We choose to go to the Moon not because it is easy, but because it is hard. Or so John F Kennedy (nearly) said in 1962. That sentiment lives on in this cycle Club as, despite misgivings expressed beforehand in the chatroom, eight of us tackled the Dark Side of the Severn watershed via Leckhampton Hill and subsequently Bubb’s Hill. Despite the fair warning of the plan, one rider found himself climbing the 17% gradient to High Cross on 39×25 gearing. Chapeau to him (though next time he might look harder at the route before choosing a bike)!
The worst of the climbing being over, and with gentle down scarp gradients easing the effect of a head wind, we were better able to enjoy the bright sunshine, riding along Jackbarrow Road with the Thames catchment area to our left, the Severn valley to our right. The cunning plan to get the hills over and done with early had succeeded, for they had almost been forgotten and were certainly forgiven.
“Houston, we have a problem!” came the cry, an interesting variant on the usual “Mechanical”. A light had broken free of its mount but was quickly recovered. Much easier to do whilst we were still earthbound. A deliberate curtailment of the route at Cherington to keep us on time proved popular, but an accidental one that cut out the Tetbury Trail was more divisive. Popularity has damaged the trail, so we were pleased to see a fund-raising effort to resurface it is in hand. Though mainly intended for the benefit and safety of Park Runners, cyclists too will enjoy the improvement.
Throughout the morning, we had seen an astonishing number of cyclists, some of whom passed us at speed, and the same was true at the Goods Shed in Tetbury. The queue seemed long but was dealt with quickly. The coffee and cakes were true to form in their excellence, though the tea not so much. Alas, they were poor preparation for Gumstool Hill , which awaited us as soon as we remounted. The Captain had slipped away early to get as many pictures as he could of the resultant suffering.
At the crest of the drag to Tetbury Upton the group divided, with some setting off to the Woolpack. The others took a familiar route along the former Nailsworth line, trying out the new cycle trail to Crowcumpill on their way out of Stonehouse. It is very fine but so far, rather short.
28°C was showing on our electric GPS units by the time we made a safe landing in Gloucester. The Captain’s clockwork one, which serves him so well, would instead be affirming that the sun was still high in the sky and that the route home from the pub was downhill and to the West, an easy way to end a grand day out.
The splitters to lunch consisted of four riders who set off east, on little used little lanes back towards Cherrington, but taking another tiny road to drop steeply on a very poor surface down into the valley. I’m sure this would have received a health warning from the Secretary! Here to Nag’s Head and up out of the valley on another tiny lane with poor surface – not an issue as speeds were low. A crashing in the wood adjacent reminded us of the perils of cycling close to a golf course – but no cries of ‘four’ to be heard. The top was soon attained, Hampton Fields, where we were joined for a short while by two elderly cycle campers, laden down. And not with the benefit of electrical assist, good for them. So into Minch, up past the fabulous church and its octagonal tower, across the fields with Giffords Circus well established and doing good business. They are 25 years old this year, a fine effort.
The ‘main’ road was quite busy, so a semi-planned turn at Tom Long’s Post to descend, followed by a sharp left onto a delightful Green ‘quiet’ lane. This is quite superb, contouring around the hill and presenting magnificent views of the Stroud / Chalford valley. It was here that JW put in a fine display of a disorderly dismount, fortuitously as Colin took a photo (above) of the view. Surely a contender for the Golden Stabilisers. Aside from embarrassment and some prickly vegetation, all was good and on we went, to then descend at pace to Stroud. Picking our way through town on a useful contra-flow cycle lane it was up to Slad and The Woolpack for refreshments. As the name suggests, it was packed, but we eventually found a seat and all was well.
Our stint of rehydration and dog entertaining complete, it was onwards and upwards to Bulls Cross (feeling one more hill was required) and Sanatorium Road (showing my age) for a final fling down the smooth surface of Portway. 61 miles or thereabouts. A fabulous day out.
MT/TW
We choose to go to the Moon…
