A crowd of us set off on the Intermediate loop ride. I choose the term carefully, based on the well known saying that “two’s company, three’s a crowd”. Actually there was really only two of us, but as no-one turned up for the Tempo ride the leader for that joined us too.
Anyway, three of us it was, plodding up Nut Hill and through Cranham. As we progressed amiably through The Camp and Bisley the mood was definitely reminiscent of ‘Three Men in a Boat’, or more appropriately, ‘Three Men on the Bummel’ – the less well known sequel describing a cycling trip through Germany. Honest. Look it up if you don’t believe me.
Or were we three wise men perhaps? Probably not, as none of us were aware of just how bad the descent down Dark Lane into Chalford was.
The forecast sunshine had not appeared, and we needed another climb to warm us up. Hyde Hill duly obliged. For the lanes around Cherington and Chavenage, I think The Three Amigos may be appropriate, ordinary cyclists mistaken for the pro peloton? Maybe not.
Once we were safely down Frocester it was good teamwork along the usual route through Stonehouse and Haresfield, all-for-one and one-for-all! That’s it! We were The Three Musketeers! Oh hang on, we need a d’Artagnan. Never mind, we were back in Gloucester now anyway.
45 miles, 3,136 ft, 13.9 mph.
SP.
Right, I’m going to see if ‘Three Men on the Bummel’ is available on Kindle, I’m rather intrigued now I’ve heard about it!