Tuesday, 8 September 2015

Weekly Roundup

Firstly, a quick update from the club rides on Saturday 29th August 2015. When those of us in the second group returning from Chepstow came across Howard and Paul at Didmarton, I'd wrongly assumed that they were the shorter ride. I've since discovered that they actually had ten riders, which when added to our eleven, makes an outstanding twenty one participants. Not bad for a small club.


Our trusted steeds waiting patiently for us outside of Allington Farm Shop

(Picture courtesy of Howard) 

Last Saturday's outing to the Allington Farm Shop was another well attended event with sixteen cyclists. We were pleased to be joined by a young man from Hankerton on his first ride with us. Between Biddestone and the coffee-stop, I learnt quite a bit about him, but failed to ask his name. Hopefully he'll come back soon and allow me to rectify the situation.

After hot drinks and cake, Phil rounded up a posse and headed off to Lacock, to clock-up some extra miles. Those remaining eased their way back to Malmesbury in three groups using a variety of routes. 




A map of Mike's course

Also on Saturday, but further afield, Mike Greer, alias Mile-Eater, took part in the Mr Pickwick Goes to Hay in a Day 205km Audax event from Tewkesbury. Miles of course mean smiles and nothing makes Mike happier than being able to ride to the start, which brought his tally for the day up to 172 miles.

This was a pretty ride mainly along quiet Herefordshire and Worcestershire lanes. The first stage headed west through the Wye Valley with a stop at Allensmore Cross. From there it was along the Golden Valley to Hay-on-Wye.

The return leg continued through sleepy Herefordshire villages, countless cider orchards and hop yards to Bromyard.

The final stage afforded some unusual views of the Malvern hills and concluded with a circumnavigation of Bredon Hill, followed by a descent back to Tewkesbury.

Well done Mike.




Audax riders on the Lymington to Yarmouth ferry
If you use a magnifying glass you can just about see me in my club gilet
(All pictures reproduced with the kind permission of Paul Rainbow)


On Sunday I took part in the New Forest On and Offshore 200km Audax from Lymington. This involved me leaving home at 4.15am and a two hour drive, but it was well worth the early start.

Brevet card and ticket collected from the organiser at the ferry terminal, there was enough time for a cup of tea before boarding the boat for the 7.15am departure.


Time to relax

Bike safely stowed, I went to the lounge at the front of the ferry. There was a real sense of anticipation in the air as we gradually threaded our way out of the harbour and began our crossing of the Solent. 


Leaving Lymington

Just outside of Yarmouth harbour there was a call for drivers to return to their vehicles. As we had our own dedicated car deck, that meant us too.

Pouring off the boat we headed for the gun battery overlooking the Needles. I'd been warned about this steep climb, but preoccupied by the panoramic views out to sea and the agreeable conversation with a fellow rider, it wasn't as bad as I'd expected.


Looking back towards Freshwater Bay (I think)

The south coast of the Isle of Wight was pretty lumpy, as was some of the countryside when we turned inland and headed for Bembridge.



Looking out to sea from the side of the cafe

Our first control was at the Bembridge Lifeboat View Cafe. A pot of tea accompanied by possibly the best slice of coffee and walnut cake I've ever had, and a bargain at £2.25 a slice, was just what I needed.

The ferries back to Lymington left at 20 minutes past the hour. Wishing to avoid a scenario whereby I just missed one and then had to wait an hour until the next, I upped the pace determined to make the 1.20pm sailing. 


East Cowes Ferry Terminal

At East Cowes we had to take the chain ferry across to West Cowes. Timing was critical and so I was pleased to see the ferry waiting on our side of the water.


Making the crossing

The luxury of a wheel in a group of four, first taken about five miles out from Yarmouth, delivered me in good time.




Back to Lymington

Relaxing on the sundeck it felt as though the ride was already in the bag, but I was only at the midway point with another sixty miles to go.

The tour of the island felt a little rushed and so I decided to take things a bit easier around the New Forest. I know it's a weakness on my part, but getting overtaken by riders from other clubs, even though they might be fitter and stronger, doesn't sit well with me. I cringed after the first, cursed the second and didn't wait for the third.

Having overtaken the usurpers I found myself at the back of a peloton made up of around twenty riders, with the Andover Wheelers featuring strongly. We tore through the forest with those at the back desperately trying to hang on. Free roaming horses and cattle, picture-postcard villages, in fact anything in our path became an insignificant blur. Not getting dropped was the only thing that mattered anymore.

Gradually the weak were cast aside and when there were just eight of us left, with me at the back, a worrying gap began to appear, and try as I might, I couldn't close it. Accepting the inevitable, I came to a halt and had absolutely no idea where I was on the course. Checking the Garmin for clues I was shocked to discover that I'd covered over thirty miles in this peloton. 


Ride HQ in Lymington

Having managed to re-orientate myself, I made my way at a much more sedate pace to Cranborne, and from there down to the coast and back to Lymington. Post-ride I'm always ravenous and so wasted no time dispatching my beans on toast topped with grated cheese, followed by rice pudding.

The only sour note on an otherwise perfect day, was when I found that my Garmin hadn't recorded the full ride.



And finally, well done to Peter C who is taking part in Jole Rider's Cotswold Sportive on Sunday 20th September 2015, from Westonbirt School. With three distances to choose from, Peter will be riding the seventy mile course.

Interesting to see that the poster describes Westonbirt School as the centre of Cotswold Cycling. Does that mean that Cotswold Cycling has its base there, if such a company actually exists or is it speaking geographically? Perhaps Peter will be able to clarify this point for us. Well, for me, anyway. The important thing is that the School is somehow involved in helping to raise money for a very worthwhile cause.



2 comments:

  1. Tim, his name is Chris, I believe and apparently he has ridden with us once before, ages ago.
    And we all know that in fact Malmesbury CCC is THE center of ALL cycling.

    ReplyDelete