Weekly Roundup

That's the beauty of a beard, there's always a bit of congealed coffee to enjoy later (Click once to enlarge the pictures)

Saturday 7th November 2015, intended destination - Relish Café, actual destination - Waterside Café. Riders - Howard, Peter C, Tim H and Andy Poolman.

Only the stupid, daring, or hard were likely to venture out at a very wet and windy 10am. Following negotiations at the very highest level, the start time was delayed until 11am. Due to the lateness of the circulated email (9.15 that morning) I felt duty bound to at least go to the start for 10am just in case someone turned up who hadn’t got the message. Luckily for me, no one did.

By 11am the weather had changed and cheered up and a small group, (stupid, daring or hard, you choose) set off for Relish. Quite a few non-riding members were spotted in town and it has to be said that they did miss out on what turned out to be a very pleasant morning out. Things proceed at a reasonable pace bearing in mind the ride was wind assisted by a fairly strong south westerly.

Uneventful until just past Ashton Keynes, a temporary road sign near Cerney Wick informed us that the road ahead was closed, we pressed on regardless. It is seldom that cyclists cannot get past such closures, but on this occasion we were totally thwarted and had to turn back. 

All that rain can play havoc with the waterworks

Taking advantage of the stop, Pete and Tim decided on, what the French call a ‘break au naturel.' Comfort restored, we turned around and set off on the long way round to Relish. Luckily we happened upon a café we hadn’t visited before, the Waterside Café. We stopped, should we go in? We went in. Research, you see? What we found was enough to warm the cockles of some of our members hearts. Americano at £1.65 a mug. Yes, cheaper coffee than we normally come across. Will we ever go anywhere else again? Only time will tell.

Following this startling discovery, having consumed drink and cake, we set off. Peter pointed out that the sun had even now made an appearance.Ten minutes later, down came the rain, it always happens. Didn’t last long though. We kept adding little bits on to the route to prolong the ride. On the descent from Kemble to Kemble Wick the entire length of road was under a flowing stream of water. Not deep, but very wet. Good mudguards.

We made it home notwithstanding the oncoming wind having covered about 34 miles. Stupid, daring or hard? No, just ordinary club riders enjoying a morning awheel.  

(P.S. I believe Jim had mentioned this café in the past so it was about time we visited. Cheers Jim)

Howard Sprange

I attended the Saturday 7th cop out club ride on Sunday 8th with Ted, Alice and Atherton !

We more or less followed Howard's original route which included some very challenging pot holed dirt tracks! Any way we made in at a leisurely rate to Relish and then made a b line back to SN16 as the weather was about to change 37 miles done and all back safely 

Peter Cattermole

The weather might be something of a disappointment, but it certainly hasn't curtailed the activities of the MCCC Research Team, membership of which, is automatic when you join the Clarions. There are just two demands. You need to undertake occasional experimental rides and eat cake. The best bit is that you can claim expenses to cover the cost of the cake. Actually, you're free to claim expenses for anything you like. Just claim away to your heart's content, it doesn't matter, as you won't be paid a penny!

The cafe at Bitton Station

Wednesday, I rode with Mike Greer on another of his ingenious courses, this time down to Bath using a different section of the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. Refreshments were taken at the Bitton Station, where we took advantage of the 'hot drink and a slice of cake for £3.75' offer. 

Our return route took us up Landsdown Lane to the Bath Racecourse. I've used this road a number of times after visiting family members at Bath's Royal United Hospital. I'd always thought that it must be a difficult hill to climb and so it proved to be.

Merkins Farm Cafe

Friday, Howard battled through the heavy showers to visit Merkins Farm Cafe just outside of Bradford on Avon. It's a favourite haunt of Chippenham Wheelers, but watch this space to find out how Howard rated the experience.

Tim Wadsworth

Clarions riding through Badminton Park

(Pictures courtesy of Des Doody)

Saturday 14th November 2015

The original destination was going to be Nailsworth, but with the wet weather and strong winds, Howard decided that we would instead venture to Leighterton and from there out to Badminton Park before returning to Malmesbury. 

5 Clarions showed up for the start which given the weather was not a bad turnout, these being Howard, Andy Poolman, Des D, Peter C and Tim H. At Badminton Peter and Des went their own way and the rest ended up for a coffee stop at The Stables Café, Hullavington. The coffee was good and the prices were reasonable and definitely worth visiting again as a club.

All in all a very enjoyable ride of about 30 miles at a leisurely pace. The weather was not as bad as it could have been and the return leg was rain free.

Where will next Saturday take us? Well, we will just have to wait and see......

See you then!

Tim Hibbert