An early (8.30) departure saw four attendees set off down a reasonably quiet A48 to Chax Hill, checking out the Club 10 championship course: two sets of temporary traffic lights may demand a change of course! It was then a left turn to Rodley where a substantial tractor forced a retreat to a passing place. The lane to Westbury was a delight, being substantially flat. This was soon to change, as the group headed inland to take in the surprise climbs at Pope’s Hill. The first, second, and third climbs here involved walking for some! Tarmac was in short supply. Then the climb up to Littledean, noting the site of the Bespoke Brewery just behind the church – ideal for being blessed.
The road to Soudley was damp. A diversion in the village to take in the old railway then saw us onto the wonderful road ‘down’ the valley. This involved a good amount of up, too. A sharp right onto an unlikely lane turned out to be the right decision, popping out at the railway (disused) and fine viaduct at the foot of Blakeney Hill. A severe climb immediately followed, allocated just one ‘arrow’ by the OS map people: it should have been a double, maybe a double double. More walking for some. This, eventually, took us to Viney Hill, Oldcroft and to Ned’s Top. The point of this section was to tackle the double arrow road: such a disappointment; it warranted no arrows. A letter of complaint will be sent to the OS! The descent to Lydney was fast and long. Imagine our surprise to find the B ride already tucking into their breakfasts at 10.55am. Well, really! We were pleased and honoured to be joined by the President, having been off road on a solo ride.
For the last few weeks, the Captain appears to have become frustrated at the faster group arriving at coffee first. As noted above, he chose to depart early to avoid this scenario. However, the B group leader had other ideas, and reversed the tested route, to take a fairly direct route through Birdwood, Flaxley, Littledean, Moseley Green, and Yorkley to coffee, thus ensuring that they once again arrived first, to enjoy Kaplans in Lydney. This route meant that they did not face a steep climb out of Lydney straight after coffee, but instead, the gently rising Lyd valley to Parkend, where a steam-train enforced a stop at the level crossing. An unusual mechanical. of a moving seat clamp on the Lydbrook descent to the Wye caused a little consternation, and some appaling road surfaces along the Wye valley and over Clifford’s Mesne did not help the rider’s confidence.
The Captain’s route to lunch was absent any steep climbs, follwing the B ride up the gentle ascent to Park End, then taking a not quite so gentle up and over to Blackpool Bridge, Soudley, Ruspidge, Cinderford, and through the town. A mutiny at Harrow Hill saw a split, leaving the leader to plough a lonely furrow up Plump Hill (what a nice climb and descent this is!), Dean school and Flaxley valley to regroup at The Red Hart, Blaisdon. Refreshments were much enjoyed although they seemed quite pricy at £4 a pint. A sign of the times. The route home took advantage of the tail wind, Gloucester being reached after a most enjoyable 61 miles.