Taking advantage of an early start and a direct route to Highleadon, eight of us we were making good time with a view to riding some unfamiliar lanes north and west of Ross on a glorious sunny day. One rider who had previewed the route chose to fit a smaller chainring to maximise his chances of enjoying them! Our first stop was to remedy a broken spoke at Three Ashes. That being quickly addressed with a temporary fix we continued past Newent’s cricket ground, grateful that in summer the debris that accumulates on such roads is neatly swept to the centre of the road.
After climbing through the woods at Oxenhall then passing St. Edward’s church in Kempley, we descended to the river via Fawley Court. With 40km and over 500m of climbing in our legs there began to be questions raised about a refreshment stop. In response our ride leader pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket, offering it as an alternative route to avoid the excitement of the crossing the river by way of Sellack Bridge. This offer temporarily split the group, the majority choosing the suspension bridge and subsequent bridle path to Caradoc Court.
All safely onto the Wye’s west bank, we regrouped and climbed to Glewstone and enjoyed the subsequent descent to Pencraig. A café here advertised an all-day full English breakfast. Perhaps surprisingly, in view of the proximity of the Welsh border, an opportunity to add “last chance for” had been missed. Bad news for the hungrier ones in the group, it was on the other side of a busy dual carriageway and couldn’t safely be accessed. Unfortunately, so was our destination, but there was a cunning plan involving an underpass (and some gravel).
Safely across, we were soon through Goodrich and, after enjoying another descent to the river, arrived at Flanesford Priory for hot drinks and cakes. A more permanent split followed, with four choosing a fairly direct route home through the Walford valley whilst the others continued alongside the river to reach the Bishopswood Climb. Its hairpin bends eased the gradient but even so its 200m of elevation gain tested café legs, though it warmed them up nicely for the 22% pull up to Puddlebrook.
After that it was plain sailing down to a busy Red Hart in Blaisdon to rehydrate before the journey home.