We’ve had a lot of rain recently and the forecast was for much more. Fortunately it was much milder than of late, and several (fool)hardy and/or optimistic riders appeared before 9 o’clock at the Square, in dry conditions but under rather cloudy skies. All rides were to Mystery destinations, but Malcolm’s Moderate paced ride had no takers so he latched on to the Steady pace ride – on a fixed gear, he was hoping it would be flat; well it wasn’t but no major hills were encountered.
Nine of us set off, enjoying a decent tailwind alongside the swollen river to Maisemore and staying on the main road up Overton (fairly free of motor vehicles for a change), turning left via the agricultural college and on down to the Hartpury tithe barn. Left again, and on we went past the mill, looking rather flooded and crossed the Leadon – lots of water in the fields to both sides of the road. Then on towards Upleadon and via the Golden Valley to Stardens where we took an unexpected left and crossed under the main Newent road at Cleeve Mill – a new road to some of the members.
Still enjoying dry conditions we passed through the centre of Newent and saw the Tempo riders at the other side of the main road traffic lights, where we turned left then right to Oxenhall and beyond to Shaw Common where things gradually started to become wetter. Carefully descending the now very wet road from Hay Wood, we found our way to the main road where there was some dismay that the Roadmaker Inn was not yet open. The rain soon after became like movie rain – torrential and the lanes through Gorsley responded accordingly and turned into streams. With the narrowness and roughness of the lanes, and the water hiding covering all surfaces, a few of us hit some potholes rather hard and were lucky not to puncture. However Malcolm’s mudguard was dislodged by one such impact and he stopped to sort it, and somehow lost the route.
We reassembled at the junction on the Aston Ingham B road and waited – Toby attempted to ask a motorist who arrived at the junction if she had seen a cyclist but she simply flicked him the vees! Charming.
Keen to get to our destination, we had to assume that our missing rider would find his way (he did know the destination but never arrived) and we carried on – as did the rain, although it did abate for a mile or two on the way to the main road at Nag’s Head, then came back with a vengeance as we approached and passed through Longhope. The final stretch of main road climbing gradually up to our destination at Hart’s Barn was just a torrent of water and we arrived at 11:01, rather wet but glad to get inside and warm up and dry out a little. A pleasant elevenses was enjoyed and it eventually stopped raining, although a lot of the roads on the way home were rather soggy – as were we. 23 miles to coffee and about 17 on the way back.