Following the logic from last week’s ride, a company of us set off on the Tempo ride.
Unsurprisingly the weather forecast had deterred many people from venturing out. We too had looked at the forecast, and at the threatening grey clouds scudding across above us. The original destination was dismissed in favour of something closer with better options for turning home when the inevitable rain arrived.
As it happens we got up Nut Hill and Buckholt Road in the dry, the rain jackets didn’t make an appearance until Foston’s Ash. We pushed on through a moderate drizzle and stiff headwind to Bisley, where a sudden stop for an on-coming car proved that disc brakes are better than rim brakes in the wet. Once safely down into Stroud we consulted the weather apps again and decided to quit while we were ahead. An immediate return home via Slad seemed sensible, rather than dallying in Stroud for coffee or tackling a further climb to Dursley.
The views up the Slad valley are always pleasant, even on a damp, gloomy day with low clouds, and despite the persistent light rain we were enjoying ourselves.
A cautious descent back down Buckholt and the A46 saw us returned to town still relatively dry and surprisingly content with our morning out.
37.8 miles 2,316 ft, 14.5 mph
SP