Seven riders gathered in the square on a grey overcast December morning hoping that the rain was not going to be too severe during the ride. The group left Gloucester via Eastgate Street, down through Barton and out onto the Painswick Road. Then into the streets of Coney Hill and through to Barnwood, Abbeymead and Coopers Edge. This is when we were joined by another rider, who had left home without his cycle helmet and made a hasty retreat back home to collect said helmet. We continued through the streets of Coopers Edge and then into Hucclecote. The route used the cycle routes around these areas to eventually arrive back at the main road near Pineholt. A quick trip on the main road before a right turn and a climb up Chosen Hill using the back lane and into Churchdown Village. As we ascended Chosen Hill, the rain we had all hoped to miss had started, which prompted one of the group to head home. Through Churchdown and past Chosen Hill school and a left turn into Brookfield Lane, under the bridge and on to a local farmer’s drive before turning off and under the bridge and into the back of Staverton Airport.
Once out of the airport grounds the rain subsided and we continued through Bamfurlong, again staying off the roads and using the cycle lanes. On to Cheltenham the group continued making full use of the green cycle route through to the Gloucester Road and down to Cheltenham Train Station. At this point the group made use of the Honeybourne Line cycle route through to Pittville Park and into the racecourse. A quick ride through the race course and into Kayte Lane, through to Bishops Cleeve. The route then continued via Stoke Orchard, Tredington, Walton Cardiff before arriving at Café Chocolate dry and ready for refreshments.
As the group headed out of the Café, we were all greeted with the rain that had been promised. We headed back to Gloucester via Walton Cardiff, Tredington, Stoke Orchard and Hardwick. One rider stopped at the Clavell & Hind Taproom for refreshments whilst the rest continued back to Gloucester to dry out.
A total ride of 43 miles mostly in the dry, with only one small mechanical, a dropped chain whilst changing gear. The group decision was this was down to poor bike maintenance.
DM