Labelled as the ‘faster’ training ride, we set off from the square with five riders. We started off at a steady pace on a simple route up the A38 towards Tewkesbury. The route out to the Malverns was very pretty flatish and we averaged around 19mph for the first hour, reaching Upton-on-Severn, where Mike B said goodbye to us.
The remaining four riders then turned towards the Malverns, first tackling the climb up to Little Malvern, before completing a complete circuit of the Malvern Hills. After a brief comfort stop at British Camp, we descended into Ledbury and then the tailwind ride along the A417 back to Gloucester.
Some great riding from Steve Brown, Mike Clements and John Anthony, got us back to the Over roundabout in three hours, then the coffee/beer stop – at the end!
54 miles 18mph 2400ft of elevation gain: fast and furious.
DS