was a flurry of feathers, the gull continued to gain altitude, and I remained on my bike, so I conclude that this was only an inconvenience. Another inconvenience...

A punishing sequence of forest climbs

A cold but dry morning had eight riders leave the Square on the tempo ride to Hopewell Colliery. We were obviously too slow for one rider, who left us at the Highnam roundabout. Reported floods at Lower Ley meant we used the A48 to Northwood Green. It was here that a...
Is there ever a ride for a fixie?

Is there ever a ride for a fixie?

After very heavy rain in the night, we had a dry window for this morning’s ride. One of our four riders told me he would leave the group early, but I didn’t expect him to leave us outside The Dog! Like the guy who brought a knife to a gunfight, he had...

Broadway Tower

Assisted by a flat parcours and the presence of a rider who normally rides with the fast group, we set a brisk pace along the green mile, through Treddington and over to Greet. The appalling road surface on the main road towards Broadway was quickly lost as we took a...
Hills and bridges around the Welsh borders

Hills and bridges around the Welsh borders

The ten riders were keen to get started, and it was a fast pace down the A40 to Birdwood. It all settled down in the lanes, caping up at Soudley and removing them again before Parkend. Descending “The Rocks” near Clearwell was interesting, but disc brakes...