What a beautiful day! A very large group left King’s Square, heading for Leckhampton Hill, which the ride leader assumed would split the group into two. However, we were all evenly matched and no split occurred, so the large group continued on to the second brutal climb of Bubbs Hill. I do wonder whether this will become too much of a rat run to be safe to cycle once the Air Balloon works start, but we will have to see.
Whether through choice or necessity, the ride leader chose to lead from the back, which resulted in the front riders taking a couple of wrong turns, and having to be called back, the most significant being onto the slip road onto the A417 at the Highwayman. Surely nobody would expect me to plot a route along the A417.
Due to the large group, plans for a smaller cafe in Nailsworth were changed to the large garden centre, where coffee and cake was enjoyed. Returning up Horsley resulted in a few grumbles, but I think everyone conceeded that it was preferable to the A46.
No significant floods were encountered, and the only mechanical was a broken gear cable, which luckily happened at Cockadilly, after the hills were done.
It was a really sociable ride, with the large group staying together. We had a number of riders who had let their riding slip recently, as well as a ride leader recovering from a cold, so I think it provided a welcome opportunity to get their mojo back. 51 miles, 3,400′ ascent @13.9mph